Reno Scenery Review (2024)

Read Caroline’s Renault Scenic review to find out everything you need to know about buying Renault’s new electric car in Ireland.

The Renault Scenic will return to Ireland in 2024 as a fully battery electric vehicle.

Renault’s famous family car rose to fame as an MPV in the 1990s. Now it’s been redesigned as an electric crossover with plenty of interior space.

The arrival of the Scenic expands Renault’s presence in the compact car segment, joining the likes of the Megane, Arkana and Austral. The Scenic is already an award winner, having also won the 2024 European Car of the Year award earlier this year.

It is on sale in Ireland, priced from €39,995.

Let’s take a closer look!

design

The new Scenic is a car you want to see. Gone are the soft curves of the previous model, replaced by the angular new face of Renault. It sits a little higher off the ground than a regular hatchback, and there’s plenty of contrasting plastic cladding around the lower sills and wheel arches, giving it an interesting crossover look. There are beautiful diamond details on the grille, and sharp LED lighting front and rear give it a high-tech look.

The new Scenic in Ireland is available in several trim levels: 60kWh versions of Evolution and Techno, and 87kWh versions of Techno, Esprit Alpine and Iconic.

Large wheels are standard across the range. The Evolution and Techno models are 19 inches, while the Esprit Alpine and Iconic models are 20 inches. Satin gray trim on the front and rear fascias makes the Esprit Alpine and Iconic models stand out.

The Solarbay panoramic sunroof, standard on the top of the Iconic range, can be switched between opaque and transparent at the flick of a switch, saving the space and weight of traditional blinds or coverings. It also comes with a premium Harmon Kardon sound system.

Renault Scenic Interior

Inside, the Scenic has a new interior that’s very similar to the Megane, with a large portrait-style infotainment screen (9- or 12-inch) and plenty of soft furnishings, giving it an upmarket look and feel. There’s a fully digital driver display that offers a variety of views. You don’t sit as high as on the Austral or Rafale, but it’s easy to get comfortable. The fit and finish are great, the fabric is well finished and the color scheme of the seats is different.

With the exception of entry-level models, the touchscreens are powered by Google’s operating system and come with built-in Google apps such as Google Maps and Google Assistant. If you enter your destination into the navigation system, it will tell you what percentage of battery power you have when you get there. This is very useful when driving an electric car! The system also makes it easy to find electric car chargers. So it does feel like a serious competitor to the Tesla Model Y in terms of having useful in-car technology to help you get around.

There is a suite of standard safety features including lane departure warning, driver attention alert and road sign recognition. A wireless smartphone charger and a backup camera are standard, as are heated front seats and a heated steering wheel.

Practicality

The new Scenic has a longer wheelbase than the Megane, thus providing more rear legroom. Built on a custom electric vehicle platform, it’s very roomy with a flat floor and generous legroom for all passengers. There’s also a clever armrest that houses cup holders, USB ports and device holders, while also serving as a ski hatch for easy loading.

The rear seats themselves don’t do anything fancy like slide or recline. There are Isofix on both outboard seats and the front passenger seat. It would be nice to see the seating become more modular, like the old Scenic.

The boot is deep and has a capacity of 545 liters, which is comparable to many similar SUVs such as the Nissan Qashqai or Kia Sportage. However, there’s no false floor, so you have a fairly high lip for loading stuff. On the plus side, there’s a handy storage area for charging cables under the floor.

A power tailgate is standard on all but entry-level models.

Battery and range

The Renault Scenic is available in Ireland with a 60kWh lithium-ion battery (“EV60”) with 170hp and a range of up to 430km, or an 87kWh (“EV87”) battery with 220hp and a range of up to 625km. A heat pump is standard across the range.

TOLL

AC charging up to 22kW is possible, which is great for taking advantage of the greater abundance of public chargers in Irish towns and cities.

The EV60 has a DC fast charging power of up to 130kW and can charge 15-80% in 33 minutes; the EV87 has a DC fast charging power of up to 150kW and can charge 15-80% in 37 minutes.

Scenic drive

The new Scenic is built on the Renault AmpR Medium electric platform and feels agile and refined to drive. With its compact size, it’s easy to travel with. It’s very refined and comfortable, with many measures taken to achieve a quiet, serene drive. It’s quick through corners before the car’s weight starts to lose its effect. It’s not a hot hatchback, but for a family car, the Scenic is still a pleasure to drive.

The EV87 on test had plenty of room for joining the highway, and the Multisense drive mode offers some adjustability. Regenerative braking is also available via B mode on the gear selector (Evolution), or via paddles behind the steering wheel on all other trims.

Renault Scenic Pricing

Prices for the Scenic start from €39,995, including subsidies for the 60kWh Evolution EV, while the same battery in Techno trim is available from €41,995.

The Techno is priced at €48,995, the Esprit Alpine at €51,995, and the range-topping Techno starts at €54,795.

judgment

The new Renault Scenic builds on Renault’s expertise in electric vehicles and is a car worthy of its praise. No wonder it’s already an award winner! It’s a great design without compromising on practicality. It’s also smooth and refined to drive.

The EV60 in particular looks like good value for money, but the price does get steeper if you opt for a larger battery, so it’s really worth considering what tasks you’ll need the Scenic to perform between charges.

All in all, if you’re looking for a roomy family car that happens to be electric, the Scenic is a great choice.

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Screenplay by Caroline Kidd

Founder and Editor of Changing Lanes, Irish Car of the Year Judge

The post Renault Scenic Review (2024) appeared first on Changing Lanes.