Renault Scenic E-Tech Reviews

No one knows what to make of the Renault Twizy, but everyone is fascinated by it. The Twizy is geared towards city drivers or commuters travelling short distances to work in small towns.It has a range of between 45 to 50 miles and a top speed of 50mph. But it has a deceptively quick burst of speed that makes it ideal for nipping in and out of traffic. It takes only three and a half hours to fully charge using a standard plug.

Having a good car isn't good enough to be a winner in the small car class. Just ask Renault, whose Megane is earning a trickle of interest amid a torrent of sales. Put that down to lack of knowledge in the brand.Renault is starting off a small base in Australia and is still educating the public that French flair is a no-cost option, not an extra-cost one. In the Megane buyers get a solidly built hatch that rides well and has enough standard gear to be value for money. The downside is a continuously variable transmission in the petrol models that drones worse that a seminar speaker. The diesel's a better engine but is too noisy under load.VALUEThe bottom line is $26,000 buys a base model Megane Dynamique with 16-inch alloys, a six-speed manual gearbox and most of the features you want except satellite navigation. That's about what it costs for a Mazda3 MaxxSport but the Mazda does come with satnav. Spend $2500 more for a Megane with the 1.5-litre turbodiesel and a six-speed auto. The Privilege spec level raises the bar by $4000 for the petrol and $5000 for the diesel.TECHNOLOGYThe dual-clutch automated manual transmission works well with the diesel. There's a moment of hesitation off the line but the torque rolls on early and gives the hatch decent performance around town. It doesn't have the punch of a Ford Focus TDCi but it also uses a litre less diesel every 100km, with Renault claiming fuel use of 4.5 litres/100km.STYLINGThe front end of the Renault is distinctive without straying too far from the accepted small car formula. The bumper sweeps up to the top of the wheel arches where it neatly blends in with the wraparound lights. Rear seat legroom is on the tight side to be packing two adults in the rear for a lengthy trip but the boot's 360 litres of space is easy to load.The interior is just starting to date - and Renault persists in putting the sound system controls on a block behind the steering wheel where they can't be seen or easily used. Putting a cupholder in front of the USB input isn't a "Eureka" moment, either.SAFETYThe Megane was the first small car to earn a five-star rating from Euro NCAP. That was five years ago and shows how well engineered the Renault is. Six airbags are supplemented by stability and traction control and there are seat belt reminders for both front seats.DRIVINGPut the boot in to the Megane and it punches back well above its weight. The transmission is geared for economy but will quickly drop down a couple of cogs if there's enough right-foot pressure.  And the brakes are close to best in class. The 280mm front and 260mm rear discs are consistent and effective at any speeds, though they start to bite earlier in the pedal travel than most Asian cars.Ignoring the diesel clatter, the 1.5-litre turbodiesel is the engine of choice. The 2.0-litre petrol is more than OK but uses too much fuel. That can't be said of the diesel - Carsguide averaged 6.0 litres/100km. That's above the claimed figure but still impressive for a car carrying four in the urban jungle.The seats are comfortable and the vision forward and rear is better than average, meaning the Megane ticks about every box you can ask it to. Better noise isolation is about all I'd want.VERDICTA five-year warranty sweetens an already good deal for the Megane. It isn't going to outsell the Corolla but is a smart alternative for those who don't want to run with the pack.

The Clio is more adventurous in design but likely to be more affordable, opening the way for serious sales against Volkswagen here without resorting to dollar deals with rental companies.

Webber's experience and guile at the wheel of his Red Bull car kept the Mercedes of German Nico Rosberg at bay in a race that saw a start-line collision, penalties, further crashes and was twice hit by rain -- including over the final laps.It was Webber's second win in the glamorous Mediterranean principality - he also was victorious there two years ago, when he fought for the world championship to the final round - and it has made him a strong title chance this season.It was the eighth GP victory of Webber's F1 career and he is now just three points off the championship lead.Read full story here. 

Things changed when the Renault Latitude landed in Australia last year.For the first time, the French maker had a car that didn't sit alongside 'quirky' in every sentence, or hang its future on a hatchback tail borrowed from J-Lo. The Latitude looks and drives like a run-of-the-mill mid-sized family sedan, not something oddball from France, and Renault Australia also managed to end its earlier battles against high-priced hopefuls with a bottom line from $36,990. The Carsguide crew has spent more than 2000 kilometres with a Latitude to compile a local report card, with solid Bs in most areas but a "Must do better" bottom line because of the classy competition in faces in Australia.VALUEThe basic Latitude has everything you need for family motoring, and a few surprising bonuses. The leather seats and side blinds are great for child-friendly motoring and a satnav system with built-in speed zone alerts, thanks to TomTom programming, works for everyone. The pricing plan works because the Latitude, despite its Renault badge, is a global hybrid. It picks up a mechanical package from Nissan and is built by Samsung in Korea.But, to put it into perspective, the Latitude has the same bottom line as the classy and well equipped Kia Optima Platinum and costs more than a basic Honda Accord Euro. In a mid-sized class that's loaded with contenders, and class, the Latitude is still struggling to win friends and only 208 cars were delivered through the first 11 months of 2011, compared with 17,637 for the Toyota Camry.TECHNOLOGYThere is nothing special about the Latitude, although the long-termer comes with the solid diesel engine and six-speed automatic that gives it great economy and long legs for touring. The chassis picks up Maxima bits and that shows with good handling and ride comfort that's good, but not as great as we remember from cars such as the Laguna.DESIGNThe Latitude is very conservative by Renault standards, and doesn't really sit all that way in a family of cars that is dominated by chic little Megane models. But there is nothing wrong with the shape or space, or the boot, or the dashboard layout and controls.SAFETYRenault was one of the world's first carmakers to commit to five-star ANCAP safety and, without including a big crash in the test program, there is nothing to fault. The car sits well on the road, the brakes are strong, and you know it has an ESP safety net for bad weather or some sort of silliness by someone else.DRIVINGLiving with the Latitude is easy, and enjoyable. It's no sports car, but it gets along nicely, works well for a family, and will puddle to the mall or handle a long country run. The diesel engine has plenty of shove, even with bicycles on the back end and fun stuff filling the boot, and is averaging around 8.2 litres/ 100km despite spending most of its time in the city and 'burbs. The car is quiet, the aircon works well, and the headlamps are good, but the seats are a major disappointment. They lack support and cushioning, which means the Latitude starts down the list for any trip over two hours. The biggest shortcoming in the Latitude is nothing to do with the car, but its position and its opposition. It just doesn't have enough zing or attitude - whether that's the bland styling or the lack of 'Renaultness' - in a class where there is lots of class. Our current favourites include the Ford Mondeo, the new Camry and - for value - the Skoda Octavia. So the Renault is doing the job, and still has some time left to impress, but it's not the first choice for a mid-sized winner.VERDICTThe Latitude is good, but not great. In a class with standouts like the Ford Mondeo, and even the new Toyota Camry, it's going to be a slow burn - at best - in Australia.

The Twizy can’t come here because the Australian government says it’s a quadricycle, so it can’t drive on public roads. But that hasn’t stopped it from being on the VIP invitation list for New York. The Twizy travelled to the US east coast for some quality time out after starring in a video with top hot DJ David Guetta in Los Angeles. And the little Twizy’s holiday itinerary is packed with the best sightseeing activities NYC has to offer – morning jog in Central Park, art shopping in Soho, food tasting in China Town and a night-time promenade under the lights of Times Square – you name it, this urban baby will see it. We’re hoping the hotel valet at The Standard Hotel has made special A-list arrangements -- perhaps the penthouse suite in the carpark. On its first night in the Big Apple, Twizy kicked up its heels for a night on the town, sashaying down the red carpet at a gala dinner. New Yorkers – normally a hard-to- please crowd – seem so far impressed with the sleek little number. The Renault Blog says, “Twizy got a lot of attention & even received a few love declarations.”  NYC may be enjoying the company of the Twizy, but Renault doesn’t plan to launch Twizy in the USA anytime soon. Although the Renault Blog hints, “just wait and see” – whatever that means.  

It is the first car to be designed by the company as a fully electric vehicle from the ground up. But perhaps even more importantly, Renault is keen to make the car affordable for everyone -- even in Australia, which fails to match overseas governments in offering incentives for electric vehicles. Renault has been spotted testing a heavily disguised version of the car on Australian roads. Zoe is packed with the latest technology and boasts several world premieres geared to enhancing user-friendliness, range and connectivity. Unveiled at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, Zoe goes on sale in Europe this autumn. Zoe is first mass-market electric vehicle to be homologated with an NEDC (New European Driving Cycle) range of 210 km. It is also the first vehicle equipped with Range OptimiZEr that improves the real-world range, depending on driving conditions. For example, in suburban use, the owner will achieve between 100 km and 150 km. It is capable of being charged at any level of power in between 30 minutes and nine hours thanks to the Chameleon charger. Zoe features Renault R-Link, a multimedia system featuring a seven-inch touch screen tablet, navigation and connected services. Renault boss Carlos Ghosn said the car shown at Geneva represents the model's final design and will spearhead the Renault zero emissions range. In addition to its compact size, attractive styling and affordable price tag, he said it showcases Renault's technological excellence when it comes to electric vehicles. "Zoe also heralds the beginning of a new era of electric mobility for all and confirms our commitment to electric vehicles," he said. "It marks an important step for Renault which has a 110-year history of making major innovations a concrete reality for ordinary motorists."  

Craig Duff road tests and reviews the 2012 Renault Koleos.

...With three years of free scheduled servicing, for any eligible vehicle ordered in April and delivered before May 31st 2012. These vehicles already boasting the longest factory warranty of any European brand. The offer applies to retail customers as well as buyers with an ABN, Renault General Fleet Buyers and National Fleet Buyers, and includes both petrol and diesel models in the range. Over at Peugeot, all model year 3008 models now carry Peugeot's class leading Assured Service (capped price) plan already on the 508 and 308. Peugeot Assured Service offers customers the peace of mind of knowing in advance what their 3008 service costs will be over three years (or 60,000 km). The service fee is $330 per scheduled service under this plan. Meanwhile Holden has launched a new capped price servicing scheme to reduce servicing costs across a range of popular new models, including VE Series II Commodore, Captiva, Cruze and the new generation Barina. HoldenWise Capped Price Servicing offers customers significant savings and value for money for standard scheduled services across the three-year/60,000km capped price service period. HoldenWise Capped Price Servicing applies to the Series II Commodore sedan, Sportwagon and Ute range, Cruze hatch and sedan, Captiva 5 and 7, Barina Classic, new generation Barina hatch and sedan, Barina Spark and Caprice. The new generation Colorado LCV will also be eligible for capped price servicing when it's launched later this year.  

The Citan, which is due to arrive in Australia in the middle of next year, is not a new stand-alone model but is heavily based on the Renault Kangoo. While the mini van has its own distinctive face, its Kangoo likeness is clear from the familiar body. This is not a cheeky clone though. It’s all part of an agreement between Mercedes and Renault that will lead to the Citan being built alongside the Kangoo on a Renault production line in France. The Citan has its own face and a fresh interior, but shares many other components with the Renault. Mercedes has announced there will be two diesel engines and supercharged petrol unit although it is unclear if the powerplants are shared or unique. The Citan will come in three lengths: 3.94 m, 4.32 m and 4.71 m. It will be sold mainly as a cargo van, which is a size smaller than the existing Vito. A special five-seater crew version based on the longest model called the Mixto, which seats five and has a removable second row, will also be offered from launch. Mercedes-Benz is not ready to state the exact payloads of each model, but says the maximum gross vehicle weight (the weight of the van and the load) will be 2200kg. Looking at the comparable Renault models, this should mean a maximum payload of around 850kg. All models will come with Electronic Stability Control (ESC), daytime LED running lights and height adjustable seatbelts. Up to six airbags will be available, but it’s not yet clear how many will be fitted as standard. The panel van version will come with a wall behind the driver and passenger to prevent any cargo entering the cabin area.