Renault recently launched a new 1.6 dCi engine that will eventually find its way into several products across its own line-up and that will also be passed on to sibling Nissan.
The first model to benefit in Renault’s range is the Scenic and, in the case of our new long-term test vehicle, the seven-seat Grand Scenic.
The 130hp diesel emits just 115g/km and offers an official fuel consumption figure of 64.2mpg, making it the most efficient way in the UK market to carry seven people, at least until Toyota‘s seven-seat Prius+ hybrid launches next year.
BusinessCar’s latest addition to its long-term fleet is the Dynamique TomTom edition, arriving in early September to take advantage of the new ’61’ number plates [1] .
The new engine comes in above the 1.5 110hp unit, and despite the extra power translating to a 0.8 seconds quicker 0-62mph time at 10.3 seconds, our 130hp version is actually 6.6mpg more economical and 12g/km more efficient, putting our long-term car into the 13% tax band, for this year at least, until the 2012 benefit-in-kind tax changes push it up to the 17% band.
Standard kit on the Dynamic TomTom model unsurprisingly includes the built-in TomTom satellite navigation system, as well as auto lights and wipers, leather steering wheel [2], Bluetooth, cruise control and, handily for a family car, rear sunblinds [3]. To that, we’ve added four options in the form of a £75 full-size spare wheel, the no-cost optional 17-inch alloy wheels, £445 Mocha metallic paint and the £590 convenience pack, consisting of adaptive headrests, front and rear parking sensors and the huge sliding centre console storage unit.
The new engine impressed us when we first tested it, offering ample power when compared to the 130hp 1.9-litre engine it replaces, which led us to brand it “a credit to the Scenic family”. Now the more telling longer test begins.
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