It has been 27 years since Renault presented the first generation Scénic. We have now reached the fifth edition of this family-oriented model. A generous amount of space remains one of its most important features. The brand new edition drives fully electric and makes great progress in many areas.
The new Renault Scenic is the brand's second car on the CMF-EV platform known from the Megane E-Tech electric. But that does not mean the dimensions are the same. The bottom group is wider and longer. In particular, it is the longer wheelbase that makes for regally more interior space. The fifth edition Scenic measures 4.47 metres in length and has a wheelbase of 2.79 metres. By spacing the wheels so far apart, the front and rear overhang is particularly short.
The car immediately makes a substantial impression, but it is definitely not an SUV. At 1.57 metres, the Scenic is only fractionally taller than a Zoe. The design does incorporate elements that appeal to an SUV, such as the black edges along the wheel arches. The car sits on hefty wheels, 19 or 20 inches depending on the equipment.
Renault offers two flavours in the powertrain. At the base is the most powerful engine known from the Megane good for 125 kW coupled to a 60 kWh battery. Within the same pack, Renault offers a second choice. That is a battery with 87 kWh capacity. This will be paired with a 160 kW electric motor. According to WLTP standard, the first option achieves a driving range of 420 km and the second even reaches 620 km. And the performance: 0-100 in 9.3/8.4 seconds and a top of 150/170 km/h.
On the outside, the Scenic shows some features that will from now on adorn other models. The logo sits in the middle of the grille and is no longer cut into the bonnet. Around the logo is a closed panel consisting of small logos in the body colour. The real air intake is located at the bottom of the bumper. The daytime running lights, as on the revamped Clio and Rafale, can be found on the side of the front bumper in the form of a half Renault logo. The rear lights are arrow-shaped and run to the edges of the bodywork.
The environment also gets attention in the Scenic beyond the electric drive. For instance, the upholstery of the Iconic and Esprit Alpine is made of 100 per cent recycled material. As much as 24 per cent of the car's total mass is made up of recycled materials, while plenty of use is also made of biomaterials.
The rear seat offers a sea of space, almost limousine worthy. The middle seat folds down into a comfortable armrest. It contains a storage compartment and two swivel cup holders that can also be used to hold a tablet or phone. The dashboard is almost identical to the Megane, but the Scenic comes with new graphics capabilities that, incidentally, will also be available for the Megane as an update.
In terms of apps, the EV planner's calculation has been improved so that it recalculates faster when conditions change. The electronics also provide more advice both during and after a drive. As for the sound experience, Renault asked Jean Michel Jarre for advice. He also composed the sound to warn pedestrians.
As with the Rafale, a Solarbay roof from Saint Gobin will be available, a glass roof that can be blinded in stages and is also partly made of recycled glass. This feature has a strong spatial effect and weighs less than a glass roof with a roller blind.
At 545 litres, the new Scenic offers a huge cargo space that can be extended to 1,670 litres by folding down the rear seats. In terms of height, the bench matches the highest position of the boot floor.
Photos : With its long wheelbase, the new Scenic offers palatial space for passengers and luggage (545 litres). The all-digital dashboard offers even more possibilities. The car pictured here is the Iconic trim level.
We will take the new Scenic on the road in early 2024. There it will prove positively that the low centre of gravity and the nice front/rear weight distribution (55/45) contribute significantly to pleasant and safe driving.
Finally, a word on the Scenic's battery. For the first time, it will be possible to replace cells separately in case of failure. Furthermore, the battery has a connection that allows the fire brigade to run water into the battery in case of an accident to prevent a worse situation. Incidentally, this connection can already be found on the Megane, the current Zoe and the plug-in hybrids.