Renault Scenic Review

Renault Scenic Review

“It’s a city country thing”. So proclaims the advertising campaign for the Renault Scenic Conquest, a Special Edition that was launched in June.

It is quite different to the normal Scenic. It has more robust features such as the black graphite bumpers, the different front grille and the skid plates, which have a chrome finish and are easily visible. The hefty rubbing strips, black wheel-arches and sill also set it apart and give the impression that the Conquest is an accomplished off-roader. But that isn’t the case.

The chassis has been stiffened to cope with more adventurous driving and the suspension has been strengthened and adjusted for comfort over rougher terrain. The dampers have extra travel and the ground clearance is 20mm higher than that of the standard Scenic, ESP and ASR Automatic Slip Regulation helps in sticky situations, however, the Conquest lacks the necessary 4WD transmission, for customers to take to the hills.

Renault’s argument is that the Conquest offers the best of both worlds, as it has the properties of an SUV and the versatility of an MPV. It resembles an off-roader but is not bogged down by the extra weight of a 4WD system, which would also have an adverse effect on fuel economy. So, apart from the extra ground clearance, which allows for rutted farm tracks and uneven surfaces, the Conquest is not all-conquering.

Nevertheless, the spirit of adventure and exploration is continued inside, where orange contour lines can be seen on the dark grey, anodised, centre console. There are other hints of orange on the stitching detail, between the headrest panels and, most notably, the ‘cayenne’ orange seatbelts.

Renault Scenic