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Renault knows a thing or two about the MPV market thanks to the Espace which was the first European MPV on the market. It now offers a comprehensive range consisting of the Modus, Scenic, Grand Scenic and Espace. Only the Grand Scenic and Espace are big enough to seat 7 people and it is the smaller Grand Scenic which offers the best fuel consumption.
The Grand Scenic may have 7 seats but it remains a compact MPV. This leads to the inevitable comprise; you can carry 7 people or have a massive load area but not both at the same time. If this is going to be a problem you will need a full size MPV. If this hasn’t put you off, read on.
The transition from Scenic to Grand Scenic adds 216 mm to the length 68 mm of which is between the wheels. The added bulk makes its presence felt when parking but the longer wheelbase improves the ride quality a little. There are few MPVs which really come alive on a twisty road and the Renault isn’t one of them but it has plenty of grip.
If you’re going to use the third row of seats you’ll be glad to know that they offer decent comfort and there is just about enough room to consider longer journeys with adults. When you don’t need them they fold away flat into the floor. With the second row of seats removed there is a massive 2063 litres of space on offer, with all 7 seats in you’ve got 208 litres.
The 1.4 litre turbocharged engine kicks out a very healthy 130 bhp and yet returns very respectable fuel consumption. It also means that the 140 lb.ft of torque is available at just 2,250 rpm. It is a great engine which makes the Grand Scenic a good deal quicker than competitors. A quality package.
