Renault Vel Satis (2002 - 2004) 2.2 dCi Privilege 5d Auto Owner Review

A real Marmite car. You either love it or hate it. From the outside its typically French and challenging to look at! Inside is all very plush with seats that are like armchairs. The higher driving position is not for all but suits me as I have back problems. Its enormous inside and my 6ft 3in son can sit behind me easily. The boot is also enormous and can take two sets of golf clubs and carts. The 2.2 diesel mated to a 5 speed automatic gearbox is no rocket ship but it is fast enough to get you out of trouble & will cruise at motorway speed beautifully. I have averaged about 42 MPG so far which is good for such a big car. The ride could be better on poor road services but its not uncomfortable. The steering is light but with just enough weight to it. The buttons on the entertainment system are rather small and fiddly so best sort yourself out before setting off. I drove it 174 miles with one stop and got out as fresh as a daisy. I appreciate that reliability is a question being a Renault but so far its been perfect. The up side to this is that it is a fraction of the price of an equivalent German rival. Be sensible & ensure that it has a full service history and check the bodywork is good. If you want something big, comfortable and different then look no further. Just remember not everyone likes Marmite!