Renault Scenic and Grand Scenic dCi 110 HYBRID ASSIST models arrive in the UK

The new Renault Scenic and Grand Scenic dCi 110 Hybrid Assist models go on sale in the UK using a 48-volt electrical system to boost economy and performance.

Electrification is rapidly becoming the name of the game for car makers as they strive to deliver what’s needed to hit emissions regulations, and Renault are getting in to the game with Hybrid Assist versions of the new Scenic and Grand Scenic.

Renault has taken the dCi 110 1.5 litre diesel engine already available in the Scenic and Grand Scenic and mated it with a 48-volt electrical system powering a 13bhp electrical motor.

The result is a Scenic which has improved economy, improved emissions and improved performance.

That translates in to numbers which see economy (officially, anyway) of 80.7mpg – a more than 10 per cent improvement – and emissions of 94g/km, around six per cent lower that the dCi 100 without a bit of electrical help.

Renault say performance improves too (although they haven’t given any performance figures), but extra torque much earlier, and up to an extra 52lb/ft at certain points, should make the Scenics feel a bit livelier.

In effect, the Hybrid Assist dCi 110 is just another engine option for the Scene, with the same trim options and specifications as the rest of the Scenic and Grand Scenic range (although you can’t have the Hybrid Assist with the Expression trim level).

Prices across the range for the Scenic with the dCi 110 Hybrid Assist are £1k more than the non-assisted version – prices start at £25,055 – but that will be mitigated to some extent by the improved economy and lower BIK band.