Review of the new Renault Grand Scenic 1.4 TCE

If you find it hard to get excited about a seven-seat MPV, don't worry, you're not alone. These vehicles aren't the most thrilling things on the road, not by a long shot, but they do perform a valuable role. As a result, it's tempting for manufacturers to try and inject some extra interest into their MPVs with sporty handling or 4x4 design cues. In contrast, Renault's Grand Scenic is a vehicle that prefers to concentrate on the basics of getting seven occupants, or five and a lot of luggage, from A to B. In 1.4-litre TCe guise, you could call it dull but owners tend to swear by them and in time you might too.

Renault has a lot of MPVs and faith in the sector's future. The market for these vehicles has stagnated somewhat since 2005 as the rise of the 4x4 gave families a less frumpy way to get their hit of practicality. Sales have stagnated nice and high, however, and Renault is keen to mop up a big chunk of the total with its six-strong MPV line-up comprised of the Modus, Scenic, Espace and their respective Grand versions. It means customers can get a Renault that precisely fits their requirements with the spacious six spanning 3870mm to 4860mm in length.

The Grand Scenic sits below the standard Espace and the nature of the densely packed range is that its abilities and size are very similar to that car. Renault sees it very much as a family vehicle and a vital one in promoting the brand's family-friendly image. It also expects the Grand to account for 30 per cent of overall Scenic sales.

The 1.4-litre TCe engine is one of the more interesting options in the Scenic range. A 1.4-litre petrol powerplant, it might initially sound a little compact to power a vehicle of the Grand Scenic's bulk but a turbocharger helps it to 130bhp and there's 190Nm of torque which is generated at just 2,250rpm. It's a very smooth and refined engine that will cope easily with a lightly loaded Grand Scenic and adequately with a fully-loaded one. If you plan on travelling with a packed car most of the time, one of the larger diesels might be a better bet. Otherwise, the TCe is a great choice.

"The 1.4-litre TCe engine is an excellent addition to the Scenic range"

Performance over the 0-60mph sprint is measured at 11.5s and there's a 121mph top speed. The engine is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox that shifts up and down the cogs in an acceptably positive manner. The Scenic's real strength lies in its ride comfort but it can hustle through corners without any problem thanks to tight body control and is only let down by a lightness in the steering which makes it better suited to driving in town than on rally stages - sensible really.

There's no shortage of space inside the Grand Scenic. The front seats are comfortable with plenty of room and a good view out courtesy of the large windscreen. In the second row, three adults can be accommodated without any difficulty and leg room is as generous as that of anything in the compact MPV class. Slide these second row seats forward a touch and it's also possible to seat a couple of six-foot adults in the rear. Their knees will be bunched up a little as the chairs are set close to the floor but it's far from uncomfortable and smaller occupants will have no problem.

The third row seats fold into the flat boot floor in a one-touch motion, increasing boot space from 208 to as much as 702 litres in the seven seat model. The middle row of seats can fold and tumble forwards, enabling reasonably dignified access to the third row, or be removed completely to create a massive 2,063-litre space. Seat back trays, a deep glovebox and segmented door pockets add to the Grand Scenic's strong practicality score.

Available across the entire Grand Scenic trim level range with the exception of the entry-level Extreme models, the 1.4 TCe engine is an important one for the car. Diesel will be the more popular fuel choice and there's a good range of oil-burning units to consider but the majority of petrol buyers will select this engine, despite its £1,000 premium over the 1.6.

All Grand Scenics come with electric front windows, air-conditioning and a basic CD stereo. In Expression trim there's also the TFT dashboard display screen, trays on the front seat backs and second row sun blinds. The Dynamique has alloy wheels, keyless entry, MP3 connectivity and lots of other electronic goodies: it's probably the pick of the range as the Privilege bumps prices up to around £20,000. Safety is strong throughout with the inclusion of stability control, front, side and curtain airbags and ISOFIX child seat mountings on all the middle seats.

Outright efficiency is better with the diesel engines but the TCe outstrips the entry-level 1.6-litre VVT petrol engine on economy, despite having 20bhp more. The official combined economy figure is 39.2mpg and emissions of CO2 are 177g/km. The 1.5-litre dCi diesel is over £1,000 less to buy and has 55mpg economy but it's noticeably slower than the TCe.

You've got to admire the Renault Grand Scenic's focused approach to the MPV problem. Too many of its rivals get side tracked by trying to be too sporty in look or feel. That approach will be desirable for some buyers but when push comes to shove, few of those cars can match the raw practicality of the Renault.

The 1.4-litre TCe engine is an excellent addition to the Scenic range, with refinement and a useful, if not spectacular, turn of pace. It isn't cheap and the economy can't match that of the diesels but those who choose it are unlikely to feel disappointed.

TOP 5 GRAND SCENIC DEALS

The results below show the top GRAND SCENIC deals on buyacar

Renault Grand Scenic 1.5 dCi 110 Dynamique TomTom 5dr EDC Diesel Estate
Price £16,490 Read Grand Scenic Reviews	Save £5,810
Renault Grand Scenic 1.6 dCi Dynamique TomTom 5dr [Bose Pack] [S/S] Diesel Estate
Price £17,470 Read Grand Scenic Reviews	Save £6,230
Renault Grand Scenic 1.5 dCi 110 Dynamique TomTom 5dr Diesel Estate
Price £15,510 Read Grand Scenic Reviews	Save £5,390
Renault Grand Scenic 1.6 dCi Dynamique TomTom 5dr [Stop/Start] Diesel Estate
Price £16,420 Read Grand Scenic Reviews	Save £5,780
Renault Grand Scenic 1.5 dCi 110 Expression 5dr Diesel Estate
Price £14,460 Read Grand Scenic Reviews	Save £4,940
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