Used Renault Grand Scenic review and buying guide (2016 to 2020): which one to buy and what to check

Which used Renault Grand Scenic should you buy?

Any Grand Scenic from 2016 to 2020 is worth a look, because it's a single generation and no known fault marks out a year, engine or version to dodge. That isn't a clean bill of health, though: only a handful of owners have reported problems, and three of those four reports are about the standard Scenic rather than the Grand.

So pick the car, not the year. The complaints that do exist cover the electrics, a rattling window, footwell heating and front tyre wear, so a car with invoices showing that kind of work was finished, not just booked in, beats one with a bare history.

Which Grand Scenic engines and gearboxes are the safe choices?

There's no Grand Scenic engine or gearbox to single out either way. No known fault names one and none of the owner complaints blames the drivetrain, so there's nothing to show one unit's safer than another. The record's thin, so don't take that silence as proof any of them is bulletproof.

What went wrong on the cars that were reported was the electrics, a window, the heating and the tyres. So choose the engine and gearbox that suit your driving, then judge the individual car: it should start cleanly, run without warning lights and come with invoices for every service.

What should you check when viewing a used Grand Scenic?

Warning lights come first. One owner of an April 2016 Grand Scenic took it back to the dealer five times in early 2017 for electrical faults, and the same warning lights returned in June and July 2018. Don't settle for a quick lap: drive it for a good while, then ask for job sheets showing what any earlier electrical repair actually fixed.

Open and close every window, then listen for rattles from the doors over bumps. That same 2016 car went back four times in 2018 for a rattling window, and one owner of a standard Scenic reported a rattling window too. Check the heating while you're at it: one standard Scenic owner, with a 2017 car, found no warm air reaching the front footwells.

Look closely at the front tyres, especially the outer edges. One owner of a standard 2016 Scenic on 20-inch Continentals found them badly worn on the outer shoulders at 18,500 miles, so ask about it if the car you're viewing is on 20s. On the drive, take a rough road, as the ride can get unsettled, and make sure the vertical touchscreen that runs the heating and fan responds.

There's one recall to ask about. On cars built in the autumn of 2016, the curtain airbag on one or both sides could fail to go off in a side impact, because the charge that fires it could have been mixed wrongly. On a late 2016 car, ask for proof the recall work was done, which means the airbag was checked and replaced where needed.

Paste the advert into the free check and it runs these against the listing, the MOT history and the DVLA record before you travel.

What does a used Renault Grand Scenic cost to run?

What do Grand Scenic owners like about it?

It's a seriously roomy car, and the modular seats are simple to rearrange, so switching between passengers and luggage doesn't take long. The third row isn't just for small children either, as there's a decent amount of room back there, and the boot's big and easy to load.

It's relaxed and comfy to drive when the road's smooth, and the cabin feels properly well put together for a family car. It's a genuinely good-looking MPV as well, so you don't have to put up with a boxy shape to get seven proper seats.

• The vehicle offers a substantial amount of interior space, providing ample room for occupants and cargo.
• The modular seating system is very user-friendly, allowing for easy configuration of the cabin layout.
• The rearmost seating positions offer a good amount of room, making them suitable for passengers.
• The boot offers a large capacity and is designed for easy loading, enhancing practicality for users.
• The driving experience is notably comfortable, contributing to a pleasant journey for occupants.