Renault Grand Scenic Review (2016-2020)

By the time the 2016 Renault Grand Scenic arrived on these shores, the mid-sized MPV was already on the back foot. Car makers had realised that buyers wanted the adventurous looks of a 4x4, but the practicality of an MPV, and had figured out how to combine the advantages of both. Super-practical one-box family cars were out, and SUVs with MPV-inspired interiors were in.

Renault took the opposite approach with the Scenic and Grand Scenic, trying to inject some SUV-like attitude into its people carrier range. But despite handsome styling for an MPV, the result was slow sales for the Grand Scenic, and it was sent to the school-run in the sky in 2020.

None of which means the Renault Grand Scenic and the smaller five-seat Scenic were bad cars, just that fashions had changed since the original Scenic was named European Car of the Year in 1997.

Back to the present, and there are definite advantages to ignoring the continued popularity of crossovers and SUVs. As a used buy, an MPV like the Grand Scenic offers great value for money, as used prices aren't as high as those of more fashionable family cars of similar age and miles. Running costs are affordable too.

Inside, the Grand Scenic offered seats for seven in a cabin that had a light and airy feel thanks to the slim window pillars. In the front there's a comfortable driving position and plenty of space, and the middle row isn't too shabby either. However, in squeezing a third row of seats into a mid-sized car Renault had to make a compromise somewhere, and head- and legroom are in short supply in the back. That can be fixed to a degree by sliding the middle row forwards, but that could make legroom tight for those in seats three to five.

Some will also be disappointed that Renault opted to switch from three individual middle seats to a conventional 60/40 split middle bench, making this Grand Scenic a little less flexible than its predecessor.

Boot space is predictably tight with all the seats upright; further evidence that the Grand Scenic is best thought of as a five-seater with room for a couple of extra passengers in emergencies. With the rear seats folded into the floor there's lots of room for holiday bags. Storage throughout the cabin is excellent, with big door bins, a huge sliding centre console on most models, and some hidden space beneath the floor.

From the driver's seat of the Renault Grand Scenic, there's not a whole lot to get excited about. The Grand Scenic might not look like a traditional MPV, but it certainly drives with one, with lots of body lean when cornering, numb steering, and a firm low-speed ride quality.

A Ford Grand C-Max or BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer are certainly more fun, but on the other hand most MPV buyers will have different priorities.

Over its lifetime, the Grand Scenic was offered with a variety of petrol and diesel engines, all of which were entirely fit for purpose. From launch, there were two TCe petrols and three dCi diesels, with power outputs of between 108bhp and 168bhp. Most versions were fitted with manual gearboxes, although the EDC auto was available on two of the three diesels. A few months later Renault was ahead of the game with its Hybrid Assist diesel model, one of the first seven-seat MPVs to offer 48-volt mild-hybrid assistance to the engine.

All but the basic Expression- model come the R-Link2 touchscreen infotainment system. From Dynamique S spec and above this is uprated with an 8.7-inch portrait-shaped screen. The upright orientation makes sense when you are using the satnav, and more concerned about what's up ahead than off to the side. However, the menus are rather complicated and the system could be a lot easier to use.

The colour head-up display fitted to Dynamique S, Dynamique S Nav, and Signature models adds to the high-tech feel inside, although the cabin plastics could be better finished.

The range was simplified in the autumn of 2018, with new trim levels called Play, Iconic and Signature. Parking sensors were made standard on the entry level car, and the infotainment system was upgraded to be compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

The Grand Scenic has low running costs. The diesels in particular are cheap to run.

We've already touched upon the Hybrid Assist diesel. This early mild-hybrid pioneer has the best fuel economy of the range, and around 60mpg isn't out of the question. These cars were originally priced at £1,000 more than the non-hybrid model, a premium that would take forever and a day to recover in fuel savings.

Fortunately the price gap between the regular dCi 110 and the mild-hybrid model is nothing like as wide on the used market, although good luck finding one – the price hike put a lot of new car buyers off.

Any of the diesels returns impressive MPG. The dCi 110 has an official combined figure of 72.4mpg, dropping to 70.6mpg with the EDC auto. Economy in the low 50s is more likely. Choose either the dCi 130 or dCi 160 and MPG in the low 60s is achievable, according to the official figures. Mid-to-high-40s is a realistic target.

Towards the end of 2018, the early diesels were replaced by a new 1.7-litre Blue dCi with 118bhp. This engine can achieve 51.4mpg, based on the newer, more accurate WLTP tests. Real-world economy should be close to this figure.

Go for a petrol, and your fuel bills will be a little steeper. The early TCe 115 has official economy of 48.7mpg, but that's based on the outdated and unrealistic NEDC test. Count yourself lucky if you can beat 40mpg. The punchier TCe 130 has an identical official combined figure, so expect similar real-world fuel economy.

The later 1.3-litre TCe engines should prove more efficient. But even so, if you get more than 40 miles from a gallon you'll be doing well.

Insurance costs won't hit your bank balance too hard. The most basic petrol sits as low as group 12 of 50, so it should cost little more to insure than many superminis. The more powerful of the two original petrol models is only a couple of rungs further up the insurance ladder.

Diesel insurance group ratings start from 12E, rising to 21E for a high-spec dCi 160. That's still quite low for a car of this size, specification and performance.

As a rule, Renault doesn't perform brilliantly in reliability surveys. However, the five-seat Scenic and seven-seat Grand Scenic seem to be among Renault's better efforts when it comes to durability and reliability, with solid performances in customer satisfaction surveys.

If trouble does strike, there's a good chance it will be with an electrical item, but there are signs the last of the Grand Scenics is less flaky in this respect than its predecessors.

Perhaps conscious of the need to reassure buyers of the reliability of its cars, Renault introduced a five-year, 100,000-mile warranty in late 2019. However, this will only apply to the last few Grand Scenics sold. Earlier cars will have been covered by a four-year, 100,000-mile warranty.

There have been a handful of recalls during the Grand Scenic's time on sale. You can check if any work is needed by registering for the 'My Renault' section of Renault.co.uk or simply using the recall checker on the gov.uk website.

If you are thinking of buying an approved used car, Renault Approved vehicles come with at least a 12-month warranty. There's also five days of 'drive away' insurance cover to give you a chance to arrange your own insurance, and a 30-day exchange promise which allows you to swap a car for one of the same value.