This French offering makes the motoring sacrifices of family life almost bearable, writes Michael McAleer, Motoring Editor
A colleague is in the grip of the modern family dilemma: three children of school-going age and it seems his motoring life is over. A car fan, he has resigned himself to life as an unpaid minibus driver.
While his domestic finances won't stretch to a Ferrari, it certainly could meet a smart family saloon. However, such a choice would seemingly rule him out of the school run and as a result his family would be outcast from modern suburban society.
To do anything as selfish as cater only for your own family needs without due consideration for neighbouring families is a serious social crime nowadays.
Responsibility for creating a society where each child believes it is a constitutional right to have guaranteed access to at least two fully-fledged seats in a car - and with it the right to assign the extra seat to their best friend at that moment - lies squarely with Renault.
It was this company that developed the Espace and then went on to introduce more diminutive versions of the minibus. Of course they meant well, but they have changed motoring forever.
Since its inception, the Espace has grown into a miniature Winnebago, with room for everything including the kitchen sink. For some, however, the people carrying behemoth is simply too big, both in terms of size and price.
It's for these more modest family units that Renault created the Scenic. It's based on the principles of the Espace, but to a more modest scale. That means you can handle it in town traffic without a HGV licence and yet it can amply store a family of four and their luggage.
With a choice of five or seven-seats, it may not cater for the entire community during the school run but it sends a message to the neighbours that you mean well and accept your family fate.
The latest generation Scenic has seen some stiff competition in recent years from the likes of Volkswagen, Ford and Citroën, but it still holds sway with suburban parents, sharing top spot with the Opel Zafira.
It's been on the road for a few years now so the French decided it was time for a minor facelift.
That can be a worrying time as Renault designers have a rather chequered history. After all, this is the design team that gave us the unique Avantime and Vel Satis. Both were brave designs but the general public was not brave enough to be seen in them.
Thankfully, the Scenic seems to have got off lightly in terms of restyling and takes its cue from the class-leading Espace and good-looking Megane. If anything, the new Scenic has become prettier. The key features are a more steeply sloped front end while at the rear there's the slightest hint at the Megane's undulating tailgate.
The higher specified versions of the new car feature some of the latest Renault technology, such as the hands-free ignition system that operates via a plastic card rather than a key fob. With the hands-free system - so long as the card is about your person - then the car will unlock and start up at the push of a button. It's the sort of feature that luxury brands like Audi, Lexus and Jaguar make a big deal of these days, so it's great to see it on a mainstream family car. They also feature a new electronic handbrake. While the credit card key is impressive, this is just plain annoying. It's operated by a combination of push button and pull lever; get the combination wrong a couple of times and even the most puritanical motorist quickly develops the vocabulary of a fishwife.
It has one benefit in that it frees up the space between driver and passenger, though what you can use this space for is still a matter of debate.
In terms of space, the Scenic serves its family purpose. The boot space is ample enough for a family of four and each seat houses a sliding drawer underneath that allows you to store the likes of laptops or DVD players away from prying eyes. The new Scenic also includes an impressive list of standard features; not least the full length sunroof (fixed in standard spec but sliding in range-topping versions) that combines with already ample side windows to give the sort of glasshouse effect that children seem to love. The high-set rear seats also lend themselves to overall comfort.
However, those seeking a thrilling and entertaining drive will have to accept the limitations of family life, yet another sacrifice for the family chauffeur. It's comfortable and easy to handle, the steering is light and precise and the ride quality is supple. The handling, however, could never be described as entertaining. It's a point-and-click style of motoring.
Better news for potential buyers is that Renault has added the more powerful 106bhp 1.5-litre diesel engine to the five-seater Scenic range. The 86bhp version was never quite at the races unless you did all your driving in town, but the more powerful unit - previously only on offer with seven-seat Grand Scenic - is capable of pushing you along on national and motorwayroutes. It's well matched to the six-speed gearbox.
Renault claims to have revised the fit and finish of interior plastics and it certainly felt better built than earlier versions we drove when the Scenic first entered the fray several years ago. The cabin materials are soft and have the finish and feel that's better than some premium models we've come across. The stylish design has been carried inside, though the digital centrally located display is too space-age, leaving the dash in front of the driver too bare. It's also too busy and while the digital speed display is enormous, other features are hard to read.
During night driving in particular, while the central display is bright, the rest of the car feels dark and cold. The radio display, for example, is easy to control using the stalks beside the steering wheel and Renault should be commended for the simplicity of the system that's a real boon for the driver. However, for those looking to change volume or station using the main radio controls, it's a lottery if you've hit the right button.
The test car featured automatic air-con and parking proximity sensors, all included to ease the driver's burden and keep temperatures and tempers cool.
Renault's Irish distributor makes much of the five-star EuroNCAP ratings, claiming these are the "safest cars you can drive". It's a bold statement that probably wouldn't stand up to a rigorous court challenge. While it's admirable that all versions come with six airbags and ABS, ESP stability control is only an option. Surely such an integral safety feature - that's proven to save lives - should be standard on any car that claims to be the "safest you can drive".
Given that it's one of the top-selling mid-size people carriers, prices are competitive rather than exceptional value.
In five-seat format some motorists will still question whether a big-booted saloon like the Skoda Octavia would not suit their needs just as well. Sales would suggest there's a market there, but we still don't understand why.
There's also the question of why you would opt for a five-seat MPV format at this price when several rivals offer that extra row of seats? If you are going down the MPV route, the Grand Scenic would seem to be the logical choice if family - and their friends - come first.
Yet there's a quotient of motorists for whom the first visit to the maternity ward signals the need to purchase a people carrier as quickly as they purchase a pram.
For these motorists the Scenic is worth a test drive.
Admittedly, for those seeking a more entertaining drive, we'd suggest they also test the five-seater Ford C-Max and the seven-seat Mazda5. In terms of practicality the Opel Zafira and Corolla Verso must also be considered.
Overall, the improvements in styling, fit and finish on the Scenic will keep it among the top runners in this segment.
While some of us will resist going down the people carrying route, the Scenic's comfort and functionality makes the bitter pill of family motoring easier to swallow.
FACT FILE:
ENGINE: 1.5-litre 105bhp four-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine with six-speed gearbox offering 240Nm of torque at 2,000rpm
SPECIFICATION: While 105bhp 1.5 dCi only comes in higher spec, standard features on all Scenics include: ABS with EBD and Brake Assist, six airbags, manual air-con, fixed panoramic sunroof, fog lights.
Dynamique adds 16" alloys, rear proximity sensors, rear electric windows, auto headlights and wipers, auto handbrake, armrest storage space, rear sunblinds.
Dynamique Luxe adds electric sliding panoramic roof, auto air-con, darkened rear windows.
L/100KM (MPG)
URBAN: 6.2 (45.6)
EXTRA-URBAN: 4.7 (60.1)
COMBINED: 5.2 (54.3)
CO2 EMISSIONS: 138 g/km
ANNUAL ROAD TAX: €313
PRICE: €31,100 (€23,650 to €31,100)