Tag Archives | European MPV market

Quick Drive: 2009 Renault Scenic Dynamique

By on August 8, 2009 in Features, News

By Kevin Miller

08.08.2009

img_0634The Renault Scenic was the pioneer of Europe’s MPV class, and has been that segment’s best seller for over a decade, with over 3.3 million units sold since 1996. The third generation of Renault’s popular family vehicle was just launched in June of this year. Based on the French automaker’s new Megane platform, the Scenic is a vehicle similar in concept to the US-market Mazda5 or Kia Rondo.

I was fortunate to spend a long weekend in Switzerland with the new Scenic, and I came away quite impressed. My time was spent in a Scenic Dynamique TCe 130, which is the mid-range car with the mid range gasoline engine.

Entry to the Scenic is gained using the Renault Card, a key fob unlike any I’ve seen in the US. Flat and shaped like a credit card, it could literally be kept in one’s wallet, rather than needing to be kept in a pocket or purse. Doing most so-called Intelligent Keys one better, the Renault Card unlocks the vehicle automatically when it is approached, and automatically locks when the driver (or whomever is carrying the key) walks away. One fault I experienced was that the car would sometimes lock itself when I got out just to walk to the trunk, with the Renault Card in my pocket. Once inside the Scenic, the vehicle is started using a dash-mounted pushbutton. Continue Reading →

Comments { 6 }

Volkswagen’s Portuguese Oldie Limps on Another Year

By on November 7, 2008 in Features

By Andy Bannister

11.07.2008

It’s a dubious honour to be selling one of the oldest car designs still in production, but that doesn’t seem to bother Volkswagen. In Europe, the German company is still soldiering on with its big MPV, now about to enter its 15th year of existence.

The oddly named seven-seat Sharan never made it to North America, but occupies roughly the same territory which will be served by the Chrysler-derived Routan over there.

The Sharan started life way back in 1995 as part of a joint venture with Ford of Europe called Autoeuropa. Ford made its own version, the Galaxy, at the same plant in Portugal, newly built for the purpose to benefit from the lower wages paid in southern Europe. Arguably quality hasn’t been up to the standard of some other VW models.

Ford finally pulled the plug in 2006 on the venture , building in its Belgian plant a much more modern second-generation Galaxy entirely of its own making, together with the related S-Max. The obvious superiority of its one-time partner’s new designs hasn’t stopped VW grimly persevering with churning out the same outdated model. Continue Reading →

Comments { 1 }