Renault Scenic long-term test
In theory, the latest Renault Scenic electric SUV looks extremely compelling, offering a long range at a tempting price. We're living with one to see how good it is in practice...
The car Renault Scenic Long Range Iconic Run by Allan Muir, managing editor
Why we’re running it To find out whether the Scenic is a better family-sized electric SUV than the likes of the Tesla Model Y
Needs to Deliver all the comfort and practicality expected of a family SUV, while being as easy to live with as an electric vehicle with such a long official range should be
Mileage 4235 List price £45,495 Target Price £42,028 Price as tested £46,795 Test range 270 miles Official range 369 miles
10 February 2025 – The art of noise
Being electric, my Renault Scenic is fairly quiet when it’s rolling along; the absence of engine noise and reasonably low levels of wind and road noise make it a relaxing car in which to cover long distances. But that doesn’t mean it’s silent, of course – far from it. As with most cars fitted with the latest electronic driver and safety aids, the Scenic is capable of kicking up a cacophony of sounds at times – a few of them irritating, but some surprisingly pleasant.
French composer and electronic music pioneer Jean-Michel Jarre played a part in developing the ‘in-car sound experience’ for the Scenic. He created not only the welcome sequence when you climb into the car, but also one of the warning sounds the car emits at low speeds to alert pedestrians and cyclists to its presence (‘by Jean-Michel Jarre’ being joined by Neutral and Expressive).
Each of them is surprisingly audible inside the car, even with the windows up. Truth be told, with my wonky hearing, I can’t tell much difference between them; it’s just noise. But hopefully others can appreciate the subtleties of Monsieur Jarre’s efforts more than me.
The proximity sensors are more tuneful than usual, too. Reversing into a parking space makes me think of approaching the entrance to a nightclub (although it’s been a while); there’s a steady ‘doof doof’ build-up, and then when you open the door (in other words, you reach the point where you have to hit the brakes) you get a jaunty, complex electronic fanfare, not just a boring single tone. I’m not sure if Jarre had anything to do with that, but I like it.
Meanwhile, it took me a while to figure out the source of the loud clonk I could hear shortly after setting off on my daily commute. My Scenic has flush-fitting door handles that pop out automatically as I approach the car, and eventually I realised that the clonk was them retracting as I got under way. There’s nothing subtle about it, but I’m hardly complaining.
And like most of the latest models, my Scenic has an audible speed limit warning as part of its road sign recognition system. This can be infuriating at times, especially when the system gets the prevailing speed limit wrong.
Thankfully, the Scenic has a handy physical button on the dashboard that activates a ‘Perso’ setting, in which the safety aids can be configured to your preference. And my preference is to have the audible speed limit warning turned off.
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