The Renault Scenic E-Tech is The Car Expert’s Best Medium Car 2025!
Summary
No longer a people carrier, the Renault Scenic has adopted the all-electric ‘E-Tech’ nameplate, and is now a family-sized SUV that shares its foundations with the Nissan Ariya.
On sale in the UK since the start of 2024, the new Scenic has accumulated review scores ranging from average to excellent from the British motoring media. As Parker’s John Howell concludes, “It’s good but not perfect, doing most things well and very few things badly”, as the SUV has been praised for its long battery range, but criticised for its poor rear visibility and rather spongy brakes which detract from the driving experience.
Other reviewers also praise the Scenic E-Tech for its value-for-money pricing and its safety credentials, as well as its spacious, well-designed cabin and overall practicality.
As of December 2024, the Renault Scenic E-Tech holds a New Car Expert Rating of A with a score of 84%. This is one of the highest scores in our Expert Rating index, aided by an excellent Euro NCAP safety rating and low average running costs.
Scenic E-Tech highlights
- Excellent safety credentials
- Spacious and practical interior
- Competitive battery range
Scenic E-Tech lowlights
- Poor rear visibility
- Spongy brake pedal
- Alternatives are cheaper
Key specifications
Body style: Medium SUV
Engines: electric, battery-powered
Price: From £37,495 on-road
Launched: Winter 2023/24
Last updated: N/A
Replacement due: TBA
Image gallery
Media reviews
Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
The Car Expert
Model reviewed: Iconic long-range 220hp
Score: 8 / 10
“The Renault Scenic is a thoroughly capable family EV with a competitive range and a stylish, quality build. It’s not the most exciting vehicle to drive, but few potential buyers will be prioritising performance.”
Author: Andrew Charman
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Auto Express
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“The Renault Scenic takes a pragmatic and polished approach to zero-emissions motoring.”
Author: Alastair Crooks
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Auto Trader
Score: 9 / 10
“Renault’s family favourite is reborn as an electric crossover, and it’s a stylish and practical one with some neat features.”
Author: Mark Nichol
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Business Car
Model reviewed: Iconic
Score: 8 / 10
“The Renault Scenic is a useful addition to the crossover market, which is good to drive, with an excellent range.”
Author: Martyn Collins
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Car
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Renaultl Scenic E-Tech is spacious and – true to the original Scenic philosophy – looks after the safety and well-being of those onboard. Plus it’s relatively lightweight for a large-battery EV, and the official efficiency and range figures are bang on the money.”
Author: John Howell
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Carbuyer
Score: 8.8 / 10
“The reinvented Renault Scenic is a compelling electric SUV with a great driving range and lots of family-friendly features.”
Author: Andy Goodwin, John McIlroy
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Carwow
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“The all-electric Renault Scenic looks great, has a spacious cabin and a big boot, but it feels cheap in places and it’s not great to drive.”
Author: Darren Cassey
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Driving Electric
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“Renault has re-established itself as a titan of Europe’s family car sector; the Scenic offers range, tech and space, all at a reasonable price.”
Author: Ryan Birch
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Electrifying.com
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“The Renault Scenic is a really great electric family car; it’s safe, pleasant to drive, roomy inside, stuffed with equipment and has one of the longest ranges of any electric car at this price. We’ve docked it a star for not being as efficient in the real world as we’d like, and also for having a very peculiar-shaped boot and not as much seating flexibility as some might be hoping for.”
Author: Vicky Parrott
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Green Car Guide
Model reviewed: Iconic Long Range 220hp
Score: 9 / 10
“The Renault Scenic E-Tech is the brand’s all-electric offering for families, with a spacious interior and an electric driving range of up to 379 miles.”
Author: Paul Clarke
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Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“As an all-round package, the Renault Scenic E-Tech is up there with the very best. There are very few electric cars that are as versatile, comfortable and enjoyable to drive as the Scenic E-Tech – especially with a starting price well below £40,000. Chuck in a very impressive range, and the Renault Scenic E-Tech is a very competitive family car.”
Author: John Howell
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Honest John
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 10 / 10
“Stylish and spacious, the Renault Scenic E-Tech makes a very good case for itself alongside more expensive competition. Chuck in an extensive list of standard equipment and an impressively long electric range, and we think the Renault Scenic E-Tech is one of the best electric SUVs you can buy.”
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Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“The Scenic works really well as a family car, with a spacious interior for people and luggage, and lots of thoughtful touches to bolster its usability. Oh, and not forgetting safety: there is plenty of tech looking after the well-being of those onboard, but without those systems becoming infuriating.”
Author: Keith Adams
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Regit
Score: 8 / 10
“The Scenic is a household name, but now Renault has introduced the fully electrified version for the first time and it makes quite a statement.”
Author: Maxine Ashford
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The Sunday Times
Model reviewed: Iconic 87kWh 160kW
Score: 9 / 10
“A solid all-rounder, with a terrific interior.”
Author: Neil Briscoe
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The Telegraph
Model reviewed: Long Range Iconic
Score: 8 / 10
“The French firm’s electric family EV has a superb interior although it lacks the versatility we’ve come to associate with the name.”
Author: Alex Robbins
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Model reviewed: 220hp Iconic
Score: 6 / 10
“It’s not an MPV, but it’s rather more baffling to determine just what the new Renault Scenic is. We’ve struggled to find rivals, but just because the Scenic stands in a class of its own doesn’t necessarily mean that you want one. For all its likeable qualities, the Scenic doesn’t have particularly practical or flexible space in the cabin and, on this evidence at least, its efficiency isn’t desperately good, either.”
Author: Andrew English
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Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Space, efficiency and superb tech count in the Scenic’s favour. But it’s also good-looking on the outside and well-finished within.”
Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: May 2024
Read the full Euro NCAP review
Adult protection: 88%
Child protection: 89%
Vulnerable road users: 77%
Safety assist: 85%
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
As of December 2024, the Renault Scenic E-Tech has not been assessed by Green NCAP.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
No reliability rating
As of December 2024, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Renault Scenic E-Tech to generate a reliability rating.
The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using workshop and extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy, sourced from both official dealerships and independent workshops.
As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the Scenic E-Tech, we’ll publish the results here.
Running cost rating
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
Battery range | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
EV models | 345 miles | A | 260 – 379 miles | A – B |
Electrical efficiency | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
EV models | 4.3 m/KWh | B | 4.2 – 4.4 m/KWh | B – B |
Insurance group | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
All models | 32 | C | 32 – 32 | C – C |
Service and maintenance | Cost | Score |
Year 1 | £169 | A |
Year 2 | £413 | A |
Year 3 | £673 | A |
Year 4 | £888 | A |
Year 5 | £1,248 | A |
Overall | £3,391 | A |
The Renault Scenic E-Tech is a very affordable car to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.
Its average battery range of 345 miles (ranging from 260 to 379 miles depending on the model you choose) is very competitive in the mid-size SUV class, and its servicing an maintenance costs over the course of the first five years of ownership are excellent. In fact, they are estimated to be cheaper than the smaller Mégane E-Tech.
The car’s insurance bracket sits around the market average.
Awards
Trophies, prizes and awards that the Renault Scenic E-Tech has received.
2024
- The Car Expert Awards – Best Medium Car
- European Car of the Year
- Auto Trader Awards – Erin Baker Award
- Carbuyer Awards – Best Family Electric Car
- EcoCar Electrified Top 50 – Best Electrified Car + Best Electric Medium SUV
- Motor Trader Industry Awards – New Car of the Year
- News UK Awards – Best Family Car
- Parkers Awards – Car of the Year + Best Medium Family Car
- Scottish Car of the Year Awards – Car of the Year + Best Electric Family SUV
- Top Gear Electric Awards – Best Family EV
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Renault Scenic E-Tech, you might also be interested in these alternatives.
Audi Q4 e-tron | BMW iX3 | Citroën ë-C4 | Ford Mustang Mach-E | Hyundai Ioniq 5 | Kia EV6 | Mercedes-Benz EQA | Nissan Ariya | Polestar 2 | Skoda Enyaq iV | Subaru Solterra | Tesla Model Y | Toyota bZ4X | Volkswagen ID.4 | Volvo EX40
More information
More news, reviews and information about the Renault Scenic E-Tech at The Car Expert
Buy a Renault Scenic E-Tech
If you’re looking to buy a new or used Renault Scenic E-Tech, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find the right car.
Find your next used car with Motors. Find out more
Find your next new or used car with Auto Trader. Find out more
Find your next new or used car with Carwow. Find out more
Lease a Renault Scenic E-Tech
If you’re looking to lease a new Renault Scenic E-Tech The Car Expert’s partners can help you find a competitive deal.
Personal contract hire deals from Carparison Leasing. Find out more
Personal contract hire deals from Leasing.com. Find out more
Personal contract hire deals from Select Car Leasing. Find out more
Subscribe to a Renault Scenic E-Tech
Subscriptions are becoming a very popular way for consumers to try an electric car for a few weeks or months to help decide whether it’s a suitable alternative to a petrol car. If you’re interested in a car subscription, The Car Expert’s partners can help. (PS: What’s a car subscription?)
Car subscriptions from Wagonex.
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Car subscriptions from DriveFuze.
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Car subscriptions from Cocoon.
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