I have rarely driven a car, compared with an SUV, which displays all the flair for providing comfort, elegance and the chance to see beyond the narrow confines of the road, as I found when enjoying the Scenic.
With a length of 4,344 mm, the Scenic is somewhat longer than the small SUVs that seem to appeal to a high percentage of local drivers. However, while an SUV always betrays its original need to provide the upwardly mobile with a delightful motoring ‘plaything’, the Scenic provides serious motorists with the ideal tool to enjoy trips around our island home, or more importantly, the ideal passenger-carrying car for extended holidays abroad.
For instance, the maximum load length with the passenger seat down is an astonishing 2,508 mm, and yet with the front seats up, there is still 1,680 mm of load space to the rear door.
In fact, it has sliding, reclining or removable rear seats and a massive hold is then revealed. However, apart from the ability to remove and then stock up with a variety of goodies, all the seats can be left in place, with the various underseat and other storage compartments within the entire car revealed to curious fingers.
And no, I’m not simply referring to cup holders and other similar cubby-holes, storage bins and hideaways.
The all new front end of the car makes it far more masculine, mean and purposeful. The enhanced visibility comes about because the front screen is absolutely enormous and the negative effects of the A pillar have been negated by the inclusion of small quarter lights which allow reasonable sideways vision in the crucial ‘blind-spot’ region.
The front seats pump up allowing decent sideways vision for even small drivers and if, like me, you need to know where the front of the car ends, you can at least see the convenient bulges around the headlamps, even if your personal height [like mine] fails to allow much of a view of the bonnet. In reality, I’m told it takes a morning’s motoring to become totally aware of the length, front and rear of the Scenic.
We were happily testing the four-cylinder, 1461cc diesel. This car has a six forward-speed manual gearchange, and yes the sixth gear can be used approaching our maximum of 80km/h on flat and slightly sloping roads.
This car is really one of the easiest vehicles in its class to drive. All the information an enthusiastic driver needs is instantly available on a multi-function TFT screen.
Obviously, the car is serenely safe and just to rub salt in the wound, this car has hill-start assistance, which makes the use of the handbrake a bit of a joke.
Scenic also has Stop and Start and regenerative braking as part of the package of ecological and economical engines, from Renault’s Formula One expertise.
On the road, the car is a total pleasure to drive and the variable electric power steering inputs just the right amount of feel through the front wheels for the driver to be totally aware of road conditions underneath the car, even when rain or muck makes it difficult to sort out the rough from the smooth.
This car is also very safe; ABS and EBA take care of the need to stay on the ‘black-top’. One may find driver, passenger, side and curtain airbags, a Renault key-card instead of the conventional key. A super tyre inflation kit promises all things, as there is no spare wheel. The automatic parking brake scared the life out of me, and the exit lights on the doors provided the thrills of flying without the cost.
This is also borne out by the aircraft-style rear trays (food being served sometime before reaching Dingli Cliffs).
I liked the 12v socket in the rear, the dual zone climate control plus Rear AC vents. This is particularly welcome as the test car was a delightful shade of black.
It uses auto lights and has rain sensors, a speed limiter and Cruise Control. The latter is a magnificent tool to use on long-distance motorway travel.
Over the past 15 years, more and more manufacturers have come to grips with diesel engines and have realised the plus factors so appreciated by the modern motorist.
Verdict
Comfort
Even on the longest journeys.
Performance
No sluggard, but definitely a long-distance tourer rather than a sprinter.
Cool
It has more storage space than Pandora’s Box.
Quality
Renault seems to have got it entirely right.
At a glance
Top speed
120mph.
0-100km
11 seconds.
Economy
4.9l/100km in combined mode.
C02
130g/km travelled.
Engine
Diesel. DirectCommon Rail.
Power
85bhp at 3,750rpm.
Maximum torque
200Nm at 1,750rpm.
Dimensions
Length: 4,344mm; width: 2,077mm with door mirrors extended; height 1,637mm.