Renault Scenic E-Tech Review 2024

When the last Renault Scenic arrived in 2016, the brand was very proud that it was still a practical people carrier. Competitors might have been launching family SUVs - but the it remained true to its roots. However, it's all change with the latest Renault Scenic now going all electric - and switching to an SUV style. Find out more in a full Renault Scenic E-Tech review.

Renault doesn't actually call it an SUV but we will - and, as its 'E-Tech' name suggests, it's a pure electric vehicle, intended to rival the Kia EV6, the new Nissan Ariya, along with the popular Skoda Enyaq iV and the impressive Tesla Model Y.

One of the biggest obstacles to electric car ownership is range anxiety. That's why the new Renault Scenic E-Tech is offered with a big 87kWh battery pack providing an official range of up to 379 miles.

That may seem like overkill for some (how often do you travel that far without a break?), so the Renault Scenic E-Tech is also offered with a smaller 60kWh battery and still-very-useable 260-mile range.

It's comfortable and easy to drive, with up to 30 driver-assistance safety systems on hand to keep you safe. Some of these are a bit interfering - like in almost every modern car - but there's a handy shortcut button that can be used to set up your own preferred combination of driver-assistance tech.

While it might be more SUV-like than its predecessor, the Renault Scenic E-Tech remains a very practical family car. There's loads of room inside, while the interior is well finished and features an impressive Google-based infotainment system. Top-spec models come with an impressive panoramic sunroof, which lets daylight into the cabin but without compromising on headroom.

There are three trim levels to choose from: Techno, Esprit Alpine and Iconic. The entry-level Renault Scenic Techno, with its £37,500 start price, feels far from a budget choice: standard kit includes the aforementioned 12.0-inch infotainment system, 12.3-inch digital driver's display, heated seats and a heated steering wheel.

When you compare the standard equipment with the most affordable Volkswagen ID.4 or Toyota BZ4X, the Renault Scenic E-Tech looks to offer exceptional value for money.

While electric cars are usually quite heavy, the Renault Scenic E-Tech is a lightweight in its class. The 60kWh version weighs just over 1.7 tonnes, and the 87kWh a bit over 1.8 tonnes, while competitors like the Volkswagen ID.4 exceed 2.2 tonnes. That translates to better handling, with the agile Renault Scenic E-Tech remaining surprisingly stable through corners and over dips.

The light, quick steering also helps here, making it feel nimble in town and easy to park with a tight 10.9-metre turning circle. It may feel slightly over-responsive at first, but you’ll soon appreciate its eagerness.

The ride quality is on the firm side and it can feel fidgety on rough surfaces and a bit unsettled at motorway speeds, but it smooths out speed bumps and potholes well. The Renault Scenic’s braking system, meanwhile, is smooth and progressive, lacking true one-pedal braking but offering strong regenerative modes controlled by paddles behind the wheel.

The entry-level Renault Scenic E-Tech pairs a 60kWh battery with an electric motor delivering 170PS and 280Nm of torque. This provides 0-62mph acceleration in 8.6 seconds while top speed is 93mph, putting it on par with the Skoda Enyaq 60 and ahead of many petrol or diesel family SUVs.

The Renault Scenic is also available with a bigger 87kWh battery. This not only extends the range but also ups the performance thanks to 217PS and 300Nm of torque. While it doesn’t match the Tesla Model Y’s blistering pace, it’s still pretty quick, hitting 0-62mph in 7.9 seconds. This makes it ideal for swift getaways at traffic lights and effortless motorway cruising. Top speed is 105mph.

Renault boasts up to 30 safety assist systems for the Scenic E-tech, including a unique Safety Coach that rates your driving based on acceleration, following distance (displayed in seconds on the dash), speed limit awareness, and more. There's also the Active Driver Assist which combines adaptive cruise control, Stop & Go, and lane centring, adjusting to road conditions. In traffic jams, you can tweak lane centring to one side to help emergency vehicles pass.

Another highlight is the Intelligent Contextual Adaptive Cruise Control which uses GPS data to slow the Scenic for upcoming roundabouts, bends, and speed limit changes. It also features active emergency braking to avoid collisions, detecting cars, cyclists, and pedestrians, and even applies secondary braking after a collision.

The Renault Scenic E-Tech is yet to be crash-tested by Euro NCAP.

Interior space is one of the real highlights of the Renault Scenic E-Tech. By pushing the wheels to the far corners of the car, Renault has created a very useable interior space - it feels much more spacious than you'd expect for its exterior dimensions.

There's plenty of space for adults in the back of the Renault Scenic E-Tech, while the rear central armrest has a party trick up its sleeve. It houses two cup holders that also double up as smartphone or tablet holders, while there are also two USB-C ports providing charging for those in the back.

It's a shame that the rear bench doesn't slide backwards and forwards (but few competitors offer this, either). There is a ski hatch, meaning you can transport long items without dropping the rear seats entirely.

In terms of luggage space, the Renault Scenic E-Tech's electric tailgate opens to provide up to 545 litres of luggage space up to the parcel shelf. There's enough room to accommodate a considerable amount of luggage, while extra underfloor storage is great for stowing away charging cables.

The Renault Scenic E-Tech’s interior is dotted with smart materials that elevate the overall ambience. Gloss black and chrome highlights adorn the dashboard in all versions and, from the Esprit Alpine trim onwards, you get a soft, fabric dash that enhances the plush feel. There are also some clever touches, like carpeted door bins front and rear. These not only stop your odds and ends from rattling around but also add a pleasant look and feel.

However, it’s not all perfect. There are some harder, less appealing plastics, particularly on the top of the door trims. While that’s a bit of a letdown, you’ll find similar materials in all its price competitors. Thankfully, your eyes are drawn to the smarter elements, making the Renault Scenic a generally nice place to spend time.

As for build quality, it’s right up there with its main rivals. In fact, it feels as robust, if not more so, than n Skoda Enyaq when you start prodding and poking around.

Press the start button and the 12.3-inch driver's display jumps into life with welcome graphics and a tune by famous French composer Jean-Michel Jarre. It's a neat touch, while the graphics are sharp and easy to read.

The same can be said for the 12.0-inch portrait-oriented infotainment screen. This uses Google software providing seamless access to Google services including Google Assistant, Google Maps, and the Google Play Store. Apparently, you can shout 'hey Google' to operate vehicle features, although we tried with limited success.

All versions come with wireless phone charging and USB-C sockets both front and rear. The top Renault Scenic Iconic trim is equipped with a high-end Harman Kardon sound system that delivers punchy performance.

From launch, the new Renault Scenic E-Tech is priced from £37,495. That's for the smaller-battery model in Techno trim, with standard equipment including 19-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, heated front seats (and steering wheel), a 12.0-inch media system and an electric boot opening.

So, as well as being cheaper than rivals such as the Volkswagen ID.4, you also get more kit as standard.

The Long Range model starts from £40,995 (also in Techno trim), while the Esprite Alpine Long Range is £43,495. The range tops out with the Iconic Long Range at £45,495.

Buy a Renault Scenic E-Tech with the smaller 60kWh battery (that's those badged as 'Comfort Range') and it will have an official range figure of up to 260 miles. Expect this figure to be slightly lower in the real world, but it should still comfortably be able to cover more than 200 miles between charges.

For those wishing to travel further without stopping, the Renault Scenic E-Tech Long Range has an 87kWh battery which - theoretically - has a range of up to 379 miles in Techno trim (or slightly less in other flavours). This makes it one of the longest-range electric cars you can buy, beating even in the Tesla Model Y Long Range.

If you do need to charge it out and about, it can be topped up relatively quickly, too. The smaller battery can be charged at a rate of up to 130kW, while the bigger battery can handle up to 150kW. These are maximum figures, but Renault says it's concentrated on providing a consistent charging curve which will average around 110kW. That means you'll be able to add two hours of motoring driving in about half an hour.

We'd always recommend charging at home, where possible, as it's cheaper and more convenient than public charging. A 7kW home wallbox will fully charge the Long Range model in 13 hours, while the 60kWh battery takes around nine hours.

Standard equipment on the Renault Scenic E-Tech Techno includes 19-inch ‘streamline’ diamond cut alloy wheels, front and rear full LED lights, electric flush door handles, flush roof bars, shark fin antenna, electric folding door mirrors and logo puddle lights.

The interior is marked out by its 12.3-inch driver information display and 12-inch OpenR multimedia screen, powered by Google services with Google Maps, Google Assistant and Google Play store. Over-the-air updates keep the system fully up to date, while wireless smartphone replication and a wireless smartphone charger ensure drivers are always connected.

Also included as standard are automatic air conditioning, a frameless electro-chromatic rear-view mirror, rear-view camera, front and rear park assist, heated front seats and steering wheel, paddle shifters for regenerative braking, automatic wipers, multi-sense with ambient lighting, the ingenious rear armrest and electric boot opening.

Advanced driver assistance systems include intelligent contextual adaptive cruise control, traffic and speed sign recognition, driver attention alert, distance warning alert, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, lane centring, active emergency braking system with pedestrian and cyclist detection and blind spot warning.

The Renault Scenic E-Tech Esprit Alpine trim introduces 20-inch ‘speedway’ diamond cut alloy wheels, specific heated sports seats with blue stitching and made from recycled materials, esprit Alpine exterior badging plus satin grey detailing, fabric dashboard, esprit Alpine heated steering wheel, blue carpet, blue detailing in storage compartments, and blue door panel inserts.

Topping the range, the Renault Scenic E-Tech Iconic comes with 20-inch ‘oracle’ diamond cut alloy wheels, electric driver’s seat with massage function, Harman Kardon sound system with 9 speakers, soft fabric dashboard with real wood inserts, light fabric seats made from recycled materials, Solarbay opacifying panoramic sunroof, hands-free parking, 360-degree camera, and a smart rear-view mirror.