Renault Scenic review

Is the Renault Scenic a good car?

Compared with its predecessor, the Renault Scenic is better than ever in all-electric form. It’s keenly priced, has an impressive EV range and has more generous equipment levels than most of its rivals. Throw in some interesting technology, a spacious cabin, and a driving experience that sensibly errs on the side of comfort and Renault has made a truly appealing family SUV.

How much does the Renault Scenic cost?

Reviving famous nameplates for new electric cars is a common trend in the car industry these days so we weren’t too surprised to see the Renault Scenic morph into an all-electric family SUV. The ‘Scenic’ name adorned Renault MPVs for over a quarter of a century and had massive success in Europe and the UK especially. While the new Renault Scenic might be powered by electricity, Renault wants you to think of it as a family car first and foremost, like the Scenics of old, which just so happens to be electric. 

Unsurprisingly, the latest electric Scenic is more expensive than the last internal-combustion engined MPV to carry the Scenic name. There are three trim levels made up of the entry-level Techno, mid-range Esprit Alpine and range-topping Iconic. Two battery sizes are offered - a 60kWh and an 87kWh unit, with Techno trim the only version available with the smaller battery. Techno starts at just under £37,500, rising to around £41,000 with the larger battery, the mid-range Esprit Alpine kicks off at around £43,500, while the top-of-the-range Iconic costs from roughly £45,500. Renault has kept things simple by not offering any options on these trim levels either, there are just six freely available body colours to choose from. 

Renault’s tagline for the Techno is ‘all essential features’ which sounds like an understatement when you consider the equipment list. As standard it gets 19-inch diamond cut wheels, front and rear LED lights, flush-fitting door handles, a 12.3-inch driver’s display and 12-inch central screen, automatic air-conditioning, heated front seats and steering wheel, wireless smartphone connectivity, a wireless smartphone charger and a rear camera.  

Above this, the Esprit Alpine adds 20-inch wheels, sport seats, ‘Esprit Alpine’ badging on both the exterior and interior, a fabric grey dash, a sports steering wheel and blue accents within the cabin.

The Iconic has a bespoke set of 20-inch wheels and an electric driver’s seat with massage function. It also has an uprated sound system, real wood inserts in the dash, a hands-free parking system, a 360-degree camera system, a digital rear-view camera and a panoramic sunroof. Perhaps most importantly for UK-based EV drivers, there’s a heat pump as standard, too.

18

The Renault Scenic serves up a driving experience with few flaws. Levels of comfort and refinement are good, with well-weighted controls making the car easy to drive. Performance isn’t thrilling by electric SUV standards but the slightly muted powertrain suits the car’s character. There are other options in the class that will better engage the keen driver, although handling is composed enough for family duties and that’s what the Scenic is all about. Read more about the Renault Scenic's electric motors, performance and drive here…

There’s quite a gap in range between the two Renault Scenic powertrain options. Officially, you get 260 miles from the 60kWh model but the 87kWh car can manage an impressive 379 miles on the WLTP combined cycle. Buyers need to ask how much they need the extra range because the larger battery adds cost and weight. Our test of the big battery Scenic saw it return 3.8m/kWh in mainly motorway driving for a real-world range of about 330 miles. Read more about the Renault Scenic's range, charging and running costs…

Renault’s Scenic is a sharply styled family car that doesn’t go overboard with the snazzy design touches. Functionality is the main focus, just as it should be in a family SUV. The materials used are of good quality, and we detected no squeaks or rattles on our test with the car seeming solidly built. The Google-based infotainment technology is good, and Renault has retained physical controls for the air-con, thank goodness.  Read more about the Renault Scenic's interior, design and technology…

Spaciousness is a definite Renault Scenic strength. The interior is impressively roomy for five adults with rear-seat space helped by the flat floor. The boot is a real highlight, eclipsing many rivals with a 545-litre capacity - although there is a loading lip to hoist items over. Read more about the Renault Scenic's boot space, comfort and practicality…

Renault’s safety record continues with a maximum five-star score for the Scenic, plus there’s an extensive list of standard safety assistance technology. Customer satisfaction scores for Renault models haven’t been great in recent years but there are high hopes for the new generation of EV products of which the Scenic is part. Read more about the Renault Scenic's reliability and safety…

Renault Scenic alternatives

Sitting above the Renault Megane E-Tech as Renault’s most premium EV offering on sale, the Scenic goes up against the Skoda Enyaq, Volkswagen ID.4, Toyota bZ4X, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Kia EV6, Hyundai Ioniq 5, and Tesla Model Y in the electric family SUV class.

The Scenic doesn’t have the efficiency of the EV6, Ioniq or Model Y, but it does go further on a charge than the bZ4X. The Scenic isn’t quite as practical as the Enyaq, but considering the size of that rival, few others in this class are. Anyone who values comfort will be better off with the Scenic compared with the stiff and occasionally bouncy ride of the Mustang Mach-E, while the Google-based infotainment system used by Renault is miles ahead in terms of ease of use compared with the at times infuriating ID.4.