Renault Scenic E-Tech Iong-term test | Practicality and safety

Practicality for the Scenic is intrinsic to its DNA and new Scenic doesn’t disappoint even if it is a bit smaller than competitors such as the Tesla Model Y and Kia EV6. 

It offers plenty of room in the front for two six-footers and lots of storage space, including door bins that can each take a large bottle and a deep storage cubby under the centre armrest. 

There is also one cupholder with the possibility to create another thanks to some moveable dividers situated in a long storage tray on the lower centre console. 

A wireless phone-charging is perched above, just below the infotainment system. 

There is electric lumbar adjustment on all trim levels, with our top test spec Iconic trim also offering full electric seat adjustment and a massage function. 

Rear seat passengers, meanwhile, benefit from lots of head and leg room in the Scenic even if, unlike the Model Y and EV6, the SUV’s seats don’t recline. 

A fold-down centre armrest offers two USB-C charge points, two cupholders and storage for rear seat passenger devices. It also has two tablet holders for keeping kids entertained while on those longer journeys watching a film. 

In addition, there are map pockets and two smaller pockets on the backs of the front seats for further stowage.  

I also like the high driving position the Scenic offers, which provides good visibility over the bonnet and the road ahead. The only problem being the substantial windscreen pillars which can restrict your view at junctions and roundabouts. 

Chunky rear pillars and a pokey rear windscreen can also hamper your visibility, but the rear-view camera and front and rear parking sensors help mitigate the problem. Our test car in Iconic trim also comes with a digital rear-view mirror and a 360-degree camera. 

The Scenic’s 545-litre boot is slightly larger than that of the EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5, while not being far off the Skoda Enyaq’s carrying capacity. There are a further 38 litres of storage underneath the boot floor, which is perfect for the Scenic’s charging cable. 

For the times when you need more space, however, the Scenic’s rear seatback can be folded down in a 40/20/40 split. 

Safety experts at Euro NCAP have awarded the Scenic a maximum five out of five star rating based on updated results from the Renault Megane E-Tech test. 

It comes with a lot of safety technology and driver assistance as standard, including adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring and an active emergency braking system with pedestrian and cyclist detection. 

Major advantage over rivals

The fully electric Renault Scenic E-Tech not only performs well on the road, it also works well on paper, outperforming its rivals when running costs are analysed.

The Scenic is the most cost-effective electric model in its class over a typical four-year/80,000-mile company car cycle, according to data from Cap HPI.

The Fleet News Car Running Cost Calculator gives running costs of 34.9p per mile (ppm) for the Scenic E-Tech techno (60kWh) Comfort Range.

The 87kWh Long Range variant is also ahead of the class, with total running costs of 36.8ppm for the Techno trim, 40.6ppm for the Alpine and 42.7ppm for the Iconic, which we have on test.

Key rivals include the Ford Explorer (43ppm), Nissan Ariya (44ppm), Peugeot e-3008 (43ppm), Tesla Model Y (51ppm), Skoda Enyaq (45ppm) and VW ID4 (47ppm).

Among this pool of vehicles, the Scenic E-Tech electric has the strongest residual value (RV). A techno Long Range model has a predicted value after four years of £15,900, equating to a depreciation of 31ppm (80,000 miles).

Service, maintenance and repair (SMR) costs are also class leading for the Scenic E-Tech electric. Fleet managers can expect to pay 2.9ppm during a typical cycle.

Estimated charging costs for the five models are more closely aligned, with all models costing less than 3ppm.

At £37,440, the Scenic 60kWh E-Tech Techno Comfort Range has the lowest P11d value among its pool of rivals.

The 87kWh Techno trim has a P11d price of £40,940; the Alpine P11d price is £43.440; and the Iconic, which we have on test, has a P11d price of £45,440.

Renault Scenic E-Tech Iconic joins our fleet

The Renault Scenic joins the Fleet News long-term test fleet having been revealed as ‘European Car of the Year’ at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year.

With such a big billing, there are high expectations, but the Scenic has not failed to impress during its first few weeks on test.

The only head scratcher is 2024 Scenic seems to have very little to do with the popular MPV of the 1990s which shares its name. This is not an MPV.

What you do have, however, is a very roomy, long-range fully electric car that is brimming with technology.

The 87kWh battery and a 220hp motor in the long-range model, which we have on test, combine to deliver an official combined range of 379 miles.

Having been driving the Scenic now for a couple of weeks, both around town and on the motorway, 340-350 miles of range is achievable, but driving style is key and harsh acceleration can see that easily fall below 300 miles.

We will be putting it through its paces over the next few weeks to get an idea of what your average driver should expect in real world conditions and how close we can get to that WLTP figure.

Good news is it comes with a heat pump as standard, helping to recover heat and energy that would otherwise be wasted.

Renault gives you’re the choice of three trims, starting with the generously-equipped Techno trim, the Esprit Alpine and Iconic, which is what we have on test.

Iconic comes with hands-free parking, 360-degree camera, a smart rear-view mirror and the rather cool Solarbay opacifying sunroof, which is not only the kind of neat, new technology demanded by next generation vehicles, it’s also rather green.

The panoramic roof uses recycled glass in its manufacture, with 50% of it made of waste from plate and automotive glass production, while 90% of it can be recycled at the end of its life.

In addition, it is 6-8kg lighter than a conventional panoramic roof equipped with a mechanical blind.

What has also impressed is the OpenR Link multimedia system, which is standard across the three trims. It features more than 50 apps and is accessed through a 12.3-inch driver information display on the dashboard and a 12-inch vertical central screen.

The system is really easy to navigate, but perhaps the only one complaint (and it is very minor) is the lack of knob for volume control.

Outside, the Scenics angular features detract from a boxish back that delivers an enormous amount of legroom for rear seat passengers.

On-the-road, meanwhile, you can’t fault the ride and, considering the size of the battery, it is well balanced for comfort and agility.