Renault Scenic E-Tech: Five reasons why we love it...and five why we loathe it

Is it an SUV or an MPV? We’re not quite sure if the new Renault Scenic E-Tech is tied to one particular segment.

Indeed, the high-riding Scenic does look more like an SUV than a people carrier, but is in fact pitched as an all-electric crossover. Renault is keen to point out that because its new EV wears the Scenic nameplate, it retains its MPV-like credentials, so space and practicality are very much key to the overall package. 

So is the all-electric Scenic the new leader in the crossover class? Let’s find out.

We LOVE the Renault Scenic E-Tech because…

It's a comfortable long-distance cruiser thanks to its excellent WLTP range. Renault claims the larger 87kWh battery model can travel up to 379 miles on a charge – that’s much better than the Tesla Model Y (331 miles) and Skoda Enyaq (348 miles). 

In the real-world, you’ll easily get well over 300 miles of range. And if you need to top-up the battery on the move, plugging into a 150kW device should add around 200 miles in around 35 minutes. 

We LOATHE the Renault Scenic E-Tech because…

Even though it’s a comfortable car, it can often be struck dumb by smaller road imperfections. At a cruise the Scenic is comfortable and assured, but around town at slower speeds, there is a fair amount of jostling to the car’s ride. 

It doesn’t thump over potholes, but over unkempt surfaces, there is a noticeable fidget to its ride – and you can’t get the Scenic with adaptive dampers.

 We LOVE the Renault Scenic E-Tech because…

It's very efficient for a large electric car, helping it travel further on a charge. During our time with the Scenic it comfortably achieved 3.5mpkWh, just 0.2mpkWh less than Renault’s claimed efficiency figure. 

All versions of the Scenic are fitted with a heat pump, which intelligently sucks in air from outside or waste heat from the powertrain and compresses it to warm-up the car’s battery. This is handy in the winter months of the year when the colder temperatures can impact the car’s range. 

We LOATHE the Renault Scenic E-Tech because…

It lacks the versatility and interior flexibility of a true MPV. The rear bench, for example, lacks any kind of adjustability, and there’s a big step up when you fold them down because the boot is so deep.

Three individually adjustable rear seats with three Isofix points would have improved things, but this configuration is more commonplace in a van-based MPV. 

We LOVE the Renault Scenic E-Tech because…

You can get the Long Range model for just over £40,000, which for a large electric car like the Scenic is good value. And when you consider its closest rivals cost more, the Scenic seems like a bargain. 

The Tesla Model Y, for example, costs £52,990 and can only manage 331 miles on a charge, while the Skoda Enyaq 85 with the larger 77kWh battery is priced from £44,540 and promises a range of up to 349 miles. So if you’re after a reasonably priced electric crossover with an excellent range, the Scenic should definitely be on your shortlist. 

We LOATHE the Renault Scenic E-Tech because…

You get the feeling the Scenic is more of a large, high-riding crossover than an MPV, and this is made more clear by its lack of visibility both front and rear. 

The rear window is rather small for reversing, although cameras dotted around the exterior help when manoeuvring in tight car parks. Front visibility is better, but the large side mirrors can limit your view when pulling out of junctions. 

We LOVE the Renault Scenic E-Tech because…

It neatly blends conventional buttons with touch-operated controls. The 12.0in central touchscreen, which is backed and supported by Google software, is very good. The menus are neatly configured, with a handy set of shortcut buttons remaining at the top of the screen, which makes it easier to select a certain function when on the move. 

Being a Google-based system, applications like Maps are familiar and easy to use, and it doesn’t suffer from any latency issues. We also like the row of physical buttons just below the touchscreen for the air conditioning. 

We LOATHE the Renault Scenic E-Tech because…

The inconsistent steering response takes a bit of getting used to. In all drive modes apart from Sport the steering is light and accurate.

But when you turn into a corner, the initial response is slow. Apply more lock and the front end turns more sharply into the bend, which makes it harder to judge steering inputs. 

You won’t notice this when trundling around town, but on a country road it will be easier to detect its inconsistencies. 

We LOVE the Renault Scenic E-Tech because…

Even though it doesn't offer the practicality of a van-based MPV, it's still a very spacious and comfortable car. There is heaps of leg room in the back of the Scenic, and even passengers over six-foot will have no issues with head room. 

The floor is flat, too, so if you find yourself having to carry three kids in the back, there is plenty of space for them to get comfortable.