Renault Scenic and Grand Scenic

Renault expects a major shift in buying patterns with the arrival of the new Scenic and Grand Scenic compact MPVs this summer.

Traditionally, the five-seat Scenic has swept up 70% of sales, but that share is now expected to transfer to the Grand Scenic, which will be offered only as a seven-seater in future.

To help the sales push, the Grand will be the first on sale in the UK, in May, with the Scenic to follow a couple of months later. Renault is refusing to speculate on prices because of worsening pound-euro exchange rates.

Both newcomers were unveiled at the Geneva show yesterday. Renault is claiming class-best second-row knee room and boot space for both, improved suspension and electric power steering in line with the latest Megane on which they are based.

Top of the class
Renault is also claiming first-in-class features such as a reversing camera, a thin-film colour screen over the instruments similar to that on computers and an exclusive Tom Tom sat-nav for less than 500.

The Grand Scenic is also said to have more third-row knee space than any rival.

Modular interiors have folding front passenger and second-row seats and, in the Grand, third-row seats that disappear into the floor. In both models, the second-row seats can be removed.

Cabin stowage space includes underfloor compartments, drawers beneath the front seats, a chilled glovebox and a sliding centre compartment.

Between them they offer a huge array of petrol and turbodiesel engines including a new 1.4-litre 130bhp turbo. Others vary from 1.5 to 2.0-litres and 86 to 160bhp, while automatic transmission is available with the 147bhp diesel and is standard on the 2.0-litre petrol.

Renault at the Geneva motor show video
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