Renault Scenic Dynamique TomTom dCi 130 Stop & Start 5dr Car Review - March 2012

The 1.6 litre four cylinder diesel has fairly good performance credentials, delivering 130bhp and 236 lb-ft of torque. The engine feels amazingly refined and 0-62 mph takes a respectable 10.3 seconds. A top speed of 121mph is also perfectly adequate for a car of this type.

In terms of comfort, the Scenic is generally fine although potholes and larger bumps can be uncomfortable for passengers. For a car of this height, it grips well in corners and there is little body roll. However, the steering doesn't provide much feedback and this affects the car's overall feel on the road. At cruising speeds there is a bit of wind and road noise which can be disruptive within the cabin.

The driver’s seat and steering wheel offer plenty of adjustment so finding a decent driving position should be easy. The dashboard has a centrally mounted information screen instead of traditional dials which can be a little tricky to navigate. The dashboard design is also showing its age.

The car also suffers a little from restricted rear vision and although the cabin feels well screwed together the quality of some of the materials leaves a little to be desired.

The Renault Scenic Dynamique TomTom dCi 130 5dr is a good looking car, with the standard-kit alloy wheels livening up the profile somewhat.

The interior benefits from a stereo with both CD and MP3 connectivity, as well as Bluetooth connectivity, sat nav, cruise control, electric front windows, electric door mirrors and air-conditioning as standard.

There is also an alarm and immobiliser fitted to protect the car from theft. Visibility and safety issues are also addressed through an advanced safety kit and front fog lights which are fitted as standard.

Those wishing to enhance the appearance of the model can invest in a metallic paint finish for £455 whilst the air conditioning can be upgraded to climate control for an extra £410.

There is plenty of head and legroom for five people and the cabin has handy storage spaces which make it ideal for families. The loading space available for cargo is more than sufficient with an impressive 437 litres offered even when the seats are in place. Folding the rear seats increases this to 1,837 litres and a wide opening on the boot lid make it easy to gain access.

In the Euro NCAP crash tests the model scored the top five star rating and there are plenty of safety features fitted as standard. These include a total of six airbags as well as stability control, ISOFIX child-seat mountings and anti-lock braking system (ABS).

Unfortunately, Renaults have a questionable reputation for reliability and this means this model could be a bit of a risk. Improvements are claimed to have been made by the brand and additional assurances are available for drivers in the form of a three year/100,000 mile warranty.

At £20,900 the Renault Scenic Dynamique TomTom dCi 130 Stop & Start 5dr is not as cheap as some of its rivals and this could prove to be a problem. Although buyers get a good amount of kit for their money, the concerns over reliability are a real drawback and could make some buyers cautious about their investment.

However, with decent performance credentials and strong efficiency this model is one of the best of the Scenic range and that means it could prove popular with families looking for a practical but cheap-to-run car.

This model excels when it comes to efficiency and delivers an impressive 64.2 mpg on the combined cycle. This figure is made possible by the Stop & Start system which also allows for a low CO2 figure of 115g/km. This puts the Scenic under VED band C. Insurance should also be reasonable with the Scenic falling under group 21.