RENAULT SCENIC

TO ACHIEVE THAT ‘concept car look’ for the fourth-generation Scenic, certain compromises had to be made – compromises that become increasingly apparent the more we drive our quirky MPV.

The most noticeable one is the high floor, which forces rear passengers to adopt an awkward position, with their knees higher than their hips. Combined with a sloping rear roofline – necessary to keep the drag coefficient acceptable – and a cacophony of road noise from those 20in wheels, it takes only a matter of minutes before passengers start to grumble.

The design flaws don’t stop there. At speed, in heavy rain, the air streaming down the flanks of the car quickly generates a vortex of water on the side windows, rendering the door mirrors virtually inoperable. Now, we admit, this is not an effect limited to just the Scenic, but never have we experienced such total occlusion of side visibility.

But have these issues been enough to put me off the Scenic? Surprisingly not, because the decision to persevere with such a bold concept-led design also brings with it a number of highlights, such as an elevated seating position, an attractive exterior appearance and a beautifully integrated full-length fixed panoramic roof.

However, its biggest test is yet to come. With family-focused trips planned over the summer, the big Renault will have to perform as a family tool, and not simply as a designer’s plaything. I’ll keep you posted with how it gets on.