Renault Grand Scenic (09 on) - Review

The first thing you notice in the Grand Scenic is how roomy it is. This feeling is helped by the large windows and high roof which means there's excellent head room throughout. The three individual seats in the second row (all of which have Isofix child seat mounts) offer plenty of legroom plus they can all be slid individually. This helps improve space for those using the extra seats in the back, which although comfortable, can feel a little cramped. They're best reserved for children. At higher speeds, there's little engine or wind noise and occupants will feel well insulated from the outside world. The seats are quite supportive too which is a big plus for long distance travel and all models (except the Extreme) come with lumbar adjustment on the driver's seat.

This is where the Grand Scenic excels. Not only does it carry seven in comfort but there's masses of storage including drawers under the front seats, four underfloor compartments, six pockets on the front seatbacks and a double sliding centre console on top models. There's a large boot area too - although with all seven seats in use there's only really enough space for shopping bags. But the rear seats fold down very easily and sit flush with the floor, creating an easy to use boot. There's also no load lip so loading heavy objects is simple. The middle row of seats tumble and flip forward, which isn't as neat as some people carriers, but they can at least be removed. However, they're heavy and awkward to carry - plus of course you have to store them somewhere.

Compared to previous Renaults, the interior of the Grand Scenic is a big leap forward. The quality of the materials used and the finish are much improved, although there are still some areas that feel slightly cheap, such as the trim on the doors and the flimsy glovebox. But overall it has an upmarket feel, helped by the flowing dash and the neat translucent digital display for the speedo and rev counter. The driving position is good too and from behind the wheel the Grand Scenic feels more like a normal hatchback, rather than a people carrier. The windscreen pillars have been placed further back which helps visibility when pulling out at junctions, while the view out of the back is good too, making parking easy.