Written by Keith Adams and Alan Taylor-Jones Updated: 17 June 2025

Parkers head of testing, Alan Taylor-Jones, has taken delivery of the reigning Parkers Car of the Year, the Renault Scenic E-Tech. He’s got six months to check it was the right call.

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Update 1: Welcome

Introducing the Renault Scenic E-Tech Esprit Alpine 87kWh

It’s fair to say I was impressed with the Renault Scenic E-Tech when I first drove it in the UK last year. So much so in fact, that I was one of the people voting for it to become the 2025 Parkers Car of the Year title. A few days in the car won me over, but I was keen to put it to the ultimate test, a longer loan to really get a feel for it.

This Scenic is a far cry from the compact MPVs that used to bear the name. It’s no longer a lofty blob that fell out of fashion long ago, instead it’s a thoroughly desirable electric SUV with sharp lines and a conventional two-box shape. That is to say the bonnet and passenger area are two distinct shapes with no heavily raked screen to give it the people carrier kiss of death.

When I ordered ‘my’ Scenic, there was a choice between Techno, Esprit Alpine and Iconic trims, plus two battery sizes on offer. My inner boy racer couldn’t help but pick sporty Esprit Alpine in a fetching matte grey as it’s the closest I’ll probably get to owning an A110 sports car, although that was also the cheapest way of getting the biggest 87kWh battery.

However, Renault has since slashed the price of all variants, made the 87kWh battery your only choice, and killed off luxury-oriented Iconic. Esprit Alpine is now called Techno Esprit Alpine, with Iconic Esprit Alpine sitting at the top of the range.

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The difference? The Iconic’s funky alloy wheels and pixellated wood trim are replaced by the sporty Alpine bits, although all the extra kit from before is present and correct. Happily, that means this Techno Esprit Alpine is a fiver short of £40k even with the fancy paint, meaning it dodges the luxury car tax.

What you get with a Renault Scenic E-Tech Esprit Alpine

The exact cost of the Esprit Alpine is currently £39,995 which is usefully cheaper than the majority of family-friendly electric SUVs. A base Techno is £37,195 if you to save even more cash, although the world of finance distills this down to about £10 a month. Expect to pay well under £300 a month whichever version you pick.

Here are the 10 stand-out features that come as standard:

1. 20-inch alloy wheels
2. Front, rear and side parking sensors
3. Two-zone climate control
4. Heat pump
5. Keyless entry and start
6. Electric tailgate
7. Ingenious rear armrest
8. Heated front seats and steering wheel
9. Wireless smartphone mirroring
10. Adaptive cruise and blind spot assist

The only option on my Scenic is matt-grey paint with a black roof, which would have cost £1,600 at the time of delivery. This is now a no-cost option along with every other paint combination possible. Great news for new customers, less so for early adopters.

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I think my chosen colour combination in conjunction with the diamond-turned black alloy wheels certainly gives a sporty, almost hot hatch vibe. This feeling is enhanced by blue carpets and trim inside, although I’ll still be setting the ambient lighting to a nice, warm orange.

This is by no means my first EV, and I’ve got the benefit of a 7.4kW home charger to keep me away from the pricey rapid charging network. With an official WLTP combined range of 373 miles, I doubt there is going to be any range anxiety unless I forget to plug it in at night.

I’m already appreciating the 220hp electric motor that gives brisk acceleration. A 0-62mph time of 7.9 seconds won’t trouble Tesla owners, yet it feels plenty for the family SUV that it is. Single carriageway overtakes are certainly not off the table, and it’s appreciably quicker than a Vauxhall Grandland Electric or Peugeot e-3008. Early signs suggest its a worthy Car of the Year winner.

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Update 2: How does the Scenic drive?

Can the Scenic live up to its Esprit Alpine trim?

Good family cars should be comfortable for everyone aboard, but great family cars can also entertain the driver when nobody else is along for the ride. Is the Scenic one of those cars?

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Things have got a bit silly in the family car world. It wasn’t that long ago that a ten second 0-62mph time was pretty good for a family SUV, and nearer 12 was totally normal. Electric cars have undoubtedly shaken this up, with many rivalling sports cars for accelerative force.

The Scenic is nowhere near as quick as even a base Tesla Model Y, let alone a dual motor, yet the 7.9 second 0-62mph time is quicker than most equivalent petrol or diesel SUVs. It feels plenty strong enough on the road once you’ve got used to a slow initial ramp up of power, with A road overtakes frequently an option. Sport mode helps it feel perkier, if a bit nervous in stop start traffic.

Cycling drive modes is easy thanks to a steering wheel mounted button, and there is a configurable Perso mode to mix and match different settings for the steering, throttle response and ambient lighting, for instance.

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Unfortunately there’s no way to change the stiffness of the suspension. In most situations its fine, with good control over uneven Fenland roads and enough compliance to deal with nastier bumps. Particularly sharp obstacles do reveal a sudden nature to the suspension that can take you by surprise.

I can live with that for the way it goes around bends, though. I prefer Sport mode here for the additional weight it brings to the quick steering. It can feel nervous at first, but you quickly get used to it and appreciate the sense of agility it brings.

The Scenic is low for an SUV which contributes to well controlled body roll. Grip levels are high and the stability control is always present to stop anything getting too out of hand, but keep within its limits and you’ll cover ground quickly whilst having a bit of fun. This is helped by the Scenic weighing under 1900kg – a good couple of hundred kilos lighter than many rivals.

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It’s almost too easy to forget how much SUV is behind you, and how long the Scenic’s wheelbase is. I’ve bumped up a couple of kerbs myself and got away with it, but my wife has managed to scuff a rear wheel, while one of the fronts is grazed, too. I can’t blame her entirely as the wheels don’t have a ridge or bulging sidewall for wheel protection leaving them quite prone. It’s worth pointing out the 20 inch wheels on the Volvo V90 we shared remained unmarked.

We’ve also both been caught out by the frustrating gear selector. For a start, we still occasionally grab the wiper stalk that’s beneath it by mistake. This is a minor annoyance I can live with. More of an issue is the gear selector itself which won’t select a gear if you just flick it up or down. Instead, it needs a moment longer held to the gear you want before it selects, meaning you’ll sometimes remain in the gear you no longer want to be in.

This has led both of us to press the throttle and find ourselves going in the opposite direction to what we intended. Pay careful attention to the gear selector read-out on the driver’s display is my advice.

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