Renault’s version of Google Maps means that if you enter a destination beyond your current range, the system will automatically plan a charging stop, factor in real-time traffic and even precondition the battery before you arrive at a rapid charger. For families setting off on long trips, the ability to simply say “Hey Google, navigate home” and have the system handle everything – routing, charging stops, live traffic – is transformative. So integrated is the Google Built-in system that you can even control functions such as the air conditioning, heated seats, or solarbay roof with a simple voice command.
There are over 50 apps available through Google Play, including Spotify, Amazon Music and, particularly usefully for families with children, the Vivaldi browser – which lets passengers access YouTube, Netflix or Disney+ through the car’s own screen while you’re charging. Physical controls for the air-conditioning fan speed and temperature sit below the screens, making adjustments on the move simple and intuitive. Google Maps and Google Assistant connected services are provided free of charge for five years from delivery.
#4 Comfort and calm from the first mile to the last
Long family journeys have a way of revealing a car’s true character, and Renault Scenic’s is a good one. Its suspension has been tuned with comfort in mind, and it shows: it absorbs road imperfections smoothly and stays composed on longer motorway stretches. As Lawrence Cheung noted in the What Car? review, “it’s almost refreshing to get into a car like Scenic that’s not trying to be sporty at all – it’s clearly aimed at being comfortable.” Scenic is also noticeably quieter on the motorway than rivals such as the Kia EV6 and Tesla Model Y, with low levels of tyre and wind noise helping to keep the cabin calm on longer journeys.