The Renault Scénic is a car produced by Renault and the first to be labelled a small multi-purpose vehicle in Europe. Its first generation was based on the Mégane chassis and became European Car of the Year on its launch in November 1996.
Renault Scénic at a glance
| Maker | Renault, France |
|---|---|
| Launched | November 1996, based on the Mégane |
| Class | small MPV, later crossover |
| Award | European Car of the Year 1997 |
| Four-wheel drive | Scénic RX4, added with the first-generation facelift |
| Seven seats | Grand Scénic, from the second generation |
| Discontinued | standard Scénic in May 2022 |
| Relaunched | 2024 as the electric Scénic E-Tech |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the Renault Scénic.
History of the Renault Scénic
The first small MPV
The first-generation Scénic was based on the chassis of the Mégane small family car and was the first car in Europe to be labelled a small MPV. It won European Car of the Year on its launch in November 1996. The facelifted first-generation car added a four-wheel-drive model called the Renault Scénic RX4, which was dropped when the Scénic II arrived.
Grand Scénic and seating
The second, third and fourth generations offered a seven-seat model called the Grand Scénic alongside the five-seat version. From the fourth generation of 2016 the Scénic used a one-third/two-thirds folding rear bench instead of the three individual rear seats of the previous three generations.
Electric return
In May 2022 Renault announced it was discontinuing the standard Scénic, with the Grand Scénic following shortly afterwards. The name returned in 2024 on a fully electric car, the Renault Scénic E-Tech, the production version of the Scénic Vision concept shown in 2022; the production car was unveiled at the 2023 Munich Motor Show on 4 September.
Design and features
- Small MPV pioneer: the first European car described as a small multi-purpose vehicle.
- Car of the Year 1997: the title came with the November 1996 launch.
- Scénic RX4: a four-wheel-drive version of the facelifted first generation.
- Grand Scénic: a seven-seat version from the second generation onwards.
Renault Scénic versions
- Scénic I (1996): the original small MPV.
- Scénic RX4: four-wheel-drive model of the first generation.
- Grand Scénic: seven-seat long version.
- Scénic E-Tech (2024): the electric relaunch.
The Scénic was based on the Renault Mégane and sat above the smaller Renault Modus; its electric return shares technology with the Renault Zoe. More Renaults are in the Renault collection.
Video: Renault Scenic road test
Video by auto motor und sport on YouTube.
Sources
- Renault Scénic, English Wikipedia: generations, RX4, Grand Scénic, relaunch
