Scenic reinvented as EV crossover

Family-friendly, eco-conscious new Renault will offer arange of more than 385 miles

- JAMES ATTWOOD

The new Renault Scenic E-Tech Electric is intended to represent a "new form of family vehicle", according to its creators, mixing SUV design elements with interior roominess comparable to its MPV predecessor.

Due to go on sale in the UK early next year, the Scenic will sit above the Mégane in Renault's line-up of bespoke electric cars. While the new model is technically unrelated to the series of MPVs that carried the nameplate from 1996 until 2022, Renault insists that the family-centric values of that vehicle - with particular focus on maximising interior space and safety - have been carried over.

Built on the CMF-EV platform also used by the Mégane and the Nissan Ariya, the Scenic was designed around two fixed points: a wheelbase of 2780mm, intended to put it squarely in the middle of the C-segment market, and a height of 1571mm, to allow it to provide similar head room to that of previous versions.

The exterior styling is remarkably close to the concept version revealed last year and showcases Renault's new design language, which mixes curved bodywork with sharp character lines and elements that are intended to look 'high-tech'.

The front grille area has been reworked with a vertical Renault logo set slightly back from a panel that features a diamond motif. At the edges, the daytime-running lights are an evolution of those seen on the Mégane.