The latest French MPV to hit the market is a new version of Renault's seven-seat Grand Scenic, which sits between the Espace and Modus in the company's model range.
A complete redesign brings it in line with the recently updated Laguna and Megane ranges, with the new Megane inspiring the styling of its front end in particular. It's no stunner, but its clean lines are unfussy, with the funky, boomerang-shaped LED taillights a highlight of the design.
The interior space is comparable to the bigger Espace, with a flexible layout - the second row and front passenger seats can be folded flat, or removed individually - accommodating seven adults, albeit at a push. There are also over 40 different storage compartments throughout the cabin.
The well thought-out dash takes cues from the Megane, with a large digital read-out that has a range of graphics for drivers to choose which information they want displayed.
There are three petrol and four diesel engines in the range: our pick is the 1.9-litre dCi 130, which offers decent performance and CO2 emissions of 145g/km. The greenest model in the line-up, the 1.5 dCi 106, boasts the lowest CO2 emissions of any seven-seat MPV (135g/km) and returns over 55mpg.
The Grand Scenic is easy to drive on the motorway and in town: the steering is well weighted and the car copes well when a quick change of direction is required, but there is a little body roll, which is to be expected given its height. Most of the bumps and potholes are absorbed before reaching its occupants, but the ride can be a little compromised by a combination of larger wheels and a heavy diesel engine.
Overall, the new Grand Scenic is an improvement over the old car: it looks better, drives better and has more space. It isn't particularly exciting, but when it comes to people moving, it does the job well.