Renault goes back to the future with new Scenic

If you’re over the age of 30, you’ll remember the original Renault Scenic.

It was a very rational and space-efficient car – and it pretty much created the small MPV concept that became so popular during the 1990s and Noughties.

People-carriers have fallen out of fashion over the past three decades, though, leading Renault to axe the Scenic in 2019.

Now the name is back – not on a practical though slightly dull MPV but, you guessed it, on a fully electric SUV.

Renault doesn’t call the Scenic E-Tech Electric an

SUV, however. It prefers the term “family car”, but there’s no doubt it has SUV proportions and will rival other electric high-riders such as the Skoda Enyaq and new Peugeot E-3008.

Renault says the new one does channel the original’s fanatical attention to practicality with spacious rear head and legroom and plenty of cubby holes dotted around the car.

While it doesn’t wear the original car’s Megane Scenic badge, it is still the larger and more spacious sister to the Megane E-Tech in the French firm’s range.

The Scenic sits on the same platform as the

Megane’s but uses different motors and battery packs.

There’s a 60kWh battery giving a claimed WLTP range of 260 miles, while the larger – and predicted bestseller – 87kWh battery should be good enough for 379 miles before it needs to be topped up.

That’s comparable to most of the Scenic’s rivals but some way off the 98kWh Peugeot E-3008’s claimed 435-mile range.

The smaller-battery model gets a 168bhp motor while the 87kWh is powered by a 217bhp motor – both are front-wheel drive with no dual-motor versions offered. In terms of charging, the Scenic gets 22kW AC and 150kW DC capability, while a heat pump comes as standard.

Electric cars are rarely lightweight and they nearly always weigh more than equivalent petrol and diesel cars. Tipping the scales at 1,730-1,890kg, the Scenic isn’t featherweight but it weighs more than 200kg less than its chief rival, the Peugeot E-3008.

That makes a huge difference to the way it drives, as it feels light and more nimble than the Peugeot. Sure, this isn’t an exciting car to drive, but it doesn’t need to be.

What it does extremely well is give a super comfortable and polished driving experience, with a well-controlled ride, light steering and lovely linear power delivery.

It’s quiet – very quiet, in fact – and drives like a far more expensive electric SUV. That is at normal and motorway speeds, though.

At a walking pace, the Scenic emits a pedestrian warning sound composed by musician Jean-Michel Jarre, along with a whole host of other chimes and welcome greeting tunes.

Again, you probably have to be over the age of 30 to know how cool that is.

There’s little evidence of

the boxy lines that previous Scenics so proudly wore.

Instead, Renault has gone for a more SUV-like shape to tempt the current wave of family buyers who favour SUVs over MPVs.

Having said that, with a slightly elongated roof line and the wheels pushed to the corners, maximising the wheelbase, there is a nod to earlier Scenics’ focus on space.

It wears the latest version of Renault’s corporate face, with the brand’s diamond logo repeated across the front end, and is a goodlooking car. It doesn’t suffer from the bloated look of so many electric SUVs.

If you’ve been inside the Megane E-Tech, the Scenic will feel familiar. There’s a similar dashboard design angled towards the driver and the same quality feel.

The 12-inch portrait touchscreen is a cinch to use, thanks to its Google operating system, and we love the physical controls for the air conditioning.

The Scenic also comes with a stunning opacifying sunroof instead of a traditional glass roof and sunblind combo. Different panels can be made opaque to give shade at a touch of a button – the type of feature you’d expect on a £100,000 limousine.

In the back, leg and headroom is impressive and there’s a treat when you fold down the centre armrest, which has a couple of USB-C charging ports and swivelling cup holders with natty holders to place smartphones and tablets.

Boot space is good at 545-1,670 litres but you will need the optional moveable boot floor – expected to cost about £150 – to save having to haul heavy goods over the huge load lip.

The back seats fold in a 40-20-40 split, but it’s a shame they don’t slide, recline or even remove like in the original Scenic.

The Scenic is very well equipped. We’d imagine the entry-level Techno trim will be all most buyers want, with its digital driver’s display, touchscreen and Google operating system, wireless phone charging, electric tailgate, rear camera, heated front seats and steering wheel and clever rear armrest.

The interior is at its best in mid-range Esprit Alpine trim with its blue carpets, alcantara trim and Tricolore dotted around, while the top-spec Iconic adds luxuries such as a Harman Kardon sound system, panoramic sunroof, a digital rear-view mirror and hands-free parking.

The Scenic is keenly priced for an electric car, with the Techno pegged at £37,495 for a small battery and £40,995 for the larger one. The Esprit Alpine and Iconic come in at £43,495 and £45,495 respectively.

Renault has undercut a fair chunk of the Scenic’s rivals with keen pricing but that’s not all it has going for it.

It is a handsome family SUV with a more-thandecent electric range for most families and it has a lovely interior that feels plush and has a number of clever features. The Scenic could be the new electric family SUV benchmark.

CHARGING AHEAD: The new Renault Scenic Iconic E-Tech has a range of 379 miles and is expected to be very popular with families.

The stylish Scenic E-Tech wears the Renault brand’s diamond logo, is very spacious inside and has lots of hi-tech features, including a 12-inch portrait touchscreen that is simple to use thanks to its Google operating system.