Winner of the 2024 Car of the Year Award, the Renault Scenic has been reinvented as a boxy, contemporary SUV. Consider the 2024 Scenic as the Megane E-Tech's larger sibling, offering increased space and an extended-range battery option.

Performance

The base model Renault Scenic E-Tech boasts a 60-kWh usable capacity battery and a 167bhp electric motor, achieving 0-100km/h in 8.6 seconds. Putting it in the same region as the likes of the entry-level Skoda Enyaq.

The more expensive variant features an 87-kWh battery and a higher-output 220 bhp electric motor. Despite the additional power reducing the 0-100 km/h time to 7.9 seconds, the Scenic's acceleration isn't as immediate as that of most rivals, resulting in it not feeling particularly fast off the line. Nevertheless, one could argue that a family car like this doesn’t need to be exceptionally fast, as the Scenic is more than adequate for everyday driving needs.

Range and Charging

The Renault Scenic effectively addresses any range concerns by offering two battery sizes: 60kWh and 87kWh, delivering an official max range of up to 625km. This beats the capabilities of even the top-performing Skoda Enyaq or the Tesla Model Y, two of the best-selling electric vehicles in the Irish market.

Charging from 10% to 80% takes about 40 minutes with a fast enough charger. On the other hand, the smaller 60kWh battery has a maximum charging rate of 130kW, resulting in a slightly quicker top-up time of around five minutes less.

Design and Interior

Three trims are on offer: Techno, Esprit Alpine, and the top-spec Iconic. Stepping into either of the higher trims reveals supportive sports seats. Additionally, the flagship Iconic model includes electric adjustment for the driver's seat, replacing manual levers for adjustment.

Both the digital driver’s display and the portrait-style 12.0-inch infotainment boast high-definition resolution, with the latter’s software being notably responsive. Future updates can be done over the air, and the functionality includes Google-assisted services such as Google Assistant voice control, Maps, and Play Store with access to up to 50 apps. Other stand-out features include an innovative solar bay panoramic roof with 4 different opacity modes, and the smart rear armrest, featuring two USB-C ports and inductive wireless chargers for your mobile device.

The Scenic E-Tech prioritises family needs, so practicality is a big deal. On that note, there’s ample space in the front for two six-footers, offering plenty of elbow and legroom for comfortable stretching. With the back seats folded flat, you get a generous 1,670 litres of luggage space, and with the seats in place, you still have 545 litres available. Making it an impressive 105 litres bigger than the boot in a Renault Megane E-tech.

Cost Considerations

Although Irish pricing is yet to be announced in the coming weeks, we think it’s safe to expect the Scenic E-Tech will be competitively priced, with a base price in the ballpark of €40,000, and closer to the €50,000 region for the higher spec models. Some of the main differences you’ll find between the variants are larger alloys, sports seats, a 3D surround-view camera system, and an advanced stereo system.

Additionally, Renault offers a standard five-year warranty package with the first two years unlimited mileage and the third, fourth, and fifth years limited to 150,000km.

Conclusion

The Renault Scenic E-Tech provides generous space and practicality, boasting a carefully crafted interior. We think it will come in at good value too, particularly with the larger battery option delivering an appealing long range between charges, along with exceptional comfort and technology. While some competitors may offer slightly better performance, it's unlikely to deter most potential Scenic buyers.