IN THIS FEATURE Seven-seater Scenic Packaging How's it drive?

As befits the Scenic's intended role, there are plenty of storage spaces around the cabin for a family's gubbins. A 15-litre storage bin between the front seats makes the most of the space freed up by mounting the electronic parking brake beneath the steering wheel (though not on base Authentique version). The storage bin slides backwards so the middle row passengers can get easy access to it. Front passengers get drawers under their seats and a huge air-conditioned glovebox. Along with these and underfloor compartments, rear door pockets and a couple of big areas behind the rear seats, total cubby stowage space is 104 litres - an increase of 13 litres over the standard Scenic.

With five seats in place, the Grand's boot capacity ranges from 550 litres if the middle row is as far back as it will go to 605 litres if it is pushed fully forward. If you fold the seats into the floor and load right up to the roof line the Grand will accept 1,920 litres of luggage, but with all seven seats in place, storage capacity is just 200 litres. So travelling with seven occupants and all their luggage could be a real challenge.

Grand stretched by 23cm

Engines on offer in the Grand Scenic are two 16-valve petrols, a 1.6 (115bhp) and a 2.0 (135bhp), and two diesels, a 1.5 or 1.9-litre common-rail unit. The diesels are the stars of the range, with the smaller unit producing 100bhp and a modest 148lb ft of torque (pulling power) at 1,900rpm and the larger developing 120bhp and 221lb ft of torque at 2,000rpm. As the Grand Scenic is a fairly heavy car at up to 1,535kg with the largest engine, that extra urge is essential if you are running it fully laden.