2026 Renault Scenic E-Tech Esprit Alpine review

Our verdict

The Scenic is a good fit for families who need plenty of rear-seat space without stepping up to a larger SUV. The Long Range also offers enough claimed range to make longer trips less of a planning exercise. It's quiet, clever inside and one of the few EVs whose safety tech doesn't drive you mad. The catch is a fiddly brake pedal, a short warranty and a flagship price that makes the Techno Long Range the one to buy.

What does the Scenic E-Tech cost in Australia?

The Scenic E-Tech range runs from $55,990 to $65,990 before on-road costs across three grades. The entry Techno uses a 60kWh battery and 125kW motor, while the Techno Long Range and the Esprit Alpine we tested share an 87kWh battery and a stronger 160kW motor.

Every Scenic gets a 12.3 inch driver display and 12 inch portrait touchscreen with Google built in, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 360 degree camera, heated front seats and steering wheel, a power tailgate and 19 inch alloys. Over the air updates and a phone app for remote functions are standard too.

The Esprit Alpine adds 20 inch wheels, Alpine styling inside and out, power front seats with memory, a massaging driver's seat, Face ID driver recognition, an infrared windscreen and a nine speaker Harman Kardon stereo. Matte Shadow Grey paint with a black roof is a $1300 option.

That's a lot of gear, but it puts the Esprit Alpine within $3000 of a Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD, and a dual motor Kia EV5 Earth costs about $1200 less. The Techno Long Range gets the same battery, motor and range for $6000 less, and that's where the value sits.

View Scenic E-Tech driveaway pricing and specifications →

What does the Scenic E-Tech look like?

The Scenic used to be a tall, upright people mover. This one is lower and wider, sitting on its wheels like a hot hatch that has spent time in the gym, with sharp creases and a short tail.

It's also smaller than photos suggest. It's about 30cm shorter than a Model Y and has just 145mm of ground clearance, so think tall hatchback rather than SUV.

The Esprit Alpine treatment is mostly cosmetic but effective, bringing bigger wheels, a dedicated grille, Alpine badges and unique door trims. In matte grey with the black roof it looks expensive and slightly menacing, which isn't something you say about many family EVs.

The Scenic looks considerably more distinctive than most electric family SUVs. Its sharp styling won't appeal to everyone, but at least it doesn't disappear into a car park full of lookalikes.

What is the Scenic E-Tech like inside?

Renault has built the cabin around a single housing that holds both screens and angles them towards the driver. The portrait touchscreen runs Google's software natively, so Maps, Assistant and downloadable apps work without a phone and the voice control understands normal speech rather than stilted commands.

Crucially, the basics haven't been buried. A row of physical climate keys sits under the screen, shortcut icons stay pinned even with CarPlay running and the mirror controls are still on the door where they belong.

The stalks are another story. The gear selector, wipers and Renault's media controller are all clustered on the right of the column and in a quick three point turn it's easy to reach for reverse and switch the wipers on instead. It becomes second nature within a week, but until then expect a few clean windscreens in car parks.

The cabin feels better finished than we've come to expect from recent Renaults. A plant fibre fabric across the dash feels warmer than the usual black plastic, the Esprit Alpine's seats get blue, white and red stitching and everything feels solidly assembled. Look lower on the doors, particularly in the back and you'll find harder plastics that don't match the price.

The front seats are supportive and the driving position is low and sporty. The driver's massage is really a roving lumbar support, handy on a long drive but no substitute for a physio. There's no seat ventilation and no sunroof, which stings at this price.

How practical is the Scenic E-Tech?

Rear-seat space is where the Scenic really delivers. The rear seat has generous knee and head room for adults, a flat floor, a nicely shaped bench and huge side windows. Toe room under the front seats is the only tight spot.

The rear doors are long and open wide, which makes fitting a child seat far less of a wrestle. There are ISOFIX points on the outboard seats and top tethers across all three.

The fold down centre armrest is brilliantly thought out, with cupholders, a storage tray, two USB-C ports and swivelling holders for a phone or tablet. Add rear vents and two more USB-C ports behind the console and the kids have little to complain about.

Up front, the floating console has a wireless charger that actually holds the phone in place, a deep tray underneath and a big bin under the armrest. There's only one cupholder, so somebody's coffee lives in the door pocket.

The boot is 545 litres with the seats up and 1670 litres with them folded, which looks generous on paper. In practice it's deep rather than long, so bulky items need lifting over a high lip. There's no frunk and no spare tyre, just a repair kit and some underfloor space for cables.

Braked towing is rated at 1100kg. That covers a box trailer or small boat, but caravanners should keep shopping.

What is the Scenic E-Tech like to drive?

The first thing you notice is the steering. It's unusually quick, so small movements of the wheel produce big changes of direction and for the first few kilometres the Scenic feels nervous. Give it a day and that quickness turns into agility, making the car feel smaller than it is in tight streets and car parks.

The brake pedal doesn't improve with time. It's soft at the top and inconsistent as the car blends regenerative and friction braking, which makes smooth stops harder than they should be. The fix is the paddles behind the wheel: dial up the regen, use the one pedal mode and you'll barely touch the brake.

With 160kW going to the front wheels, the Scenic isn't fast, but it's never short of breath. It moves away cleanly from a standstill and pulls strongly from 80km/h when you need to pass a truck. There's very little torque steer, even when you accelerate hard, and the front wheels put their power down without much fuss.

Ride quality on the Esprit Alpine's 20 inch wheels is good rather than great. Around town it's settled and the body stays flat over speed humps. On broken country roads at speed it gets busier, never harsh, but you'll feel more of the surface than in a softer family EV.

Push hard into a corner and the front tyres announce themselves with a squeal before the nose gently runs wide. It remains composed, but the front end runs out of grip before the car ever feels particularly sporty. The Alpine badge promises more than the chassis delivers.

Cabin noise is low on most surfaces. The only oddity is a whirr of cooling fans when you first switch on, as if the car is clearing its throat.

How efficient is the Scenic E-Tech?

The Long Range Scenic claims 625km on the WLTP cycle and an average of 16.8kWh/100km, figures that lead its size class on paper and was exactly as tested. As with any EV, highway speeds and cold mornings eat into that, so expect something closer to 500km in mixed driving and less on long freeway runs.

Charging is the weak point. The 400 volt system peaks at 150kW on a DC fast charger, so a 10 to 80 per cent top up takes a little under 40 minutes, which is acceptable but well behind rivals with faster hardware. On an 11kW home wallbox a full charge from empty takes eight to nine hours, so overnight top ups are easy.

Servicing is due annually, with a distance interval far longer than most rivals, so high mileage drivers won't be visiting the dealer more than once a year. Renault's Assured Price Servicing covers the first five visits at participating dealers, but published prices only hold until the end of each calendar year, so confirm what applies when you buy. The fourth visit is the expensive one.

The bigger issue is the warranty. Kia and Skoda both offer seven years with unlimited kilometres, and anyone covering long distances will hit Renault's cap well before the time limit.

Renault's dealer network is also thin outside the major cities, so check how far your nearest service centre is before signing. Battery cover is in line with the industry.

Servicing costs

Servicing and Warranty

Is the Scenic E-Tech safe?

The Scenic carries a five star ANCAP rating from 2022. It's based largely on testing of the closely related Megane E-Tech, with additional tests on the Scenic and remains valid until the end of 2028.

Seven airbags are standard, including a front centre airbag. Every grade gets autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian, cyclist and junction detection, adaptive cruise with stop and go, lane centring, blind spot intervention, rear cross traffic alert, safe exit warning, a 360 degree camera and hands free parking.

Renault has done a better job than most manufacturers of making its driver assistance systems unobtrusive. Lane keeping doesn't tug at the wheel, speed alerts are rare and softly spoken and the fatigue monitor makes polite suggestions instead of sounding alarms. A shortcut saves your preferred settings, but you probably won't need it.

It's a welcome change from systems that constantly beep, flash warnings or interfere with the steering. The weak link is the reversing camera, whose strong fisheye effect makes distances hard to judge.

What are the main competitors to the Scenic E-Tech?

The Tesla Model Y starts at $58,900 before on-road costs, with the Premium Long Range AWD at $68,900. It's bigger, quicker, has a larger boot plus a frunk, and Tesla's Supercharger network makes road trips simple. The Scenic counters with physical controls, a warmer cabin and driver aids that don't nag and Tesla's warranty is shorter still.

The Kia EV5 starts at $56,770 before on-road costs, and the dual motor Earth AWD undercuts the Esprit Alpine. It's boxier, roomier and much more powerful in AWD form, and Kia's seven year, unlimited kilometre warranty is a major advantage. The Scenic feels more European to drive and has the more usable dashboard.

The Skoda Elroq starts at $47,990 before on-road costs and is the cheapest European EV in this company. It's quicker in its bigger battery form, feels equally well engineered and comes with a seven year warranty. Its boot is smaller, though, and no version matches the Scenic's range claim.

The Kia EV3 starts at $47,600 before on-road costs and the Air Long Range claims 604km for thousands less than any Long Range Scenic. It's the more engaging drive, but its back seat is noticeably tighter. If you rarely carry adults in the rear, it's the value pick.

Should I buy the Scenic E-Tech?

Yes, if you choose the right one. The Scenic is one of the most pleasant EVs to live with at this money: roomy, quiet, clever in the small details and blessedly free of electronic nagging. Unlike some electric SUVs, the Scenic feels properly thought through, from its physical climate controls to the generous rear-seat accommodation.

The Techno Long Range is the pick. It has the same battery, motor and range as the car we drove, and its 19 inch wheels should make for a more forgiving ride. The Techno EV60 suits city households with a home charger, but regional drivers should spend the extra on the bigger battery.

The Esprit Alpine is lovely to look at and nicer to sit in, yet the extra outlay buys mostly styling and comfort features. If the look has you hooked, negotiate hard.

Budget for the shorter warranty, check where your nearest Renault dealer is and take a long test drive to get used to the brakes. Get comfortable with the brakes and the Scenic Long Range makes a strong case against the Kia EV5, Tesla Model Y and Skoda Elroq. Its combination of range, rear-seat space and cabin usability makes it one of the better family EV buys under $60,000.