Renault Scenic E-Tech Review

The new Renault Scenic is the biggest French revolution since, well, the French Revolution. Previous Scenic generations were worthy but unexciting one-box MPVs designed specifically for hauling families around. Renault tried to jazz up the last Scenic by actually bothering to style it and giving it massive 20-inch wheels as standard, but it was still an MPV at a time when MPVs were losing popularity. 

You’ll notice that the new Scenic has morphed into a trendy SUV, with a taller ride height, optional two-tone paint and a mean new face with intricate LED detailing. Strong surfacing and equally strong alloy wheel designs help it stand out. 

It’s up against an increasing number of rivals, including the Tesla Model Y, Skoda Enyaq, Kia EV6, Peugeot e-3008 and Hyundai Ioniq 5. And, if you’re not 100% set on electric power, the Scenic has a host of rivals even from within its own ranks – Renault currently offers the Austral, Arkana, Symbioz, Rafale and Megane E-Tech alongside the Scenic, all with varying levels of electrification and practicality. 

The Scenic is no longer a £20,000 car – that only buys a 90hp mid-spec Clio, now – and, initially, it looks expensive. Prices range between £38,000 and £46,000 for a brand-new model, but that’s exactly on a par with the EVs we’ve mentioned above. And, considering the Scenic undercuts a top-spec Vauxhall Corsa, it offers strong value for money. But we’d wait until it hits the used market, where it’ll offer even better value. 

As you’ll read, there’s very little wrong with the Scenic. In fact, the Scenic won the 2024 Car of the Year award, and praise for new vehicles doesn’t get much higher than that. 

Something the new Scenic shares with its predecessor is a portrait centre console layout. Although here, it’s nearly all screen – and there’s a second 12-inch screen next to it that shows all the main driving information. 

Sensibly, Renault has retained proper buttons and switches for the climate control, although the steering wheel still uses touch pads and you’ll need to use the screen for a lot of functions. Thankfully, the OpenR system is brilliant. It’s super clear to look at and reacts to your prods without delay. 

What’s more, it runs on Google software, so you get voice control and mapping from the American tech giant without having to plug your phone in. That means a clever voice assistant that can understand and react to your commands – not always a given with voice control software – and a sat nav system that’s constantly updated and shows live traffic conditions on your route. Live functionality is usually a cost extra on cars that don’t include built-in Google apps. Handily, it’ll also find nearby chargers and precondition the battery so it’s ready for charging when you reach a charging station. 

If you’re ever waiting for the car to charge, you can take in all the lovely detailing on the upholstery, and all the useful cubbies dotted around the cabin. Renault was aiming for a lounge-like feel with the Scenic and, while we seem to say that a lot these days, the Scenic’s breezy upholstery and fabric-topped dashboard manage to give a homely atmosphere. All it’s missing is an Ikea bookcase and some family photos. 

Standard equipment is really generous. As well as the big screens, every Scenic comes with multicolour ambient lighting, heated seats, a heated steering wheel, an electric tailgate, a reversing camera, adaptive cruise control, metallic paint, automatic LED headlights, two-zone climate control, keyless entry and wireless phone charging. Crikey. 

Upgrading from Techno to Esprit Alpine largely brings cosmetic changes and sports seats, while top-spec Iconic (pictured) adds a clever panoramic sunroof that can swap individual segments of glass from opaque to clear.

When the Scenic was a people-carrier, versatility came high up the list of its strengths. Renault’s kept the spirit of older Scenic models with this new one, and it’s probably more practical than ever. Its size helps, with the new Scenic having grown in every direction. It now sits on the same electric-only platform as the Nissan Ariya and the smaller Renault Megane E-Tech, which has enabled the wheels to be pushed right out into the corners.

The resulting 2.8-metre-long wheelbase frees up a fantastic amount of passenger space. It offers more rear legroom than a Tesla Model Y or Kia EV6, and slightly more headroom, too. You’d have to be really tall to feel even a little hemmed in and, unlike conventional panoramic roofs, Renault’s ‘Solarbay’ roof doesn’t reduce headroom. 

Three adults can fit across the back seats for shorter journeys, and the lack of a transmission tunnel improves foot room for the middle-seat passenger. 

Your back-seat passengers might not get a tray table to ping up and down, but they do get individual phone pockets in the seatbacks and what Renault calls an ‘ingenious’ rear armrest. The fold-down centre armrest includes a pair of cupholders plus storage space, fold-out tablet holders and even USB sockets to charge devices from. Just make sure your kids don’t find it fun to push Jammy Dodgers into the USBs…

Talking of kids, there are Isofix points on the outer rear seats, as you’d expect. The Scenic’s height and wide-opening doors make it easy to get your mini-mes in and out. 

The 545-litre boot is competitive with the class leaders, and it should be more than enough for the bulkiest weekly shop or a family holiday. It’s a tall and square space, whereas the Model Y and EV6 have longer but shallower loadbays. And, even with the adjustable floor lowered as far as it’ll go, the Scenic still offers a bit of space underneath the boot floor – where you could stash charging cables or valuables. 

Most Scenics come with a large 87kWh battery, which boasts an official range figure of 379 miles – putting it among the longest-range electric cars on sale. Now its price definitely doesn’t seem too bad. In reality, you’re probably going to manage around 310 miles between charges, depending on how and where you drive. 

Entry-level Techno models come with either the 87kWh battery or a cheaper 60kWh one. The smaller battery still returns 260 miles – likely 200 in real-world driving – which should be plenty for the majority of buyers. 

Both batteries offer competitive if not class-leading fast-charging rates. The 60kWh battery will charge at up to 130kW while the 87kWh battery can manage up to 150kW of power. Both take between 30-40 minutes to charge from 15-80% at a compatible public fast charger. 

60kWh models sit in group 28 for insurance and 87kWh models are only four groups higher. Besides the Skoda Enyaq, most of the Scenic’s EV SUV rivals sit in higher insurance groups so the Renault should offer much more reasonable premiums than the EV6 and Model Y. 

The Scenic doesn’t try to chase its rivals for performance. All versions are front-wheel drive – there’s no mega-power four-wheel-drive Scenic offered. Compared to a petrol or diesel SUV, the Scenic will still feel brisk, and 0-62mph takes under eight seconds for the popular 87kWh version, which has a 217hp motor. 

Many of the Scenic’s rivals try to be both a family SUV and a sports car in one, with plenty of power but often a frustratingly firm ride. The Scenic knows what it is and knows how important comfort and refinement is for daily life. Its driving experience is smooth and relaxing, and the soft setup makes it a great choice for long motorway journeys. There’s a bit of tyre roar at high speeds – blame the big wheels and the car’s weight – but acoustic glass is fitted to reduce wind noise to almost nothing. 

The steering is very light, which is a positive thing around town but means you have very little idea of what’s actually going on beneath you at higher speeds. It’s not one for keen drivers, but the Scenic feels solid and reassuring if you’re driving normally – something we can appreciate from a dependable family SUV. 

Generally, the regular brakes and the regenerative braking from the motor team up well, but the brake pedal can feel spongy when you reduce the level of regen braking. It’s really quick and simple to adjust the regen levels – just pull on one of the paddles behind the steering wheel to increase or decrease the strength. 

A whole host of safety equipment comes as standard, helping the Scenic’s relaxed feel. There’s blind-spot monitoring, emergency brake assist, lane-keep assist and a system that watches out for traffic when you’re reversing, among other tech.