Renault Grand Scenic (2016-2020) Review

If you can’t beat ‘em... join ‘em. Rather than fight the rise of the seven-seat SUV, Renault decided to fuse two body styles in the creation of the Grand Scenic. It’s still a people carrier, but the styling is more akin to something you’d find on an SUV.

As a result, it’s one of the best looking cars in its class, with a classy, flexible and upmarket cabin to match. You’ll have to make one or two sacrifices in terms of outright practicality, but as a 5+2 MPV, there’s a lot to like about the Renault Grand Scenic.

Early versions of the Renault Grand Scenic came with 1.2 or 1.3 TCe engines with outputs from 115PS to 140PS, or 1 .6 dCi in 110PS and 130PS flavours. Skip the lower power versions - not that there will be many on the used market anyway - as they don't have enough pulling power to deal with big loads of people and luggage. 

Later models came with just the choice of the 140PS petrol or a 1.5-litre 120PS diesel. The 1.3-litre turbocharged TCe 140 petrol engine does a remarkably good job, offering plenty of punch and strong refinement.

The 1.5-litre turbocharged Blue dCi 120 just edges the petrol engine, offering more torque and improved efficiency. On a family holiday with a boot full of luggage, you’ll be glad you opted for the diesel.

All versions offer a generous level of standard equipment, but we’d recommend the mid-range Iconic trim for the best balance of price and toys. Front and rear parking sensors and the sliding centre console are just two reasons why we’d upgrade from the entry-level Play trim.

The flagship Signature offers a premium take on the MPV formula, but it was quite an expensive upgrade when new. It could be worth finding a used example, mind.

Because the Renault Grand Scenic straddles the MPV and SUV segments, it faces a fight from two sides. It can’t offer the outright practicality and flexibility of the Citroen Grand C4 SpaceTourer, SEAT Alhambra or Volkswagen Sharan, as those MPVs offer genuine seating for seven people.

This leaves the Grand Scenic to compete against rivals like the Peugeot 5008, SEAT Tarraco and Skoda Kodiaq. The seating arrangement in these cars is best described as ‘5+2’ – five great seats and a couple of cheap seats at the very back.

If you require all seven seats more often than not, the Renaut Grand Scenic isn’t for you. However, for occasional use it’s perfectly fine.

The materials used in the cabin feel robust, which is arguably the most important thing in a family car. You don’t want things to start falling apart after a few trips to the seaside or a dozen school runs.

Perceived quality is good, but some of the plastics positioned lower down feel cheap to touch. The lesson here: don’t touch them. That sliding console, while clever, is also a little plasticky, with the impression that it won’t last the lifetime of the car.

Upgrading to the Signature trim adds a touch of class. Features include extra comfort front headrests, LED reading lights for all three rows of seats, synthetic and dark carbon cloth upholstery, stitch detailing for the dashboard and upper door panels, ambient lighting and extra tinting for the rear and tailgate glass.

The feeling of quality across the range is enhanced by a synthetic leather steering wheel, along with a leather and satin chrome gear knob. For maximum indulgence, an optional Leather Pack Premium on the Signature trim adds full leather and electric adjustment to the front seats. It also includes underseat storage for the front passenger seat.

The Play and Iconic models have a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment screen, with DAB digital radio, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It certainly looks the part, but it’s not the most intuitive system and some of the menus can be painfully slow to load.

You get the same issues with the 8.7-inch portrait touchscreen on the Signature trim, but the problems are counterbalanced by 3D mapping. You get a colour head-up display for safer driving, too.

Iconic and Signature models also boast an Arkamys Auditorium premium sound system with six speakers, an extra USB port in the front and two USB ports in the back. All models get voice control and steering wheel-mounted controls.

Music fans should consider upgrading to the excellent Bose premium audio system, which  comprises 11 speakers, a digital amplifier and a subwoofer. The option is available on the Signature trim.

All models get a configurable seven-inch digital display ahead of the driver. A range of information is displayed, but while the system is good, it can’t match the brilliance of Audi’s Virtual Cockpit.

As a five-seater, the Renault Grand Scenic feels incredibly spacious. Three adults can sit comfortably in the second row of seats, with plenty of headroom throughout the cabin, even with a panoramic sunroof fitted.

Things are less positive in the third row, where the space is severely restricted unless you slide the second row of seats right forward. Even then, the third row is best suited to small children or occasional use.

It’s also a bit of a struggle to get into the third row, although it helps if you slide the second row of seats. The Signature model boasts a ‘One-Touch Folding’ system, which allows you to lower the rear seats via the touchscreen, or by using the controls in the boot. The result is a fully flat floor.

With all seven seats in use, the boot offers a mere 233 litres of space, but this increases to 596 litres in five-seat mode. With all rear seats folded down you’re presented with van-like proportions, with loading aided by a large tailgate and a low lip. An optional Holiday Pack comprises roof bars and a roof box, with the capacity extendable from 300 to 500 litres.

The second row bench features a 60/40 split, so it’s not possible to fold each seat down individually. That said, you can fold the far left seat on the second row, together with the left seat on the back row if you want to carry a long, narrow load. In this configuration the Renault Grand Scenic would be a five-seater.

The sliding centre console is a neat touch. In the forward position, the console is used as an armrest, with rear seat passengers presented with a storage bin, two USB ports and a 12-volt socket. Unfortunately, it obscures the front cupholders, which are too small for all but the slimmest cups and bottles.

The glovebox and front door pockets are also a little on the small side, but the Renault Grand Scenic redeems itself with underfloor storage in the back, a multi-position boot floor, front seats with rear-mounted storage pockets and a removable boot floor. Iconic and Signature models boast 56.9 litres of cabin storage space.

It’s worth noting that the Renault Grand Scenic features a pair of standard rear doors. While this is true of many cars, they can’t beat the convenience of sliding doors, especially when loading children into car seats. There are three ISOFIX child car seat mounting points: two in the second row and one on the front passenger seat.

The Renault Grand Scenic dimensions are 4634mm long, 2128mm wide and 1660mm tall.

Although there were five diesels and two petrols available at launch, latterly the Renault Grand Scenic was powered by a choice of two engines, both of which can be paired to a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

The 1.3-litre turbocharged TCe 140 petrol engine does a remarkably good job of propelling the Grand Scenic along at a brisk rate. With 140PS and 240Nm of torque, the Grand Scenic completes the 0-62mph dash in 10.3 seconds, before hitting a top speed of 119mph.

The 1.5-litre turbocharged Blue dCi 120 diesel engine offers 120PS, but a punchier 300Nm of torque at 1,750rpm. As a result, it’s the engine of choice when travelling with a cabin full of passengers and a boot loaded with luggage. 

Although the automatic transmission blunts the performance and takes the edge off the fuel economy, it seems to suit the laid-back and relaxed nature of the Grand Scenic. A manual gearbox feels out of place in an MPV with premium aspirations.

If you intend to spend most of your time in the city, opt for the petrol engine. It’s cheaper to fill the tank, you won’t have to worry about diesel particulate filter (DPF) issues, and diesel cars are becoming increasingly unwelcome in European towns and cities.

Whether you opt for the petrol or diesel, you’ll soon find the Renault Grand Scenic is a refined companion. The cabin is well insulated from wind and road noise, with the engines settling to a quiet idle on a long run. It helps that both engines are four-cylinder units, rather than the three-cylinder units favoured by some rivals.

If anything, the notchy and lacklustre manual gearbox lets the side down, which is another reason to choose the superior seven-speed automatic.

Renault was the first company to be awarded five stars for occupant protection by safety organisation Euro NCAP. It has been producing similar results ever since.

Although the Grand Scenic hasn’t been crash tested by Euro NCAP, it shares much in common with the smaller Renault Scenic. In 2016, the Scenic received a five-star rating, with scores of 90% for adult occupant protection, 82% for child occupant protection, 67% for pedestrian safety, and 59 percent for safety assist systems.

All Grand Scenic models feature multiple airbags, automatic headlights and wipers, cruise control with speed limiter, hill start assist, LED indicators in the door mirrors, LED rear lights, auto-locking doors at 6mph, rear parking sensors, tyre inflation kit and Renault’s Visio System. This comprises lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition and automatic high and low beam.

Iconic and Signature models boast front and rear parking sensors and fatigue alert, while the Signature also benefits from a rear-view camera. Full LED headlights and a blind spot warning system are optional on the Signature trim.

A Safety Pack Premium is also available on the Signature model. It features adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist and safe distance warning. A space-saving spare wheel is optional across the Grand Scenic range.

The Renault Grand Scenic scored a mediocre 9.00 out of 10 for reliability in the HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Survey, which is somewhere in the middle of Renaults in general but also a little worse than some key rivals. Recalls have been issued for the Renault Grand Scenic, with issues related to brakes and exhausts, so check to make sure any car you look at has been repaired if required.

As a brand Renault finished a lowly 27th out of 30 manufacturers overall in the same survey.

By slotting into insurance group 14, the Play Blue dCi 120 and Iconic Blue dCi 120 models will be the cheapest to insure. With a group rating of 17, the Signature TCe 140 will be the most expensive, but there’s not a significant difference across the range.

For some context, the Citroen Grand C4 SpaceTourer slots into groups 17 to 30, making it more expensive to insure. In fact, the Grand Scenic is likely to be cheaper to insure than some versions of the smaller and far less practical Renault Captur. The groups for the compact crossover range from 8 to 21.

Renault Grand Scenics registered before April 2017 cast cost as little as £20 per year for the 1.5 dCi 110 versions, all the way up to £135 for the 140PS TCe with the automatic transmission.

Cars registered after this date will attract the flat rate of £165.

Even the entry-level Renault Grand Scenic Play trim offers a generous level of standard equipment. A seven-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, dual-zone climate control, automatic headlights and wipers, a keycard, 20-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, rear parking sensors and seven seats represent just a small part of a comprehensive list.

We’d be tempted to upgrade to the Renault Grand Scenic Iconic trim, if only for the benefit of front and rear parking sensors, the 3D sound system, extra USB ports and the sliding centre console. The flagship Renault Grand Scenic Signature features bespoke 20-inch alloy wheels, a head-up display, a rear-view camera, a panoramic sunroof, interior LED lighting, an 8.7-inch portrait display, 3D navigation, puddle lighting, ambient lighting and one-touch folding rear seats.

When you consider the list of goodies on the Signature trim, it’s easier to justify the £3,000 jump from the Play to the flagship model. If the sums work out for you, a Grand Scenic Signature is a fine way to travel.