Familiar name applies some of its forebear’s clever thinking to a fast-growing market On sale April 2024 Price from £40,995
Dan Jones dan.jones@haymarket.com
IMPROVISE, ADAPT AND overcome. Those three words are the unofficial motto of the United States Marine Corps, but the new Renault Scenic seems to have taken them to heart, too. You see, while it launched as an MPV back in 1996, that class has dwindled over the years, leading the Scenic to adapt and become a far more appealing electric SUV.
That does, though, mean that it faces a whole cohort of rivals, so how does it stack up against the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Tesla Model Y and many, many more? Well, when it comes to performance, it’s an also-ran; with a 215bhp electric motor, its 0-62mph time of 8.4sec isn’t particularly quick by electric car standards. As a comparison, the Model Y RWD takes just 6.6sec. However, the Scenic’s pace is more than sufficient for everyday driving.
Like the Model Y, the Scenic has a firm suspension set-up, but it doesn’t thud over imperfections like that rival. However, the Model Y has a more controlled ride than the Scenic, which fidgets around more, even on smooth roads, and never quite settles down even at higher speeds. The Ioniq 5 is a smoother motorway companion than either, though.
No matter which driving mode you’re in, the Scenic’s steering always feels light, and that’s good news when you’re manoeuvring in tight urban spots. However, on a country road it lacks the feedback and precision you get from the Model Y’s heavier steering. The Scenic’s gains a little bit of weight as you turn in to a sweeping corner, but it does so inconsistently, and that means placing the nose of the car exactly where you want it can be tricky.
There’s much better news when it comes to official range. Every Scenic has a big, 87kWh (usable capacity) battery that promises up to 379 miles on a full charge; that’s farther than the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Skoda Enyaq iV 85 and even the Model Y Long Range will take you. The Scenic also gives you a standard-fit heat pump to warm the interior more efficiently in cold conditions.
When you eventually need to plug it in, the Scenic will accept electricity at rates of up to 150kW from a suitably powerful charger. That’s a higher rate than the Volkswagen ID 4 accepts, but slightly lower than the 175kW handled by the Ioniq 5. There’s also the option of 22kW AC home charging, but few households in the UK have the three-phase power supply required
