- Versatile interior
- Strong safety credentials
- Generally comfortable ride…
- … though suspension not as compliant when unladen
- Underpowered 2.0-litre petrol engine
- Automatic transmission can be slow to kickdown and provide abrupt gearshifts
- Third row seats for children only
Review: Renault J84.II Grand Scenic (2007-10)
Overview
Released in January 2007, the Renault J84 Phase II (J84.II) Grand Scenic was a seven-seat people mover. The front-wheel drive Grand Scenic was powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine that was mated to a four-speed automatic transmission.
Compared to the J84 Scenic , the Grand Scenic was 234 mm longer (at 4498 mm), the same width (1810 mm), 15 mm taller (1635 mm) and had a 50 mm longer wheelbase (2735 mm). Furthermore, the Grand Scenic had MacPherson strut front suspension and a torsion beam rear axle (both with coil springs and hydraulic shock absorbers).
Inside, the third row of seats consisted of two independent seats which could be folded into the floor. Like the Scenic, the three second-row seats could split and fold forward into a table arrangement and then latch automatically (i.e. without retaining straps); furthermore, there was also a sliding centre console which could slide from the dashboard to the second-row seats and the front passenger seat could be folded forward to form a flat table.
| Variant | Engine | Trans. | Peak power | Peak torque |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dynamique | 2.0-litre petrol I4 | 4sp auto | 98 kW at 5500 rpm | 191 Nm at 3750 rpm |
Safety equipment
Standard safety equipment for the Grand Scenic consisted of dual front airbags, front side airbags, full length curtain airbags (i.e. for all three rows of occupants), ABS, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist, electronic stability control, traction control, front seatbelts with twin pretensioners, outer rear seatbelts with pretensioners and load limiters for the front and second row seats.
Euro NCAP crash testing
Although the Grand Scenic was not tested by Euro NCAP, a 2003 J84 Scenic – on which the Grand Scenic was based – received a five star adult occupant protection rating with a score of 34.12 out of 37. In the frontal offset impact test, there was a slight risk of serious chest and leg injury for the driver and a slight risk of serious lower leg injury for the front passenger. In the side impact and pole tests, however, maximum points were awarded.
Features
Standard features for the Grand Scenic included 17-inch alloy wheels, a four speaker sound system with six-stack CD player, air conditioning, cooled glovebox, cruise control with speed limiter, front fog lights, rear parking sensors, automatic headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, remote central locking with Renault card, power windows and mirrors, a height and reach adjustable steering wheel, driver’s seat height and lumbar adjustment, an automatic park brake, roller sunblinds, a sound-absorbing and heat-reflective windscreen, trip computer and an immobiliser.
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