Renault Scenic review (2016-2019)
Renault virtually invented the concept of the MPV with their very first version of the Scenic back in 1996. Now, as SUVs have cornered the market for family cars that aren’t estates, the Scenic is a bit more of a rarity – one that’s well worth seeking out. Dive into our road-tested Renault Scenic review below.
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Pros
- Masses of space
- Great for families
- Good price
Cons
- A bit sluggish
- German rivals have nicer interiors
Interior
Our rating: 6/10
The exterior of the Scenic immediately suggests the interior will have more than a hint of the space age about it – so, you’d better prepare yourself for a bit of a disappointment.
It’s a surprisingly conventional layout, and the dashboard feels a little cheap, with some squeaks and rattles when the road surface gets rough.
Driving position
The front seats are comfortable enough, with plenty of adjustment for the driver and great visibility throughout.
Tech and features
Most Renault Scenics have a seven-inch infotainment screen with crisp, sharp graphics that's intuitive to use.
Top-of-the-range cars have an 8.7-inch screen whose portrait shape is especially good for showing the sat nav screen and what lies ahead of you as you drive along.
Plus, most models also come with parking sensors, and some with a reversing camera.
Performance
Our rating: 6/10
Handling and ride comfort
You don’t buy a car like the Renault Scenic for its sporty performance; it’s more for being able to transport the family in comfort.
The good news is that it does this pretty well, thanks to the soft suspension, which absorbs lots of the bumps and vibrations that the huge wheels would otherwise magnify.
It's unlikely that you would anyway, but just be aware that the Scenic feels a bit like a sailing boat in a light swell if you go too fast around a corner.
Practicality
Our rating: 10/10
Practicality is one of the key selling points of an MPV, and the Scenic certainly doesn’t sell you short on this score.
Boot space
The boot is genuinely class-leading and can easily swallow up the biggest of big shops, all the luggage you’re ever likely to take on holiday or even just provide luxury dog transportation.
Fold down the rear seats to get even more space, and you can even take them out completely.
Rear seats
There’s not loads of room in the back – the rear seats are quite low down, which limits legroom.
On the positive side, there’s plenty of width for 3 to fit comfortably across the back seats.
Storage solutions
There are also plenty of other storage areas in the car including some very handy under-floor cubby holes as well as a pull-out glovebox and a huge centre console.
There are also plenty of USB charging points to keep everyone’s devices powered up and ready to go.
Running costs
Our rating: 7/10
Fuel economy
The Scenic is a fairly heavy car, so its fuel economy isn't quite as good as some of its rivals – it's still respectable, though.
The 1.3-litre petrol engine delivers around 41 mpg, while the 1.5-litre diesel manages a little over 51 mpg.
The verdict
Interior
6/10
Performance
6/10
Practicality
10/10
Running costs
7/10
The concept of the MPV might be getting a little dated right now, but Renault is helping to keep it alive with the Scenic.
So, if comfort, style and practicality are what float your boat, then why not come aboard?
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