Renault Grand Scenic MPV (2009-2016) - Reliability & safety
Reliability isn’t a Renault Grand Scenic strong point, but safety is, with a top Euro NCAP crash-test rating and plenty of reassuring features
As with Renault as a whole, the Renault Grand Scenic's reliability record has been patchy. This latest model may change that, but in the meantime, a four-year warranty for the Grand Scenic offers some peace of mind to buyers. The Grand Scenic’s safety credentials are more impressive, with plenty of standard features and the maximum five-star rating from Euro NCAP.
Renault Grand Scenic reliability
The Renault Grand Scenic defied Renault’s poor reputation for reliability in our 2013 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey to finish in fourth position. That didn't stick for 2014, when the car tumbled to 53rd place, due mainly to owners' poor marks for performance and build quality. However, the new model feels better built, so it may do better in future surveys. Renault dealers, meanwhile, were rated 14th out of 32 brands in the 2014 survey, which just about squeezes them into the top half of the table.
Renault Grand Scenic safety
Renault has excelled at safety since the mid-nineties and the Grand Scenic received a five-star rating when it was crash-tested by Euro NCAP in 2009. The rating included a score of 91% for adult protection and 76% for child protection, with points lost mainly due to insufficient labelling about how to deactivate the front passenger airbag in order to fit a rear-facing child seat. However, the Grand Scenic did score an impressive 99% for its suite of active safety features, which include a speed limiter and cruise control.
The Grand Scenic also has electronic stability control and traction control, plus clever two-stage airbags that adjust their force according to the severity of an impact. Cars this size don’t tend to come with ISOFIX points on their third-row seats but, like most rivals, the Grand Scenic has them fitted on all three second-row seats. Airbag provision is reassuring throughout, but as with most rivals, there are none fitted around the third-row seats.
On Dynamique TomTom cars, you can boost safety features with the £650 Tech Pack, which includes lane-departure warning and automatic high-beam dipping. The £485 Safety Pack is a bit misleadingly named – it’s the car that’s protected, not its occupants, thanks to heated folding door mirrors plus front and rear parking sensors.
