Renault Scenic/Grand Scenic

Despite spawning a fiercely contested niche in versatile family motoring, the Renault Scenic continues to be one of the best. It’s good to drive, clever inside and still pretty good value.

• Comfort

  The Scenic's set up copes admirably with dodgy Aussie roads, smoothing out the bumps without feeling too soft. Unstressed diesel engines are also pleasingly refined at motorway speeds.

  

• Performance

  The new 2.0-litre dCi diesel is the pick of a broad bunch of powerplants. It's torque makes for comfortable, lazy but above all economical distance driving, made all the better by a new six-speed gearbox.

  

• Cool

  Buying a Scenic is the irrefutable admission that you are now a family man. That's cool in itself in this day and age, but absolutely nothing about your wheels is going to convince people of it.

  

• Quality

  Vastly improved over the slightly shabby original, the current Scenic seems very well put together. Interior plastics are soft-touch, nicely textured and interestingly styled. It is French though, so we'd still be a bit wary.

  

• Handling

  With underpinnings from the Megane hatchback, the Scenic has a head start in the handling stakes. The extra height and weight means it'll pitch and roll a bit in fast corners, but overall it's a composed and grippy chassis.

  

• Practicality

  The regular Scenic is a decent, and flexible, five-seater, while the Grand Scenic bumps that up to seven seats, but with the occasional third row only ever big enough for children.

  

• Running costs

  Not much to worry about here. Insurance can be very reasonable, those diesel engines are strong and economical, and the Scenic's comparative desirability should keep residual values pretty high.