Renault Scenic II 1.9 dCi - Diesel Road tests

Renault Scenic II 1.9 dCi

Incredible as it might seem, it's now seven years since Renault launched the compact MPV market with the smooth-looking Scenic.

And after selling more than 200,000 in the UK, they are still the class leaders. The current Scenic is loaded with gear - enough to keep dad, mum and the kids happy on a long trip.

There's an automatic parking brake, a hands-free Renault card for remote access to all areas, a sliding centre console encompassing yet another storage box, automatic headlamps, windscreen wipers, tyre pressure monitoring and Xenon headlamps that automatically alter the height and depth of the beam according to the speed the car is travelling.

Not only that, there are to be two versions, the standard five seater Scenic and the seven-seater Grand Scenic. There's torque aplenty from the 120bhp 1.9 dCi, which makes for a good all round performer. Engine noise is a little too audible at times and the note is not nearly as sweet as that of the 1.5dCi 80bhp model.

The seat position is high and affords good peripheral vision but lacks the more engaged feeling of driving something closer to the ground. The seats themselves are so-so, it would be nice to have the extra support under the knees for long journeys, a la BMW. The dash mounted six-speed gear stick is very easy to use and with all the glass including the panoramic double sunroof, the cabin is a very light and airy place to be.

Automatic parking brake is a standard feature on all but the entry level trim, Authentique. It disengages automatically when enough torque is provided to move and, likewise, when the car is stationary and the engine is switched off, the brake activates itself automatically. This can also work manually for situations like hill starts. Our car was a top of the range Privilege model at £19,113.

The latest Scenic handles adequately; the problem is the feeling of detachment with the driving position and the odd moments of listing in corners. As a vehicle for transportation of goods, human or otherwise, it offers superb space and adaptability and a generous amount of features that would be non standard with many other manufacturers. Cup holders, tray tables, underfloor storage and pockets abound as do seat configurations and boot space is generous even with all three rear seats in place.