• Loads of space inside, especially in the rear
• Plenty of storage bins dotted around
• Up to 1,670 litres of boot space

How much space is there?

In the front there’s enough space for a tall driver and a equally tall passenger. In fact, the Scenic will quite happily accommodate four-six-footers front and back thanks to the amount of head and legroom in offer – with room for a fifth person in the tighter rear middle seat when required.

Do we have any gripes? Well, the rear seats don’t slide or recline, and it’s a shame there’s not more room for the rear passengers to fit their feet under the front seats. On the plus side, there’s flat floor spanning the width of the rear compartment and the rear bench is positioned relatively high up. Higher than, for example, the Tesla Model 3’s, so on a long trip you shouldn’t hear your rear passengers grumbling about any aches and pains.

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Boot space and storage

There’s also lots of storage capacity in the front, including reasonably sized door bins and a big well beneath the infotainment screen that includes a cup holder. In the back there are two more door bins and lots of handy pockets on the back of the front seats for electronic devices and other bit and pieces. But the party piece is the rear armrest. This has a lid that reveals some extra storage inside, two USB-C charge points, and two cup holders. Nothing outlandish there, we know, but when you rotate the cup holders they reveal a tablet holder – one for each rear passenger. That should keep the kids quiet for a while.

The 545-litre boot isn’t far off the size of an Enyaq’s carrying capacity. That’s a good thing because it means you’ll get larger items, like pushchairs, fitted in easily enough. There’s also 38 litres of storage underneath the boot floor, which is perfect for the charging cables, but no storage space under the bonnet.

There’s a massive drop from the boot lip to the boot floor to lift items over, and when you lower the 40:20:40 rear seats – increasing the space to 1,670 litres – you’re left with a large step in the extended floor. For that reason, we’d definitely recommend the optional height-adjustable boot floor. It’s not silly money and helps mitigate these issues. 

Is it easy to park?

Visibility is decent out the front and sides, but the rear window is tiny and the large back pillars make reversing a nightmare. The only saving grace is that you get front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera as standard. There’s also a ‘smart rear-view mirror’ available. Basically, it’s a regular mirror but if your view out the back is blocked by a boot full of luggage, flick a switch and the mirror turns into a screen showing what’s behind from a camera feed. It’s helpful but not essential.

Safety

• Five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP
• Plenty of standard driver assist tech
• Good child occupant protection score

The Scenic E-Tech has been awarded a five-star safety rating by Euro NCAP. That’s because it has 30 driver assistance systems, which include lane assist, adaptive cruise control with lane centring, active emergency braking (to stop you having an accident and to prevent a secondary collision), plus blindspot monitoring. The blindspot system works when you’re on the go and when you’re parked – to warn you if you’re about to open the door on a cyclist.

And the new Scenic keeps a close eye on the driver too. Not just their awareness but also their driving style: a safety coach can score your excess speed, any tailgating or enthusiastic cornering. It’s part of the mandated driver monitoring regulations coming into force shortly.

The great news is that the Scenic’s safety kit isn’t overly intrusive. The lane assist, for example, isn’t fighting you regularly like it can do in some Skodas, Peugeots and Volkswagens. And you can turn some of the assistance systems off easily if they do get on your wick; just double-tap a button by the steering wheel and it’s done.

Watch: Renault Scenic E-Tech crash test video