The Ace of Space

Renault’s Scenic just gets better and better — after all, they did invent the multi-purpose/people-mover vehicle!

There’s an old adage that says: “Don’t change a good thing for no reason,” and it might refer almost to exclusively to Renault who make some of the best and most practical vehicles in the world. Hardly surprising then to learn the marque has produced 3,3 million Scenic’s in 10 short years of being — they are that popular in Europe, and now it seems, in South Africa as well.

I’ve just spent a couple of days with the dCi version and been blown away just how efficient it is. Most journalists hate giving back a vehicle with fuel left in the tank, but in the case of the Scenic the fuel gauge only started dropping after 200km had been covered …

I alluded earlier to minimal changes outwardly to the Scenic but there’s some really innovative changes that have taken place inside such as the iDrive-type control for the built-in GPS, et al — Americans hate the acronym — much preferring to calling them electric maps, an apt and clever description, I’d say.

The version I was offered boasted the clever seven-seater option: don’t need the extra seats, well tuck them away into the floor — completely flush — at the pull of a tag. Practicality has been boosted further for all occupants with the addition of 86 litres of additional cubby-hole style stowage space throughout the vehicle, underseat drawers, two aviation-style tables, an 11-litre glovebox that’ll swallow a laptop and a further nine litres of welcome space in the sliding centre console.

But it’s the 96kW/300Nm diesel powerplant that deserves most mention. Renault reckon on 5,5 litres per 100km but I’m sure I managed to even better that on a day trip through to Hermanus. Coupled to a six-speed manual box the Scenic remains an even more delightful drive than ever before.

• Prices of the trilogy of Scenics start around R230,000 for the 16V petrol version but I’d rather may the extra for the 1,9 dCi Dynamique at R280,000, or better still the right side of R300K will nett you the Grand Scenic turbodiesel job.