What is it?
Scenic models in the past have competed with cars like the Vauxhall Zafira and Volkswagen Touran, whereas this new EV will be competing with the Tesla Model Y and Peugeot e-3008.
What’s new?
The exterior and interior design is new with the front end adopting Renault’s Nouvel’R logo with diamond surrounds where the front radiator grille would have been, while curved front LED daytime running lights and gloss black side mouldings set off the external design.
A new interior sports fewer buttons than before and the infotainment system now features Google-Built In as standard with up to 70 voice commands.
Renault has focused heavily on sustainability with the Scenic E-Tech. There is no leather found anywhere and up to 24 per cent of the car’s electric materials are recycled and 90 per cent of its mass – such as the battery – can be reused.
What’s under the bonnet?
The entry-level model can be chosen with a smaller setup which makes it a little cheaper.. This model comes with a 60kWh battery pack and produces 172bhp and 280Nm of torque while achieving 0-60mph in 8.4 seconds, a top speed of 93mph and a claimed 260 miles between charges.
What’s it like to drive?
Driving the new Renault Scenic E-Tech in Bath today. Not so much an MPV anymore! pic.twitter.com/w20Lv8iBox
— Cameron Richards (@CamRichards13) May 20, 2024
Though Renault has done its best to make the Scenic as light as possible, it still weighs over 1,900kg – so it’s no featherweight. Although it still feels like a heavy car, driving it is a relatively comfortable experience with nicely weighted steering and the wheel you held had a square shape falling nicely into your hands.
The cabin was well insulated from road and wind noise and it has a good turn-in when going around tighter sections. It’s also got a tight turning circle making it easy to manoeuvre at slower speeds.
The Scenic is the first car in the firm’s line-up to use Safety Shield which allows the driver to programme their preferences to what driver assistance setting they want to be activated when driving; it means that at the touch of a button, any driver aids can be switched off, which we thought was a great idea. However, rear visibility was reduced due to the large rear headrests and large C-pillars.
Compared to its other French rival, the Peugeot e-3008, the Renault in on the back foot when it comes to driver involvement.
What’s it like inside?
The interior has a nice design with the infotainment screen all angled towards the driver while 38 litres of storage is dotted about the place. There are very large centre storage areas and the armrest in the back can be folded down revealing two swivel-out cup holders, USB-C charging ports and foldout stands.
The back is vast with an abundance of legroom and headroom which was pretty impressive despite our test car’s panoramic sunroof. The floor is completely flat, too, meaning a middle passenger could sit in the back comfortably while large back windows make it easy for kids to look out.
The boot stands at 545 litres with the seats up and 1,670 with them folded down, better than an e-3008 but not as big as something like a Tesla Model Y – also the Scenic’s rear seats don’t fold flat which could be a pain if you’re pushing larger items to the back.
What’s the spec like?
Move up to the Esprit Alpine, starting at £43,495 and it boasts a soft fabric dashboard, heated sports seats with blue stitching and 20-inch alloy wheels.
Our test car was the top-of-the-line Iconic which has a price tag of £45,495 and adds an electric driver’s seat with massage function, Harman Kardon sound system and the Solarbay Panoramic Sunroof – both Esprit Alpine and Iconic versions are only available in Long Range format.
Verdict:
It’s good to drive while being practical and versatile, and with prices on par with its key rivals, it’s not bad value, either.
Sure, the driving experience is still not scintillating, but the Scenic was designed to be comfortable and commodious – which this French car has in spades.