OUR BIGGEST EVER BLACK FRIDAY SALE
By Jonathan Crouch
Introduction
Renault's third generation Scenic five-seat MPV was further improved in 2013 to last it through to the launch of the fourth generation model three years later. Going for one of these last-of-the-line MK3 models might make very good sense for used car buyers looking for spacious family transport. A few of them might even be interested in the curious XMOD version that was introduced to generate some interest in this car in its aging years, this variant featuring SUV styling cues and a grip control system.
Models
5dr compact MPV (1.2, 1.6 petrol, 1.5, 1.6 diesel [Dynamique Tom Tom])
History
Renault likes to think it created MPV people carriers when it launched the Espace in the Eighties, though actually, that's not really true: the Americans were doing it long before. It is true however, to credit the French brand with originating the category we recognise with this car, that of the compact mini-MPV. The Scenic it launched back in the mid-Nineties has been through several very different generations, with the third generation design we look at here first launched in 2009.
An upgrade in 2012 bought new engine options, extra equipment and a slightly smarter look but it wasn't enough to sustain sales in an MPV market fragmenting from all sides. So the brand gave this car a further significant wash 'n brush-up in the Spring of 2013 that included a more far-reaching facelift, extra new engine options and, most notably, the option of an SUV-orientated XMOD bodystyle including a Grip Xtend function for extra traction on poor surfaces. It's that car we'll be looking at here, which lasted until the MK4 model Scenic was launched in late 2016.
What You Get
You probably won't be buying this car because of how it looks, but its shape remains sharp and clean, with a more contemporary front end in this 2013-2016 guise. This facelifted version got a larger Renault badge taking centre stage on the smarter bonnet. The A-pillars, the wings, the bumper and the headlights were also re-styled in pursuit of what the brand hoped was a stronger, sportier look. Details include black high gloss elements around the grille and the use of chrome trims around smarter LED daytime running lights.
Go for the XMOD version and you get chunkier bumpers with silver skid plate-style inserts front and rear, special wheels, sill guards and chrome-finished roofbars. Whichever variant's right for you though will come with what Renault calls its 'flame-effect' line, a crease that starts beneath the headlights then sweeps rearward, further emphasising the plunging roofline.
As before, this five-seat Scenic model is only 216mm shorter than its 7-seater Grand Scenic stablemate, which bodes well for the room on offer inside. And so it proves in the spacious, airy cabin with its large wide windscreen. At the wheel, the commanding driving position is complemented by a soft-touch sweeping dashboard design that shows how far Renault has come in recent times in its pursuit of perceived quality.
As with previous Scenics, the three rear seats can be slid either backwards or forwards to maximise either back seat legroom or luggage space - and of course they can be tumbled forward with a relatively simple, if rather clunky three-point manoeuvre to increase luggage space to from 437 to 1837-litres, just 226-litres less than the Grand Scenic model. To put that into context, the top figure is about 100-litres more than you'd get in a rival Citroën C4 Picasso from this period. You can take the seats out completely too to free up yet more space, but even if you've got somewhere to put the things, the procedure is so complicated and awkward that you'll be finding excuses not to do it. Rivals with seat systems folding flat into the floor do it better.
But then, the seats-folded 1837-litre capacity is probably about as much as most families will ever need and the Scenic builds on this with a further 92-litres of oddment space. Under-floor compartments, under-seat drawers, a huge chilled glovebox, centre console cubbies, door pockets and trays on the seat backs should help to keep the family's paraphernalia in check. We also like the way that the centre storage unit between the front seats slides forward so that it doesn't get in the way if you've pushed the middle rear seat right forward, as you might do to keep a better eye on a child in a booster seat.
Talking of parental supervision, many original buyers also specified a useful extra mirror, mounted for the driver to more easily watch what the little horrors are doing. To keep them all quiet, there are three 12-volt power sockets around the cabin so that games consoles and MP3 players can be topped up. Overall then, if you don't need seven seats, there's probably enough flexibility here to justify this Scenic's premium over a conventional Megane-sized family hatch.
What You Pay
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What to Look For
The good thing about buying a vehicle that's well into its model cycle is that all the major problems have been thoroughly ironed out. Sure enough, most Scenic buyers of '13 to '16-era models that we surveyed were very satisfied. Inevitably though, there were a few issues. One owner complained of an air conditioning fan failing. Another found some water ingress in the passenger compartment footwell. There were reports of some cars struggling to start in damp weather and one we came across was noisy on tickover. One had a fraying fanbelt and another made a whistling noise in line with rising engine speed. Look out for all these things when inspecting and driving used examples.
Otherwise, ensure that the rear load space cover and the storage bin lids are present and correct and look for the usual family interior damage. Check that all the electrics and air conditioning work properly. The engines have all proven tough and the 1.6 diesel and 1.2-litre petrol engines are highly regarded by experts.
Replacement Parts
(approx based on a 2013 Scenic 1.5 dCi 110) Consumables for the Renault Scenic are reasonably priced. An air filter sits in the £11 to £15 bracket, an oil filter costs around £5-£10 and a fuel filter will sit in the £35 to £50 bracket. Brake pads sit in the £20 to £35 bracket for a set, while brake discs sit in the £55 to £85 bracket (though you can pay up to around £225 for a pricier brand). A headlamp will cost between around £145 and £165 to replace and a rear lamp cost around £65. If you smash the indicator in the wing mirror, a replacement will cost around £20 to £35. The mirror glass costs around £20 to replace, while a complete wing mirror costs around £100 to replace.
On the Road
Renault's choice to prioritise comfort in Scenic motoring has always been the right one. It's a pleasant surprise then, to find that this third generation model can also work with you when you're running late for the school play or you're behind schedule on a back road with dinner burning in the oven, even if it isn't the sharpest drive in the class.
Much of this is down to a clever front suspension set-up. We won't trouble you with the technicalities, but the end result is a car that rolls less than you'd expect from a people carrier and turns into corners with reassuring sharpness so you can capitalise on the surprisingly good grip: it's just like any normal family hatchback in fact. Most importantly, all this has been achieved without affecting the absorbent ride, while noise is well suppressed thanks to copious soundproofing.
So far, so good. What about under the bonnet? Renault has made the mistake of trying to sell higher performance Scenic derivatives over the years that buyers avoided like the plague, so the engine line-up in the 2013-2016 model range was dictated more by sense than by speed. Still, you'll find the units on offer a willing bunch, with the petrol emphasis being on a surprisingly pokey 115PS 1.2-litre TCe turbo unit capable of sixty from rest in 11.7s on the way to 112mph. An older normally aspirated 1.6 VVT petrol unit was also offered, but is slower and far less efficient. Most however, will want a diesel, the best all-round choice probably being the 110bhp 1.5-litre dCi, which makes 60mph from rest in 12.3s on the way to 112mph. Those in search of more power meanwhile, have an impressive 130bhp 1.6-litre dCi option at their disposal, capable of sixty in 10.3s on the way to 121mph - in other words, the kind of performance you'd expect from a rival 2.0-litre diesel. Without of course, the associated running costs.
Overall
This late-era MK3 model Renault Scenic reminded us that there was still a place for the traditional five-seat compact mini-MPV in a modern market stuffed with other, more high profile alternatives. It's practical, spacious, well built and decently equipped, as every car of this kind must be, but in this case, each of these criteria has been ticked off with a thoroughness that reminds you just who invented this market sector in the first place.
The improvements made to this revised version went unnoticed by many when this model was new - which was a pity as the clever petrol 1.2 and diesel 1.6-litre units are class leadingly-efficient. This car is also exceptionally well equipped and the more adventurous XMOD version offers pretty much everything you'd get from a Qashqai-class Crossover but with extra space and flexibility.
One thing's for certain. As a more versatile spin on spacious five-seat family motoring, this Scenic has a lot to offer.
