Renault Scenic (03-09) - Review

Review by Parkers on
Last Updated: 03 June 2009
The Renault Scenic is a people carrier that manages to blend style and practicality together in one neat package. It's clever interior is its biggest asset and makes it an ideal family choice. There's generous room for passengers in the back, plenty of useful cubbyholes dotted around and some excellent safety features like Sleep Safe headrests which support the necks of youngsters. It's a shame then that the rear seats do not fold flat like newer alternatives (such as the Citroen C4 Picasso). A Conquest version is available which boasts off road-inspired body cladding and increased ground clearance, but if you need more space then the Grand Scenic, which is larger and has seven seats, could be the answer.
4 out of 5

Other Renault reviews

4.5 out of 5

Safety

Euro NCAP awarded the Scenic a maximum five-star crash-test safety rating and it comes with a long list of safety kit as standard including ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), adaptive front airbags, front side thorax airbags built into the seats and curtain airbags to protect both front and outer rear seat passengers. Three-point Isofix child seat anchorage points are provided on the outer rear seats and on the front passenger seat while a ‘Sleep Safe’ headrest, designed to protect the head and neck of six to 10-year-old children in the event of impact, is also available as a factory-fit option on all models. First introduced on Espace, these help to keep youngsters upright in their seatbelt should they fall asleep and also cushions the head in a side impact. , including optional airbags for rear passengers. A fold-down rear headrest, which must be used with a booster seat, aids child protection and there are ISOFIX child seat anchor points throughout. The immobiliser and deadlocks will take care of security.

NCAP Test

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Provides motoring consumers with a realistic and independent assessment of the safety performance of some of the most popular cars sold in Europe.

Visit Euro NCAP for more info

  • Adult Occupant Rating

    5 out of 5

  • Child Protection Rating

    3 out of 5

  • Pedestrian Test Rating

    2 out of 5
1.5 out of 5

Reliability

Similarly to the Megane - on which it's based on - there have been numerous problems reported with the Scenic. Many disgruntled owners have informed us of annoying niggles, such as oil leaks, electrical issues and battery faults. See our Car Check section for full details.

Car check problem points

Body

No problems reported.

Engine/Gearbox

Ignition coil, auxiliary belt tensioner, timing belt, alternator, fuel filter, TDC sensor, oil leaks, idler pulley, water pump, thermostat, catalytic converter.

Other

Leaky door seals, immobiliser, leaky sunroof, non-responsive key card, battery faults, brake failure, faulty seatbelts. A recall in 2006 for a seat belt problem which affected more than 90,000 cars. A recall in 2006 for a brake failure issue and a second in the same year where the front seats may not lock into position.

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