Renault Grand Scenic Estate (2009 - 2016) practicality

The Grand Scenic was awarded the maximum five stars in the tougher Euro NCAP crash tests, introduced in 2009. This new overall rating covers Adult Occupant Protection, Child Occupant Protection, Pedestrian Protection and a new area of assessment: Safety Assist. Every car comes with front and rear curtain airbags, front lateral airbags, driver and passenger airbags and front seatbelt pretensioners.

All seven seats come with height-adjustable headrests and three-point seatbelts plus there are Isofix child seat mounts on all three second row seats. ESP stability control is also standard.

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.