Renault Grand Scenic (2016 - ) Review

A practical, spacious family friendly makes the Renault Grand Scenic one of the best cars in the sector. It has a bold front end giving it plenty of road presence while Renault has deleted spurious trim levels making it much easier to choose the Grand Scenic you want when you are sitting in the dealer’s showroom. Is the Renault better than the Ford S-MAX or the Citroen Grand C4 Picasso?

Renault claims that the updated engines on the Grand Scenic range have reduced running costs between 20 per cent and 30 per cent lower than for comparable powertrains in the previous generation model, In the UK, the engine line-up comprises four engines (two petrol and two diesel), including two new 1.2 petrol TCe (Turbo Control Efficiency) 115 and 130 engines, both with Stop & Start technology.

The 1.6-litre Energy dCi 130 will reach 62 mph in 10.3 seconds from a standing start and will go on to a top speed of 121mph.

The new-generation 1.2-litre TCe 115 petrol engine will complete the benchmark sprint in 12.6 seconds and has a top speed of 112mph.

Move up to the 1.2 TCe 130 petrol and it can get from zero to 62mph in 11.1 seconds and has a top speed of 121mph.

All of the above engines are actually very good with our favourite being the 1.6-litre Energy dCi. It blends a decent mix of performance and economy making it a straight-forward choice for many.

In this sector of the market, the Grand Scenic scores highly. It is an excellent example of building a practical MPV but with a decent amount of driving dynamics. Long motorways are child’s play in the Grand Scenic thanks to its supple suspension and well set-up gearing.

Venture out to the B roads of which the UK has many and you may be pleasantly surprised. The Renault feels agile on twisty country roads while bodyroll is minimal while feedback from the steering is first class, well for an MPV. 

Refinement in the Grand Scenic is on a par with best in class. The cabin is well insulated from road, tyre and wind roar. Up front, the seats have good side support, useful when cornering and very good lumbar adjustment, especially useful when on long journeys.

It’s incredibly spacious on the inside too, the high roof and the large windows give the cabin an airy feel making it pleasant to spend time in.

Renault originally had four trim levels when the car was initially launched but the French maker decided to simplify this and introduce two trims, Dynamique TomTom and Limited Nav

As you might imagine, the entry-level trim has plenty of kit as standard. We would be here all day if we ran through every item but highlights include Carminat TomTom integrated sat-nav with maps of the UK and Ireland, radio with Bluetooth connectivity and AUX/USB points, leather trimmed steering wheel, dual zone climate control, 'Estrella' faux leather and fabric upholstery, automatic headlights and wipers, electric windows, rear privacy glass, rear sunblinds, 16-inch alloy, ABS with brakeforce distribution, cruise control, all-round airbags, keyless entry and start and LED daytime running lights.

Opt for the Limited Nav and this adds, ‘LIMITED’ exterior badge, ‘LIMITED’ chrome door sill plates, electrically operated and heated folding door mirrors with gloss back shells, roof bars, panoramic sunroof, ‘LIMITED’ upholstery and rear parking sensors.

There are also plenty of options on offer including Bose stereo upgrade, leather and faux suede upholstery, electrically adjustable driver's seat, heated front seats, 17-inch alloys to name but a few.

One of the best, when it comes to family friendliness. Not only van it carry seven people in relative comfort or five with ease, there is plenty of space up front and in the rear although you should restrict the third row for children as it is a bit more cramped.

If it’s storage solutions you want, you are going to be very happy. There are masses of storage including drawers under the front seats, four underfloor compartments, and six pockets on the front seatbacks and a double sliding centre console on top models. The only problem may be finding your nik-naks again.

With the third row of seats folded and five in place, the Grand Scenic offers 702 litres and if you need a bit more room then you can fold the second and third row of seats and this expands the luggage space to a mammoth 2,063 litres.

The driving position is good while visibility is also good making it a proper family friendly car. 

The most frugal engine on the Grand Scenic range is the 1.5 dCi 110 Stop & Start. It has a combined claimed average of 68.9mpg while it emits 114g/km of CO2 emissions. 

Quality has greatly improved on the Renault range on the past number of years and the Grand Scenic is following in the footsteps of more recent models. Compared to the previous iteration, the interior has vastly improved. The materials used are of a better quality while the plastics feel much better. The Grand Scenic is more upmarket than ever before.

Reliability has been steadily improving and at first sight the Grand Scenic looks like it will stay the test of time. The majority of the mechanicals have been proven in other models so there is little reason to worry.

Renault alongside Volvo is one of the safest car makers in the world. The Grand Scenic was awarded the maximum five stars by the independent testers at Euro NCAP.

Renault has equipped the Grand Scenic with front and rear curtain airbags, front lateral airbags, driver and passenger airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners. ESP, height-adjustable headrests, three-point seatbelts plus Isofix child seat mounts on all three second row seats making it incredibly family friendly.