Renault Scenic (2009-) Review

On the road

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Body-roll is usually the enemy of top-heavy cars like MPVs but it's not the case for the new Scenic. In fact, the firm claims even with its lofty proportions, around a bend it leans no more than a family saloon. To help achieve this the suspension's springs have been stiffened and thicker anti-roll bars and beefed up bushes have been fitted. To help compensate for the added stiffness, the firm has slackened off the damper's reactions to help soften the ride.

On the road it roll far less through bends compared with the old model and many of its rivals. This helps improve confidence and that's further by the steering's fine levels of precision that was simply lacking in the last models. This is down to an all-new subframe that strengthens the front suspension with the knock-on effect of improving steering response.

So far, so good, but cars such as the Ford C-Max better the new Scenic in terms of agility and engagement. Push too hard in the Scenic and the inevitable understeer can be dealt with by coming off the throttle, in the C-Max though you simply tailor the line.

Alas our drive was limited to the particulate-filtered 109bhp 1.5 dCi - an engine we're not actually getting in the UK. Instead we're getting the less powerful non-FAP with either 85bhp or 104bhp.

Sticking with the more powerful 104bhp version, the little 1.5-litre diesel does a good job of hauling around the hefty 1.4-tonne kerbweight. It's flexible and smooth and delivers its maximum 177 lb-ft torque peak at a lowly 1,750rpm and revs smoothly to almost 5,000rpm. Where it might struggle is with five-up plus luggage, but there's little wrong with the small diesel apart. It'll sprint to the 62mph benchmark in 12.4 seconds and top out at 112mph, which is just about ok for a mid-sized MPV.