Renault’s fightback in the people carrier category is a two-pronged attack. For smaller families there’s the five-seat Scenic, while those with a bigger brood will need this seven-seat Grand Scenic version.
With the Espace no longer available in the UK, this car represents Renault’s most commodious people mover, and like the regular Scenic it is available with either petrol or diesel engines and manual or automatic gearboxes.
The Grand Scenic’s many rivals include the Citroen Grand C4 Picasso, Volkswagen Touran, Vauxhall Zafira Tourer and Ford Grand C-Max.
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Space 6/10
Rear seats are just too small
The Grand Scenic is 23cm longer than the regular Scenic, resulting in a bigger boot and enough space in the back to add a pair of third-row seats that fold out of the floor.
However, in order to get anybody into these extra seats means sliding the middle row forward to the point that only children will fit comfortably, and the interior is also too narrow to accommodate three child seats side-by-side. A Citroen Grand C4 Picasso and Volkswagen Touran not only offer more space, but also much easier easier access to the third row.
On the plus side, the Grand Scenic’s boot is enormous, with a good square opening and flat load lip, and the option of storing the parcel shelf under the floor when all seven seats are in use. The remote seat folding on all but the entry-level model is a neat touch.
And space in the front is good, with a light and airy feel. A medium-sized glovebox and door pockets all round help with storage, but the optional sliding central tunnel between the driver and passenger seems like a gimmick, and is rather flimsy, too.
Comfort 7/10
Smoother than the smaller Scenic
Considering it is only available with 20-inch wheels, the Grand Scenic has a surprisingly smooth ride; better even than the five-seat Scenic. True, it’s still a little firm over bigger bumps compared with the Citroen Grand C4 Picasso, but it does a good job of ironing out smaller ruts and undulations.
Road and wind noise are entirely acceptable, and whether you go for the 1.2-litre petrol or one of the diesels (1.5- and 1.6-litre options are available) they are as quiet as anything you can buy in the Renault’s rivals.
The comfortable seats have plenty of adjustment, as does the steering wheel, so you shouldn’t struggle to find a good driving position.
Dashboard layout 7/10
Portrait touchscreen looks neat, but could be slicker to use
The Grand Scenic uses a digital screen instead of traditional dials. It looks smart, although the graphics aren’t as slick as you’ll find in an Audi or Volkswagen. The same can be said of the central touchscreen, which is used to operate most of the car’s functions, including the satnav and stereo. Go for one of the top-spec models and its portrait layout helps it to stand out from the crowd, although again it’s not as slick to use as the best in class. Unlike Citroen, Renault has at least included separate buttons for most of the heater controls.
Build quality feels generally good, although some of the plastics lower down in the car are fairly scratchy to the touch.
Easy to drive 7/10
Performs solidly here
The Grand Scenic’s bold design results in restricted over-the-shoulder visibility, so the optional blind spot monitors are a sensible upgrade. The view out of the front is much better thanks to the split windscreen pillars, and the controls are reasonably weighted, including a well-defined biting point for the clutch.
The 1.2-litre petrol engine is fine for driving around town, but runs out of puff a little too easily with the car fully loaded on the motorway. As such, we’d recommend one of the diesels, which allow you to make decent progress. For the most part the optional automatic gearbox works smoothly enough for you not to notice it, but can occasionally be slow to respond when you put your foot down.
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