Alternative review of Renault Scenic II

Although regular readers will know that I'm not exactly overburdened with children, even those women who don't live in a shoe can appreciate the charms of the Renault Scenic. It's sharply styled so no longer will you look as if you've surrendered to the mundanity of middle age plus it's got enough toys and 'surprise and delight' features to keep even the most exigent button jabber happy.

The interior feels roomy enough, the clean lines and low dashboard adding to the airy feel. Legroom is especially generous in the back, especially when the rear seats have slid into their rearmost position. The central seating position in the back can be removed and the remaining two seats repositioned to allow more elbowroom but it's not quite as slick as Ford's diagonally sliding system. Aside from that minor niggle though, there's very little to fault the Scenic interior. There are storage cubbies in every conceivable nook and cranny as well as some you may need the user manual to find. Even the glovebox is cavernous. With the rear seats in position, luggage capacity has risen by 70-litres to a respectable 410 litres and loading is made simple by a glass tailgate window that opens independently. The Scenic has been revised in recent times, the biggest alteration being to the styling, Renault giving the car a nip and tuck in order to keep it looking fresh. Xenon-look headlamps, LED rear lights and revised front and rear bumper assemblies give this mini-MPV a sharper, more contemporary look a million miles away from the Teletubby-soft original that took Europe by storm. The interior has been revised too, with better quality trims, and there's also a different palette of exterior colours and alloy wheel designs.

Petrol buyers get the choice of a 98bhp 1.4-litre entry-level unit or a 111bhp 1.6-litre VVT unit or a 136bhp 2.0-litre with the same variable valve timing configuration. Four diesel engines are available - either an 86bhp 1.5-litre, a 106bhp 1.5-litre, a 130bhp 1.9-litre or the 150bhp 2.0-litre dCi. Of the petrol engines, the 1.6-litre is a sweeter prospect than the 2.0-litre model, while there's something to be said for all of the diesels. A weight increase of around 132kg over this Scenic's predecessor takes a little of the edge from performance, but the 2.0dCi will accelerate to 60mph in 9.4 seconds and on to a top speed of 127mph. A combined fuel economy figure of 48mpg and emissions of just 154g/km make it an affordable long-term proposition. Ride quality is possibly the best in class with the Scenic making short work of rutted A-roads and poorly surfaced motorways. Even on the optional seventeen-inch wheels, bump and thump through the suspension remains very muted. There is a trade off when it comes to handling, but Renault have probably judged the ride/handling balance wisely. Those few drivers who feel they need a vaguely sporting mini-MPV will find the Focus C-MAX more to their liking. That said, the driving position is now much more car like.

Anyone could live with a Renault Scenic - it's that sort of car. Would you want to though? Given that a DINKY (dual income no kids yet) family like ours got on so well with it, I suppose the answer has to be a measured affirmative.

TOP 5 SCENIC DEALS

The results below show the top SCENIC deals on buyacar

Renault Scenic 1.5 dCi 110 Dynamique TomTom 5dr EDC Diesel Estate
Price £15,520 Read Scenic Reviews	Save £5,480
Renault Scenic 1.6 dCi Dynamique TomTom 5dr [Bose Pack] [S/S] Diesel Estate
Price £16,500 Read Scenic Reviews	Save £5,900
Renault Scenic 1.6 VVT Expression 5dr Estate
Price £12,515 Read Scenic Reviews	Save £4,085
Renault Scenic 1.6 VVT Dynamique TomTom 5dr Estate
Price £13,565 Read Scenic Reviews	Save £4,535
Renault Scenic 1.6 dCi Dynamique TomTom 5dr [Stop/Start] Diesel Estate
Price £15,450 Read Scenic Reviews	Save £5,450
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