Used Renault Scenic 2024-present review

If there’s anything the band Coldplay has proven over the years, it’s that you must adapt to stay popular – even if you formed a style back in the 1990s. In some ways, the Renault Scenic has taken a leaf out of the British band’s rule book, because today, it takes the shape of a stylish electric SUV, having originally been designed as an MPV back in the 90s.

Launched in 2023, the Scenic E-Tech – as it’s now officially called – continues the theme of being a more practical alternative to the Renault Megane (another electric car). It also has multiple battery options, the biggest of which has an impressively long range. That’s important if it’s to compete against other electric SUVs, including the Kia EV6, Skoda Enyaq and Tesla Model Y.

Motors and batteries: The entry-level Scenic comes with a 60kWh ‘Comfort’ range (usable capacity) battery and a 167bhp electric motor that gets it from 0-62mph in 8.6sec – that’s on a par with the entry-level Skoda Enyaq 60.

Above that, there’s an 87kWh ‘Long Range’ battery with a more powerful 215bhp motor. The extra power trims the 0-62mph time to 7.9sec, but the Scenic doesn’t leap off the line as immediately as most rivals, so it doesn’t feel particularly quick.

The smaller battery has an official range of 260 miles on a full charge, which is slightly more than the Ioniq 5 Standard Range (238 miles) and Skoda Enyaq 60 (249 miles), although not quite as strong as the Model Y RWD’s 283 mile range.

The bigger battery has a much longer official range, offering up to 379 miles on a full charge in entry-level Techno trim (and slightly less in higher trim levels). That’s more than the big battery EV6 RWD (328 miles), Enyaq 80 (339 miles) and Model Y Long Range (331 miles). Of course, we doubt you’ll get that range in the real world, but it’s encouraging that all trim levels come as standard with a heat pump to help increase efficiency in the winter.

From April 2025, the Scenic has only been available with the big battery. To find out more about what it’s like as a new car, you can read our Renault Scenic review.

Ride and handling: The Scenic’s suspension has been tuned for comfort rather than agility, and it does a pretty good job of soaking up bumps and remaining calm most of the time.

It’s noticeably more supple than the Model Y and even edges the EV6. The only similarly priced electric SUV that betters the Scenic for ride comfort is the Enyaq.

In the bends, there’s plenty of body lean and moderate levels of grip, falling short of the EV6 for agility. The steering is also accurate enough, allowing you to place the nose of the car where you want it.

Unfortunately, due to poor tuning of the regenerative braking system, there’s a spongy, inconsistent feel to the brake pedal, which makes it difficult to come to a stop smoothly. The EV6 and Model Y have firmer, more consistent pedals.

Interior and practicality: Finding a comfortable driving position is very straightforward in the Scenic, with plenty of height and reach adjustment for the steering wheel and seat. All trim levels come with electric lumbar adjustment, while top-spec Iconic comes with full electric adjustment.

If you’ve sat in a Renault Austral SUV, you’ll find the fundamental design of the Scenic’s interior very familiar. Having three stalks on the right-hand side of the steering column for the gear selector, windscreen wipers and stereo initially feels quite busy, but doesn’t take too long to get used to.

The Scenic has a 12.3in digital driver display behind the steering wheel and a portrait-oriented 12.0in infotainment touchscreen tilted slightly towards the driver. They both look crisp and the infotainment software is easy to use, responding swiftly to your prods.

You get plenty of features, including standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring.

As with many of the Scenic’s rivals, you control almost everything through the touchscreen, including the heated seats. However, unlike most rivals (including the Model Y), the Scenic also gets a row of physical buttons below the touchscreen to make changing the fan speed and temperature really easy on the move.

Material-wise, the Scenic is quite impressive, and you’ll find plenty of padded fabric and faux-leather on the dashboard and doors, with fabric also lining the windscreen pillars and roof. There are scratchy plastics in a few areas, including on the front door tops. It’s about on par with the Enyaq for quality.

Up front, there’s loads of space in the front for a pair of six-footers, with plenty of elbow room and lots of leg room to stretch out. The panoramic roof (standard on Iconic trim) doesn’t eat into head room because its electronically controlled sun tint removes the need for a roller blind.

In the back, head room is equally generous as in the front, even for someone sitting in the slightly raised middle seat. However, while there’s a generous amount of knee room, there’s hardly any space under the front seats for passengers' feet. An Ioniq 5 or EV6 will be more comfortable in the back on long drives.

The Scenic has a 545-litre boot. That makes it slightly larger than the EV6’s, while allowing you to slot up to seven carry-on suitcases below the parcel shelf with space left over for a soft bag. That's not bad, although the Enyaq and Model Y can carry nine carry-on cases in their boots, with the latter fitting one under the bonnet. While the Scenic doesn’t have a front boot, it does have an underfloor storage area in the boot for the charging cable. For the times when you need more space, the Scenic’s folding rear seats can be split in a 40/20/40 format. That’s on a par with the Model Y and more versatile than the 60/40 split in an Enyaq.

Trims and equipment: Entry-level Techno trim – which is available with either battery size – comes with 19in alloy wheels, two-zone climate control, adaptive cruise control, heated steering wheel, heated front seats and ambient lighting.

The top two trims – Esprit Alpine and Iconic – are only available with the bigger battery. Esprit Alpine gets larger 20in alloy wheels, sports front seats and blue interior highlights found on the carpet, storage compartments and trim finishers. Meanwhile, Iconic trim adds a panoramic glass roof, park assist, a massaging driver’s seat and a Harman Kardon sound system.

"I remember driving an early left-hand drive Scenic E-Tech in the UK and the ride was uncomfortably firm. Amazingly, Renault took our feedback on board and tweaked the suspension. The result is a car that rides really nicely." – George Hill, Used Cars Writer

If you're interested in buying a used Renault Scenic or any of the cars we've mentioned, head over to our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at a great price.

Used prices for the Scenic E-Tech start from around £20,000, which gets you a 60kWh battery car from 2024 or 2025 in Techno trim. For an 87kWh battery model of a similar age, also in Techno trim, expect to pay upwards of £23,000. Iconic and Esprit Alpine cars cost a touch more, from around £24,000. Newer 2026 models start from £32,000.

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Charging

The 87kWh Scenic will accept a maximum charging rate of up to 150kW, which is slightly faster than the Enyaq 85 and VW ID 4, but slower than the EV6. A 10-80% charge takes around 40 minutes with a fast enough charger, which is longer than what it takes for the Enyaq (around 30 minutes) or EV6 (around 20 minutes). Meanwhile, the smaller 60kWh battery has a maximum charging rate of 130kW, but its smaller capacity means it takes around five minutes less to top up.

Road tax

All versions of the Scenic are subject to the current flat rate fee of road tax, which is £195. For range-topping versions costing more than £40,000 when new, these are subject to the £425 luxury car tax surcharge.

Servicing

Renault will charge £494.56 for two services over two years for the Scenic. That’s less than the £744 Skoda asks for a two-year service plan for the Enyaq, although the Skoda package does include two MOTs.

Warranty

From new, every Scenic comes with a three-year warranty, with unlimited mileage for the first 24 months and a cap of 100,000 miles thereafter. That’s fairly par for the course, but it doesn’t match Hyundai’s five-year cover or Kia’s seven-year warranty. The main drive battery is covered for eight years.

Insurance

The Scenic sits in insurance groups 33 and 34. That means it will cost around the same as an Enyaq to insure, but less than an EV6 or Model Y.

Safety

The Scenic was awarded the full five stars for safety when it was tested by Euro NCAP in 2022. All versions come with automatic emergency braking (AEB), blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assistance, rear cross-traffic alert and traffic-sign recognition as standard.

Reliability

The Scenic is a reliable car, according to the What Car? Reliability Survey, placing second out of 27 electric SUVs with a 97.5% score. As a brand, Renault sits 20th out of 30 manufacturers.

To find out more about used Renault Scenic reliability, visit our dedicated reliability page.

Motor and battery

The 87kWh Long Range version has a very good range, but costs similar to the 60kWh Comfort model, which itself is rare on the used market. Performance of the Long Range is better, too, making it our Scenic of choice.

Specification

Techno is the cheapest trim on the used market and it comes with all the kit you really need. The 19in alloys help improve ride comfort, too, compared with the larger 20in wheels on upper trims.

Our favourite Renault Scenic: Long Range 87kWh Techno

The Skoda Enyaq is a fantastic electric SUV. It’s been around longer than the Scenic, so used prices are much cheaper for older examples. It’s good to drive, well made and practical, too. Reliability is looking good.

The Kia EV6 is a sporty alternative. It’s one of the sharper handling electric SUVs, making it an enjoyable drive, even if it’s not as comfortable as the Scenic or Enyaq. It’s a practical and well priced option, too, with a seven-year warranty that boosts its appeal. Reliability isn’t as good as the Scenic.

The Tesla Model Y is a close competitor to the Scenic. It’s not as comfortable to drive, but it’s faster and slightly more practical. Reliability is good, too, while used prices are a touch cheaper than the Scenic. If tech is your thing, you’ll like the Model Y’s interior, but it isn’t as user-friendly as the Scenic.

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If you're interested in buying a used Renault Scenic or any of the cars we've mentioned, head over to our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at a great price.