The latest addition to the French manufacturer’s EV range makes a lasting impression over the course of seven days. By John Challen.

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DAY 1

Following the impressive Renault Megane E-Tech, the battery powered Scenic has arrived to go under the same scrutiny. It’s a car that I’m very interested in, because it’s already attracted a lot of admirers and is clearly a sought-after vehicle. I’m also struck by its looks – especially the rear, which – from the side – reminds me of the French OEM’s Avantime. And that’s a good thing!

DAY 2

Having spent time with the Megane E-Tech, one element I thought it would benefit from was a few more miles in the ‘tank’. A larger (87kWh) battery means that’s one box ticked on the Scenic. The WLTP is a claimed 369 miles and, on a long run today, it was only 25 miles off that figure. Range anxiety – even for the most, er, anxious – looks like it is being consigned to history for most EV drivers and vehicles such as this one are part of the reason.

DAY 3

A mixed day of driving, with a few short trips into town, combined with a longer trip along the coast and back. Thankfully, the Scenic is happy in both environments and a very relaxing place to be. There is plenty of power on tap (220hp/160kW and 300Nm) should you need it, but driving an EV makes for a much more laid-back experience. For me, anyway. Today’s driving gave me a chance to play around with the four-stage regenerative braking, which is controlled via the steering wheel-mounted paddles. There’s a distinct difference between the four, which should keep most drivers happy, depending on how much retardation they are looking for.

DAY 4

The Scenic interior is very familiar and similar to the Megane E-Tech (again, in a good way!), with a 12-inch portrait multimedia screen and accompanying 12.3-inch driver display. Both elements are clear, easy to navigate and intuitive. Radio station favourites are easy to set (a bugbear of mine) and mobile device connectivity is pretty much instant. The Scenic is another example from the French manufacturer of seats that are immensely comfortable, something I first discovered in the new Clio. Loads of storage spaces, inside, too.

DAY 5

The Scenic name is synonymous with Renault. As the company’s fleet boss Justin Costello told Fleet World recently, it was vital that the name remains in the product line-up, as it moves from ICE to EV, because of its heritage. While other brands might look for a new sub-brand, Renault is keeping model names – and also bringing some back, such as the Renault 5. It’s a good move because Scenic has a fantastic reputation and the electrified version builds on that. One thing is for sure, it’s certainly come a long way since it first appeared in 1996.

DAY 6

When I’m in cars, I might spend the vast majority of the time behind the wheel – as opposed to being a passenger – but that doesn’t mean I’m not thinking about the other seats. So, when having a bit more of a nose around the Scenic, I found the amount of head and legroom around the rear especially was seriously impressive. The Challen Jnrs and their friends certainly appreciated it when I had to do a bit of late-night taxiing for them.

DAY 7

Time to sum up the latest product in Renault’s E-Tech range – this one coming in at an OTR price of £46,745. There are a lot of positives to take, chiefly the driving range – which puts it in the bracket of some premium competitors – the interior space and the driving experience. It’s not a car that you seek mind-blowing performance from, but it just does everything really well, with no fuss. There is a lot to like and it’s no wonder that the Scenic E-Tech continues to win industry awards.