Review of the new Renault Scenic

The design brief that lies at the heart of any MPV is a deceptively simple one. It typically involves producing a vehicle that's perfectly in tune with family life. The difficulty arises from the huge range of eventualities that can fall under that 'family life' banner. From the mundane school runs and supermarket sorties to family holidays, house moves and anything else that might crop up, a good MPV has to be prepared for almost anything. The sales success that's befallen Renault's Scenic over the years indicates that it has had the necessary qualities and the third generation model looks to be adopting a similarly high state of readiness.

The Scenic is of the compact MPV breed, a class of people-carrying products that are usually based on family hatchback underpinnings and sit between full-sized MPVs like Renault's own Espace and smaller supermini-sized models, like Renault's Modus. The Scenic is based on the Megane family hatch and if you look beneath its Citroen C4 Picasso, Vauxhall Zafira and Ford C-MAX rivals, you'll find similar components to those in the Citroen C4, Vauxhall Astra and Ford Focus respectively. A key development in the compact MPV sector has been the increase of seven-seat models which basically locate two additional seats in the boot of the five-seater. The Scenic is a five-seat version but the Grand Scenic has a seven-seat capacity enabled by its extended dimensions.

Economy is obviously important for a functional family vehicle but the Scenic's engines also need the performance to move a fully-laden vehicle with a bit of spirit. The entry-level 1.6-litre 110bhp petrol engine is likely to find this difficult but with another 20bhp, the 1.4-litre TCe 130 powerplant looks a far more compelling option. Renault's Turbo Control efficiency technology comes into play here using turbocharging to boost the petrol engine's performance while retaining strong economy. The final petrol option is a 140bhp 2.0-litre that operates in partnership with a CVT gearbox but it's the diesels that are likely to attract more interest. Renault's 1.5 dCi engine pops up here in 86 and 106bhp guises but its real strength is low running costs. Buyers wanting a punchy oil-burner can choose the dCi 130 or dCi 160 engines or opt for the automatic-only dCi 150.

"Safety is of paramount importance to family buyers and few manufacturers can match Renault's reputation in this area"

The taller, bulkier dimensions of compact MPV products don't lead you to expect the same kind of sporty driving experience offered by the family hatch that spawned them but Renault has applied much of the chassis technology found under its Megane to the Scenic. MacPherson strut front suspension is linked to an innovative horned sub frame that helps to reduce lateral movement and gives more precise steering responses. The rear set-up is based around a tough torsen beam and together, the two systems help the Scenic achieve a very low specific roll angle for a compact MPV. This is an important indication of its ability to corner in a composed manner without leaning too much. The electric power steering has also been refined to give sharper responses and greater accuracy.

There are major differences between the way the Scenic and Grand Scenic look that extend beyond the latter's larger dimensions. While the Scenic borrows the distinctive satin chrome air-intakes of the Megane coupe and a more squat, purposeful stance, the Grand Scenic has a larger glass area and a mesh grille covering its single frontal air-intake. The seven-seat model also features distinctive boomerang-shaped rear light clusters that curl around the bottom of its rear pillars and along its flanks. The interior is where the magic happens in any MPV and both Scenic models lay-on lots of space and versatility. The second row of seats can be folded flat or removed, while the Grand Scenic's third row can be dropped into the floor. Boot space is measured at 522 litres in the Scenic and 702 litres in the Grand Scenic with those rear-most seats folded.

There's a massive array of storage options in the Scenic with a total of 92 litres available. Under-floor compartments, under-seat drawers, a chilled glovebox, centre console cubbies, door pockets and trays on the seat backs should help to keep the family's paraphernalia in check. There are also three 12-volt power sockets to keep the all-important games consoles and MP3 players topped up.

Trim levels start at Extreme, then move up to Expression, Dynamique (or 'TomTom' if you want this trim with sat nav) and Privilege. On all, high standard equipment levels include a 4x15W radio RDS CD MP3, air conditioning, ESP, front and rear curtain airbags and TunePoint (for portable music players). A rear parking camera is an option too.

Safety is of paramount importance to family buyers and few manufacturers can match Renault's reputation in this area. Its models routinely achieve maximum five-star ratings from Euro NCAP and the Scenic is brim full of features designed to avoid collisions and protect occupants should one occur. The car can be specified with automatic headlamps and wipers, cruise control with a speed-limiting function, bi-xenon headlamps that swivel to illuminate round bends and a seat-belt reminder that sounds if a rear-seatbelt is unbuckled. There's also ABS with brake assist and brake force distribution and ESC stability control with CSV understeer control. The second row of seats all have ISOFIX child seat anchor points too.

The 1.5-litre dCi diesel engines are the Scenic's most environmentally-friendly options and Renault has made it easier for customers to pick out its cleanest products by branding any car with CO2 emissions under 140g/km with its eco2 label. The TCe 130 petrol engine doesn't quite qualify with its 168g/km emissions but with economy of 39.8mpg, it's a handy compromise between cleanliness and performance.

MPVs can get a bit frumpy in their pursuit of ultimate practicality and family-friendly design but the latest Renault Scenic is looking to redress the balance with a slightly more sporting outlook than the versions that have gone before. The sound basics look to have been retained and improved upon with the car offering more space and a wide array of useful features while front end styling from the Megane coupe and efforts to sharpen the dynamics should please the keen driver.

TOP 5 SCENIC DEALS

The results below show the top SCENIC deals on buyacar

Renault Scenic 1.6 VVT Extreme 5dr Estate
Price £12,692 Read Scenic Reviews	Save £2,828
Renault Scenic 1.5 dCi Extreme 5dr Diesel Estate
Price £13,265 Read Scenic Reviews	Save £3,060
Renault Scenic 1.6 VVT Expression 5dr Estate
Price £12,270 Read Scenic Reviews	Save £4,250
Renault Scenic 1.4 TCE Expression 5dr Estate
Price £12,990 Read Scenic Reviews	Save £4,530
Renault Scenic 2.0 Expression 5dr CVT Estate
Price £13,760 Read Scenic Reviews	Save £4,935
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