With family car sales now predominantly SUV's, there was never any doubt about what shape the new Renault ScenicEV would take. The Scenic was once what was known as a multi-purpose vehicle, but such cars were swept aside when Nissan launched the original SUV-styled Qashqai and transformed customer demand.
The Scenic now joins a greatly expanded EV pack and a competitive one too. It will compete against at least one Tesla and models from Skoda and Volkswagen, among others. It’s a class that is price sensitive (many potential EV buyers cite purchase cost as a major disincentive) and one where Renault may well have a price advantage, even if it’s not a huge one.
The entry-level Scenic E-Tech is priced at €39,995, which brings it in at about €5,000 less than an equivalent Skoda Enyaq and about €2,300 less than an entry level VW ID4. OK, at just under €40,000, it’s not exactly a bargain basement price but in the electric world it is certainly competitive.
There are two versions now on the Irish market. The base one has a 60 kWh battery, with a capacity of 170 horsepower and there is an extended range version with a 87 kWh battery and acapacity of 220 horsepower. The former has a claimed range of 430 kilometres and the latter a range of 625 kilometres.
At the risk of boring you, I’m compelled to note the sometimes very significant disparity between what all car manufacturers claim for their ranges and those delivered in real-world conditions.
In fairness to Renault, however, they have gone for two welcome innovations in terms of range for this car. The first is fitting of a heat pump as standard (a heat pump can make a significant difference to range, especially in winter, by retaining heat from the battery) and fitting a widget display that tells you the best and worst expected ranges, depending on driving style.
In terms of charging, Renault says 30 minutes charging on even a 50 kWh charger will allow the car to be driven on a motorway for two hours.
We’ve had a brief drive in the E-Scenic at its Irish launch, not long enough to form concrete impressions but sufficient to see what it offers. In terms of its shape, it is certainly edgy. The false grille (EV’s don’t need them but their designers do) is impressive and there’s a nice trailing edge on the sides at the back that is designed to let air cross the car with less turbulence. There are plenty of crisp lines too.
There are short overhangs (the distance the body extends over the front and rear wheels) and standard 19" wheels look good too.
Two things that do stand out are the airy and bright interior and the Google-powered 12" portrait centre screen. There are buttons to control climate but little else. However, the Google voice assistant we have used before is responsive and clever for many commands. The graphics are also very clear.
There is a good suite of safety equipment - the car does offer a pretty comprehensive list of standard equipment, such as a function to enable the car to control itself in a situation where there is a multiple collision.
The flat floor - enabled by the battery layout - means good interior space for front and back seat passengers. The boot is a very respectable 545 litres, or up to 1,670 with folded seats. The rear bench does not have the single folding seat flexibility of the old Scenic, which is a pity. It’s a very useful function for family use.
Words by Donal Byrne, Video by Leah Carroll
