Overall rating:

Seven seats and frugality mix with Renault's dCi 130 Grand Scenic, a 'stop & start', Bose pack equipped child carrier that's good at avoiding fuel pumps.

Key Facts

Pricing: £22,200 (Bose pack adds £1,500)
Engine: 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel
Transmission: six-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Body style: compact MPV
Rivals: Citroen Grand Picasso, Ford Grand C-Max, VW Touran
CO₂ emissions: 115g/km
Combined economy: 64.2mpg
Top speed: 121mph
0-62mph: 11.1 seconds
Power: 128bhp at 4,000rpm
Torque: 236lb.ft at 1,750rpm

In the Metal:

It's unlikely you're going to get too excited about the looks of Renault's Grand Scenic, as its shape is dictated by its form. That form needs to carry seven people, so it's a box, though one that Renault has admittedly tried to add some visual appeal to. The front is pretty non-descript but the flank's feature line, lower raised mouldings and wrap around rear lights do give some interest to this family wagon.

Inside, there are plenty of seat-folding, people carrying/luggage hauling opportunities - though use those third row seats and boot space is limited. The fit and finish is typical Renault, which means it's nicely designed with decent quality materials for the most part, but with some insubstantial feeling plastics in places. The central instruments aren't ideally positioned, but that's true of many of the Grand Scenic's rivals.

Driving it:

As with the styling you're unlikely to get too excited about the Grand Scenic's driving experience, but the 1.6-litre turbodiesel engine feels surprisingly muscular in such a big car. Plentiful torque helps, the Grand Scenic's peak of 236lb.ft arriving at just 1,750rpm. It's not quick, but it's easy to drive, while the light gearshift and steering are equally effortless and the Grand Scenic's suspension provides surprising resistance to roll in the bends.

The 'stop & start' system works quickly and regularly, helping this Grand Scenic return some very advantageous fuel and CO₂ emissions figures. It's a quiet engine, and vibrations are low, meaning little of the body shuddering that comes with some stop-start systems. A competent drive then, but not one to get excited about.

What you get for your Money:

As standard this Grand Scenic dCi 130 Dynamique TomTom costs £22,200 and comes with satnav, air conditioning, alloy wheels, Bluetooth connectivity and keyless entry. Opt for the BOSE pack and not only do you get a better stereo, but dual-zone climate control, 17-inch alloy wheels, electrically adjusted, heated and folding side mirrors, front and rear parking sensors and a sliding central storage unit. This adds £1,500, which is a decent deal.

Worth Noting

Renault claims that the Grand Scenic is the most economical and lowest emitting seven-seat car in its class. The figures look convincing too, with a combined economy figure of 64.2mpg and CO₂ emissions of 115g/km. That's better than many superminis.

Summary

The latest Renault Grand Scenic may not be exciting, but it is competent, well priced and economical, which is pretty much all you need from your family transport. Assuming you have a lot of kids, that is.