With seven seats, the Renault Grand Scenic is one of the most practical cars around. It may not look that pretty but it does offer lots of space, helping its family-friendly status.

When our test car arrived, we were a bit taken aback thanks to Renault’s decision to spec 17-inch Plenum alloys. A £310 extra, these bling wheels do not suit the car - as one bystander commented: “It’s like putting lipstick on a pig.”

The Grand Scenic, thankfully, has more than bling wheels on offer. Practicality is first class, but is it better than the Ford S-MAX or Citroen Grand C4 Picasso?

Performance

On test, we had the 128bhp 1.6-litre diesel engine. This is one of the most powerful units available in the Grand Scenic range, with the 1.2-litre TCe petrol capable of offering the same output.

Overtaking on single-lane carriageways is satisfactory, but of course power is never going to match any hot hatches from a standing start.

The performance figures are about average for a vehicle of this size. You will need to keep the revs high even though you have 320Nm of torque on tap.

This version of the Grand Scenic will reach the benchmark sprint in 11.1 seconds and goes on to a top speed of 121mph.

Ride and Handling

On single-lane carriageways, the Scenic is quite agile while there is less body roll than a Kia Carens, but certainly more than you find in the Grand C4 Picasso.

The ride on the Grand Scenic is very good, making it ideal for long motorway journeys. And keep the Scenic at speed and the car is more than satisfactory. However, be careful when coming out of junctions as the Scenic does not feel torquey enough low down. On single-lane carriageways, the Scenic is quite agile while there is less body roll than a Kia Carens, but certainly more than you find in the Grand C4 Picasso. Since the new seven-seater Citroen came on to the scene it has raised the bar. This model, alongside the Ford S-MAX, sets a high standard of driving dynamics in the class. The Scenic isn’t bad, but if you are an enthusiastic driver it would be better to look elsewhere for a fun-filled MPV.

Interior and Equipment

Renault first began production of the Grand Scenic back in 2003, over six years after the launch of the original five-seater Scenic.

Being the only trim level means Dynamique TomTom is well-specified, however, the plastics are bland, reminiscent of ‘Norm’ from the Twix ads in the late nineties. The character was a grey goblin and a little bit dull, and the cabin in the Renault is much the same. Even though those bling wheels on the exterior make it stand out, the design team could do so much better. On the practical front, the Renault comes into its own. The seven-seater comfortably transported six adults with ease and no complaints. Still it’s not quite so spacious as the Citroen and Ford. Inside the car, there is a feeling that you have acres of space, aided by an airy cabin, large windows and a high roof. Load space is good too - 464 litres with the seats in place - and this can be expanded to 702 litres or 2,063 litres when you need the most room possible. Highlights on the Dynamique TomTom include Carminat TomTom integrated sat-nav with maps of the UK and Ireland, Bluetooth, dual zone climate control, and LED daytime running lights.

Cost

On average it will return a claimed 64.2mpg, in real-world driving we believe you should see high fifties, while CO2 emissions come out at 114g/km.

On the costs front, the Grand Scenic powered with the 128bhp 1.6-litre diesel engine should fare quite well. On average it will return a claimed 64.2mpg, in real-world driving we believe you should see high fifties, while CO2 emissions come out at 114g/km. Nowadays though, the Citroen Grand C4 Picasso overshadows the Grand Scenic somewhat. The rival can offer a 1.6-litre e-HDi diesel unit not just with superior fuel economy but a CO2 output from just 98g/km. Prices start for our test car at £23,615. That’s similar to the equivalent models from main rivals. However, the Grand C4 Picasso again catches the eye with cheaper pricing for similar specifications.

Our Verdict

The Grand Scenic is a proper A-to-B car. There are few design cues to hook you; instead this is a practical car, fit for purpose (so long as you lose the bling wheels.) If you take the Grand Scenic on its strengths, then it’s a good vehicle, but there are better rivals to drive which are more attractive-looking too. The Grand Scenic does what it says on the tin, transporting you and your passengers in a decent level of comfort with a good level of space. This is practical motoring without the frills.