autoevolution
 

RENAULT Scenic Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

Generations: 8
First production year: 1995
Engines: Electric, Gasoline, Diesel
Body style: Van
RENAULT Scenic E-Tech photo gallery

Renault reinvented one of the most successful models in its history, the Scenic, and added an electric drivetrain to make it more appealing to those customers looking for a sustainable vehicle.

When the French automaker introduced the Scenic lineup in 1996 as a member of the Megane family, customers were happy about it. It was a minivan built on top of a compact-sized car that could provide more interior room than any station wagon on the market. Starting with the model's second generation, the Scenic became a distinct model in Renault's lineup and lost the Megane moniker. As the times changed and people became more and more attracted to electric vehicles, Renault decided to transform this model into an EV. Moreover, it completely overhauled the entire concept, and the former MPV morphed into a crossover.

In 2023, Renault introduced the fifth generation of the Scenic, and customers were pleased since it wasn't a minivan anymore. The new crossover-shaped vehicle showed a distinct front fascia with LED headlights, and instead of a grille, was a hexagonal pattern that mimicked the carmaker's logo. Still, the vehicle needed some cooling area for the batteries and the electric motors. As a result, Renault placed a grille in the air dam on the lower part of the bumper. In addition, the Scenic E-Tech featured a pair of fake side scoops. They had no use other than making the car look good. To emphasize the transition to this segment, Renault created tall and sculptured door panels that integrated the side sills at the bottom. Finally, at the back, the hatchback shape resembled the now defunct Megane wagon, and the rear fascia got the taillights extended from the quarter panels to the tailgate. Furthermore, the lower bumper was unpainted, with a design inspired by off-road vehicles.

The interior was a big step forward in terms of quality and technology. Since Renault promised to make the car sustainable, it used its imagination and created a new upholstery made from recycled materials. At the front, the automaker installed a pair of high-mounted seats divided by a tall center console with an armrest and a storage compartment. Fronting the driver was a 12.3" instrument panel complemented by a portrait-mode touchscreen placed atop the center stack. The R-Link infotainment system ran on Android Automotive OS12. In the back, the automaker installed a bench seat fit for three adults. Another significant upgrade in terms of technology was the panoramic roof. While it couldn't be opened, the driver could control it and make it more or less opaque at the touch of a button.

But the most significant change happened under the Scenic's skin. Renault built the Scenic E-Tech on the CMF-EV platform and installed a choice of two battery packs for it. In addition, there were two powertrains available. The base version offered a 125 kW (168 HP) motor, while the second was more powerful and delivered 160 kW (215 HP) to the front wheels. The former version also featured a smaller battery pack than the latter.

full description and technical specifications
RENAULT Scenic photo gallery

The Renault was responsible for reviving the European compact MPV market back in 1996 when it launched the Megane Scenic. On the road to the 2016 model, it lost the “Megane” name and only the Scenic was kept.

For the 2016 model, the Scenic adopted the general image of the Renault brand, with an enlarged, chromed logo in the middle of the grille. Its proportions and shapes resembled those present on the Captur crossover and Clio. The fourth-generation was based on the Renault Megane platform and it was unveiled at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show.

The MPV was available in two wheelbases, named Scenic and Grand Scenic. While the shorter version could have accommodated up to five seats, the longer was available with up to seven seating positions. Moreover, the trunk was bigger. The longer version had a bigger window behind the rear doors.

Inside, both versions featured an infotainment unit with Bluetooth and TomTom navigation system. Unlike most of the cars on the market, the audio commands were not placed on the steering wheel, but on an auxiliary satellite on the steering column.

The suspension was independent on the front and with a torsion beam in the rear. The engine range included a 1.5-liter dci with 110hp, 130hp, and 160hp diesel, plus a 1.2-liter TCe gasoline with either 115PS or 130PS. Standard safety tech included auto emergency braking, lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition and cruise control on all trims and versions.

full description and technical specifications
RENAULT Scenic photo gallery

Renault refreshed the third generation of the Scenic lineup in 2013, and besides some aesthetic upgrades, it also added new options for the drivetrains.

The French MPV dominated its market segment for almost two decades. But Renault tried to master it and keep it ahead of its competitors. Even though it wasn't the most powerful or the best-looking minivan from Europe, its sales were high thanks to its high safety scores and friendly interior. On top of that, the car was available with a wide choice of engines. But, in 2012, the automaker improved the Scenic, and thus the final four years on the market for this generation sold well.

Renault knew that a facelift had to be noticed from the outside, so it went on to create a new front fascia. Thus, the car received e redesigned lower bumper that included LED daytime running lights incorporated into the lower scoops. In addition, the bumper also incorporated an upper grille, which hosted the automaker's badge in the middle and a chromed horizontal slat.

Inside, the 2013 Scenic featured a new screen hosted on the dashboard atop the center stack. Its R-Link infotainment system was accessible via a small joystick placed on the center console in front of the armrest. Like its predecessor, the facelifted version was available with bucket seats at the front and a split-folding bench for three in the rear.

But the most significant changes were performed under the car's skin. There was a new range of engines available and, most importantly, an XMOD version, which transformed the Scenic from a regular, road-oriented minivan into a crossover able to go on unpaved roads. Even if it wasn't an all-wheel drive version, thanks to its electronically-controlled differential at the front, it could tackle some mud and snow situations better than the rest of its siblings.

full description and technical specifications
RENAULT Scenic photo gallery

Launched in France in 2009, the best-selling MPV came with a redesigned exterior and new, more efficient engines.

The exterior cues were inspired by the Renault Megane Coupe, thus the Scenic looked a bit sporty, while still offering all the versatility of an MPV.

The fluid lines used for the interior, as well as the clean dashboard and intuitively placed controls made the cabin a nice place to be in.

The materials inside the Scenic were of good quality and the dashboard had a soft-touch finish. Easily customisable, the users were able to choose between beige, elegant hues or a sportier finish of the interior.

The space offered was improved with the longer wheelbase and the passengers in the rear seats benefited of more legroom to travel in comfort.

The visibility was also improved with the repositioned windscreen pillars.

The modular interior of the Scenic was one of the its strongest points. The front passenger seats could be folded, the second row of seats could be tipped forward, as well as all the passengers seats could be completely removed, to allow longer and larger items to be carried.

The comfort was enhanced with the parking brake assist and the cruise control available.

Compared to the previous Scenic, the 2009 model featured a more saloon-like driving position, with the floor being raised by 15mm.

full description and technical specifications
RENAULT Scenic photo gallery

Renault introduced the second generation of the Scenic following the same recipe as the first one: it made a minivan based on the same platform as the Megane lineup.

Most European car manufacturers already understood that the minivan segment is not very popular among customers. But that didn't apply to Renault, which was highly respected in the segment. Moreover, it tried to keep the momentum gained with the first Scenic generation. It created a new generation of the family-oriented vehicle.

Like its predecessor, the second generation of the Scenic was egg-shaped, with a raked hood and a windshield that almost continued on the same line. A panoramic glass roof that opened was on the options list. At the back, the almost vertical tailgate followed the same design language as the Megane Hatchback and sported the corner-mounted taillights.

Thanks to its tall height and generous greenhouse, the Scenic could offer enough comfort for up to five passengers. At the front, the bucket seats provided comfort for the occupants and excellent visibility of the road and the surroundings. Moreover, the instrument cluster took center stage on the dashboard, with an oversized display for the speedometer and tachometer. Thus, even those sitting in the back could read the speed. In addition, the high-mounted seats allowed the rear passengers to fit their feet under the front seats, thus creating more legroom. In addition, there were no problems with headroom either. Finally, the trunk was quite spacious and could have been extended by folding down the rear seats.

Under the hood, Renault installed a choice of gasoline and turbo-diesel engines paired either with a manual or an automatic transmission, depending on the version.

full description and technical specifications
RENAULT Scenic RX4 photo gallery

Renault looked to expand its vehicle range and developed the Scenic RX4 as a unique AWD minivan for the European market, together with an off-road specialist company.

While the Scenic was a sales-winner in its MPV segment, the French carmaker was a newbie in the off-road or SUV segment. Apart from some all-wheel-drive vehicles built in the past and the special military trucks, it had no expertise. After joining the Renault-Nissan Alliance, the French carmaker dropped the RX4 from its lineup, helping Nissan sells more X-Trails.

It was a unique vehicle on the market. Even though its overall look resembled the standard Megane Scenic facelift, its bigger bumpers and side moldings showed a different character. At the back, the carmaker installed the spare wheel on the lower side of the tailgate, which was opened sideways, while the rear window had hinges on its upper side. Unlike other SUV makers from those times, it installed a duralumin shield under the engine bay, not a fake plastic one.

Inside, apart from the dashboard, everything was changed. There were plenty of storage areas inside: under the seats, under the bench, under the floor, in the dashboard, and on the door panels. In fact, it had more interior storage volume than a 1959 Mini trunk. Its five individual seats allowed an impressive seat arrangement for its class.

Under the body, Renault installed a choice of two engines and an AWD system developed by Magna-Steyr with an electronically controlled center differential and a limited-slip front differential.

full description and technical specifications
RENAULT Scenic photo gallery

Renault scored a big success with the first generation of the Megane Scenic, renamed only Scenic after the 1999 facelift.

The French carmaker was already known and experienced in building light, family-oriented, MPVs but its Espace model needed a smaller, more affordable brother. Renault took the same platform as the one fitted on the Megane lineup and started to work on it. Even after the facelift, when the carmakers named it Scenic, the rear doors still featured a black plastic panel where the "Megane" word was still there.

At the front, the car featured distinct, larger headlights. Their rhomboidal shape resembled the company's logo, while the small vents on the hood resembled the ones from the Megane compact lineup. From its sides, the bubble-shaped bodywork was similar to the 1996 model.

Inside, the carmaker worked hard to improve the cabin and kept it with five seats but completely changed the dashboard. It featured white dials in the instrument cluster and a different layout with the fuel and temperature gauges placed in the middle. The audio system was improved and featured a CD-player with steering-column-mounted controls. In the back, the three individual seats could have slid, tilt, or completely removed.

Under the hood, Renault installed a wide choice of gasoline and diesel options. The base version was still powered by a 1.4-liter unit but produced ten hp more than its predecessor.

full description and technical specifications
RENAULT Megane Scenic photo gallery

Built on the same platform as the first-generation Megane, the Scenic wore the Megane-Scenic from 1995 when it appeared on the market, counting on its sibling's name for sale success.

Renault made a bold step in the European MPV compact segment with the introduction of the Scenic range in 1995. It aimed the Scenic at young families with babies, offering an unmatched level of safety and interior space by any of its competitors.

Sporting the same bio-design language as its Megane sibling, the minivan designed by Patrick Le Quement revealed a taller vehicle than the rest of the range. A short and steep hood followed the signature front fascia of the car, which featured a center vertical slat where the rhomboidal Renault badge was mounted. To conceal the tall vehicle, the designer added a fat bumper that incorporated a lower grille with horizontal slats and, as an option, a pair of foglights. From its sides, behind the rear doors, the carmaker added a third row of windows that followed a curved shape toward the D-pillars. At the back, the tailgate looked similar to the one installed on the Megane Estate (station wagon) version, just taller.

Inside, the high-seating position allowed for more legroom for all five occupants. Moreover, the carmaker added several storage spaces located inside the floor and also under the seats. The dashboard's curved lines followed the same bio-design trend of the mid-90s, with the instrument cluster being extended above the center stack. The oval-shaped vents created a unitary design, even though the outer ones were vertically placed.

Under the hood, Renault installed fuel-efficient engines paired with five-speed manual gearboxes. It was an economical car, even though that meant sacrifices in the performance department.

full description and technical specifications