Renault Grand Scenic (2016 – 2020) Review

Launched in 2016, the Renault Grand Scenic fuses the practicality of a seven-seat MPV with the styling of a modern SUV. Although it can’t match the flexibility of the SEAT Alhambra or Ford Galaxy, the Grand Scenic offers seating for five, two occasional seats in the rear, plus a comprehensive list of standard equipment. Subjectively, it’s one of the best looking cars in its class, with an upmarket and classy cabin to match. You even get a set of 20-inch alloy wheels as standard. Slow sales resulted in the car being axed from the UK in 2020, but the Grand Scenic is a superb used buy.

Renault has a habit of building excellent MPVs. The original Espace pioneered the concept of a seven-seat MPV in Europe, while the Megane Scenic did a similar thing in a smaller, five-seat package. It’s a shame that Renault lost its way.

Faced with the prospect of ‘death by SUV’, Renault reinvented the Grand Scenic in 2016, giving the car an eye-catching look and standard-fit 20-inch alloy wheels. Subjectively, the Grand Scenic is one of the best looking family cars on sale in 2020.

Not that it will be on sale for long. Renault axed the Grand Scenic from its UK range in the summer of 2020, although it’s still available in other European markets. If you’re after a ‘many-seat’ Renault, you’ll need to buy a Trafic Passenger.

The Grand Scenic isn’t a seven-seater in the style of the SEAT Alhambra or Volkswagen Sharan. Instead, it’s more of a rival to the SEAT Tarraco or Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace, in the respect that it offers seating for five with the potential to carry two additional passengers when the need arises. Even then, the third row is best reserved for children or occasional use.

It feels like an upmarket vehicle, with the bold styling matched by a premium cabin and a comprehensive list of standard equipment. Even the entry-level Play trim offers the kind of kit that would be mid-range in some rivals, while the flagship Signature model edges the Grand Scenic into premium car territory.

Although the Grand Scenic launched in 2016 with a wide range of engines, later cars were available with a choice of two. Neither could be described as quick, but the 1.8-litre Blue dCi 120 diesel edges the 1.3-litre TCe 130 petrol thanks to its torque. You’ll welcome the extra shove when you’re travelling with a full quota of passengers and a roof box filled with overspill luggage.

You’ll need the roof box in seven-seat mode. Although the boot is cavernous when the rearmost seats aren’t in use, the boot is tiny when they are. This is true of many seven-seat MPVs and SUVs, but we’d still describe the Grand Scenic as a ‘5+2’ MPV.

Although there are a few neat touches, such as the sliding centre console, the Grand Scenic lacks the flexibility of some rival MPVs. The glovebox is too small, the door pockets are too narrow, and the second row of seats split 60/40 rather than individually.

Adopt a smooth and relaxed driving style and the Grand Scenic is a terrific cross-continental companion. It’s not as comfortable as French MPVs of old, and it lacks the precision of a Ford S-MAX but Grand Scenic owners will enjoy the commanding driving position, the comfortable seats and the array of tech at their disposal.

That said, it’s not as bad as it could be, so credit must go to Renault for making the Grand Scenic feel composed without the use of air suspension.

It’s not a particularly fun car to drive. The body rolls if you attempt to take a corner too fast and there’s a general feeling of being detached from the road. The design of the bonnet makes it tricky to position the car on the road, while poor rearward visibility makes it a difficult car to park.

A case of the Grand Scenic flattering to deceive, then? Perhaps, but we rather like the mature and grown-up driving experience. The high driving position gives you a commanding view of the road ahead.

The Grand Scenic launched with a range of five diesel and two petrol engines, but Renault had the sense to reduce this to a choice of two engines.

Of the two, we’d favour the 1.8-litre turbocharged Blue dCi 120 diesel if you spend a lot of time on the motorway or with a car full of children and luggage. With 120PS on tap, it’s no powerhouse, but the 300Nm of torque is extremely useful.

Not that you should rule out the 1.3-litre turbocharged TCe 140 petrol. It does a decent job of propelling the Grand Scenic along at a fair rate and is ideal for the school run and local trips.

The automatic transmission puts in a dent in the fuel economy but seems to suit the relaxed nature of the Grand Scenic. The six-speed manual gearbox feels out of place in a seven-seat MPV.

The Grand Scenic hasn’t been crash-tested by Euro NCAP, but it shares much in common with the smaller Renault Scenic. This car was awarded a five-star safety rating in 2016, with scores of 90 percent for adult occupant protection and 82 percent for child occupant protection.

All models feature multiple airbags, automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, cruise control, rear parking sensors, tyre inflation kit and Renault’s Visio System. This features lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition and automatic high and low beam. Iconic and Signature models come with front and rear parking sensors.

The Signature trim also gets a rear-view camera, plus the option of LED headlights, blind spot monitoring and a Safety Pack Premium.

The Renault Grand Scenic has a maximum unbraked towing weight of 1800kg and a braked towing capacity of 750kg. Retractable and swan neck tow bars are available from your nearest Renault dealer.

Although you can slide the middle row forward to create more legroom in the very back, the third row is best reserved for children. It’s also difficult to get into the third row.

Elsewhere, the Renault Grand Scenic is a more convincing package. The boot offers 596 litres of luggage capacity in five-seat mode, up from 296 litres with all seven seats in use, with loading aided by a low lip. The second row bench splits 60/40, so you don’t get three individual seats like you do in some rivals.

You’ll like the sliding centre console, which features an armrest, storage bin, two USB ports and a 12-volt socket. It’s just a shame it obscures the front cupholders when it’s in the forward position.

Longevity and robustness are arguably more important than soft-touch plastics and plush materials in an MPV. Renault has covered all the bases, with a high level of perceived quality and a general feeling that the cabin is built to last.

All models get a leather-trimmed steering wheel and a satin chrome gear knob, while full leather and electric adjustment for the front seats are optional. In common with other cars in the class, some of the plastics in the lower part of the cabin feel a little cheap, but you’re unlikely to notice.

Play and Iconic models feature a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system with DAB digital radio, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. First impressions are great, but it’s not the easiest system to use and some of the menus are slow to load.

There are similar gripes with the 8.7-inch portrait touchscreen infotainment system on the Signature model, but the 3D mapping and head-up display are welcome touches. Iconic and Signature models also get a premium audio system with six speakers, an extra USB port in the front and two USB ports in the back. This should stop the squabbling on long journeys.

Although the Grand Scenic was axed from the UK Renault range in the summer of 2020, it’s still – at the time of writing – possible to buy new and pre-registered cars at a Renault dealer. Because the car has been discontinued, it should be possible to negotiate a better deal. Just don’t expect to be able to order any factory options – you’ll have to take what’s left in stock.

Buying a Grand Scenic registered from 18 December 2019 makes sense, because this is when Renault introduced a five-year/100,000-mile warranty across the range. This means a 2020 model will be covered until 2025.

A new and unregistered Renault Grand Scenic will cost between £25,000 and £30,000, depending on the spec, but you’ll save thousands of pounds by opting for a nearly-new or pre-registered example.

An early 2016 Grand Scenic should cost around £13,000, possibly less if you’re prepared to put up with 100,000 miles on the clock and a few battle scars. 

Buying a nearly-new Grand Scenic on a four-year PCP deal should cost up to £250 a month after a £1,000 deposit. You could save around £50 a month by financing a 2016/2017 example, but spending the extra money on a newer car backed by Renault’s five-year warranty could be worth the expense.

Speaking of warranties, Grand Scenic models registered up to and including 31 January 2018 are covered by a four-year/100,000-mile warranty.

Models registered from 1 February 2018 until 17 December 2019 are covered for three years and 60,000 miles. Check the vehicle documents or ask your nearest Renault dealer if you’re unsure about the cover on a Grand Scenic you’re thinking of buying.

The Blue dCi 120 diesel offers the best fuel efficiency, with a claimed 50.4mpg to 51.4mpg on a combined cycle. These figures drop to 46.3mpg to 47.1mpg in the automatic version.

There’s a similar penalty if you opt for the automatic version of the Play TCe 140 petrol engine. You should expect to achieve around 40.9mpg with a manual gearbox, or 39.2mpg to 39.8mpg with an automatic transmission.

Insurance shouldn’t break the bank, with the Grand Scenic slotting into groups 14 to 17. A Blue dCi 120 Play or Blue dCi 120 Iconic should be the cheapest to insure, but you’ll pay a little more for the TCe 140 Signature.

Because first-year Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) is only relevant to new cars, you’ll pay £150 a year in tax. A few models registered prior to April 2017 will cost between £165 and £205 a year, depending on the engine.

If you’re after a spacious, good looking and well-equipped five-seater, with the potential to carry seven, the Renault Grand Scenic is a credible alternative to the raft of SUVs on sale today. You’ll even enjoy a little exclusivity.

Normally we’d recommend a mid-range model as the range sweet-spot, but in the case of the Grand Scenic we’d opt for the Signature trim. The extra equipment more than justifies the expense and the car will be easier to live with over the course of a PCP deal.