Review
I don't really want to have to think whether I'll be able to open it properly if I park in a certain spot and the direction at which I can approach a boot with my arms full of baggage. The drive in the 2.0-litre Monaco was gutsy, highly responsive and yet very calm, both on the open road and on a mildly challenging off-road course at the launch in Morocco. The full-time 4x4 function means you don't have to worry about switching the drive systems so you can keep your hands on the wheel and mind on the road.
The height increase of 120mm over the standard Scenic means you get a lofty driving position, but with increased ground clearance - and therefore a higher centre of gravity - and I was concerned about high speed cornering as the RX4 tended to lean a little too much. Overall, Renault has proved you can have oddball, functionality, refinement - particularly in the interior - and fun in one package and if you are looking for a vehicle that stands out in one sense for its uniqueness, but underneath provides what you've become accustomed to in terms of comfort and equipment, the RX4 could be the one for you.
Renault hopes to capitalise on the increasingly open-minded approach given to fleet choice lists with its new Scenic RX4, which goes on sale on June 1. The car marries the Scenic with permanent 4x4 capability and a new bold look, using the existing equipment of the range in two trim levels, Sport Alize and Monaco, with a 2.0-litre 16v petrol and the 1.9dCi.
The RX4 is designed to take a slice of the burgeoning sports utility vehicle (SUV) market in Europe which has grown by an average of 5% a year in the last five years and by as much as 25% between 1997 and 1998, with the 4x4 compact segment - the RX4's target market - growing by 90% in 1997/98. In the UK, the SUV sector accounted for 48,000 registrations last year. RX4's rivals include the Land Rover Freelander, Toyota RAV4, Suzuki Vitara and Honda CR-V.
A Renault spokesman said: 'Attitudes towards 4x4s in fleet are changing with people being given a greater choice of vehicles, leaving behind the antipathy towards 4x4s and soft-tops. The brand strength we have with Renault in fleet will help us to combine with this changing attitude to help us push the RX4.'
In its first full year, Renault expects to sell 4,000 RX4s in retail and fleet - 15% of total UK Scenic sales. A third of RX4 sales will be diesel. To individualise the RX4 from the Scenic range, Renault has given it a black finish beneath the headlamps, larger electrically-operated door mirrors and, to resist impacts and scratchings, it has lower body panels with protective mouldings. The bumpers are new, with the front having its own nudge-bar. At the back is a two-part upper glass section which opens upwards and a low door, complete with covered spare wheel, swings sideways.
Inside, the RX4 has three independent sliding and removable rear seats, a drinks cooler box, bottle holders, a rear accessory power point and front seat back tables. Standard equipment also includes air-conditioning, heated door mirrors, front fog lights, power steering and a six-speaker CD hi-fi. The range-topping Monaco has leather upholstery and leather steering wheel. Driver, front passenger and lateral airbags, ISOFIX child seat fittings, seatbelt pretensioners, ABS and side impact protection bars are standard, together with front wheel traction control.
