Renault Korea will launch the electric vehicle "Scenic E-Tech 100% Electric" (hereafter Scenic) in August. This marks a comeback in the electric vehicle sector three years after discontinuing the ‘Zoe’ in 2022. The Scenic is a compact SUV with a length of 4470 mm, width of 1856 mm, and height of 1575 mm. Eighty-five percent of its parts are sourced from Europe, and manufacturing also takes place in France.
The Scenic won the "European Car of the Year" award at last year's Geneva Motor Show. A Renault Korea official noted, "This model was ambitiously prepared to give Korean consumers more choices," adding, "Only 999 units have been produced as limited editions."
On the 26th, I drove the top trim of the Scenic, called Iconic, about 70 km from Gangnam, Seoul, to Yangpyeong County. Equipped with LG Energy Solution's high-performance NCM (Nickel-Cobalt-Manganese) battery, it can travel up to 460 km on a single charge. It takes 34 minutes to charge the battery from 20% to 80% based on 130 kW rapid charging. The efficiency is 4.44 km per kWh, which is similar to that of domestic compact SUVs.
The most notable feature is the five-level regenerative braking system. Regenerative braking is a technology that recovers kinetic energy while decelerating to recharge the battery when the driver lifts their foot from the accelerator pedal. This regenerative braking can cause a jerky feeling in electric vehicles, but the Scenic allows for meticulous adjustments in five stages. There is an adjustment button on the steering wheel, so it can be changed even while driving.
Raising the regenerative braking system to five levels activated the "one-pedal driving" feature. This allows the vehicle to stop instantly as if the brake pedal has been pressed when the driver lifts their foot from the accelerator. It reduces driver fatigue by eliminating the need to alternate between the accelerator and brake pedals in stop-and-go traffic, but at higher speeds, it felt like the vehicle jerked to a stop every time the accelerator was released. When applying the second level of the regenerative braking system, the speed decreased smoothly when lifting off the accelerator.
The weight of the Scenic starts at 1855 kg, making it relatively light. The lightweight body combined with a maximum output of 160 kW and maximum torque of 300 Nm electric motor allows it to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in approximately 7.9 seconds.
While running in comfort mode and switching to sports mode, the electric motor responded much more sensitively, quickly reaching the desired speed. However, road imperfections were relatively noticeable, and at high speeds, loud noise from the wind and passing vehicles could be heard.
The steering wheel has been designed to require minimal rotation for manipulation, which will be useful on winding roads and in alleys.
The interior and exterior are basic yet faithful to their purpose. The front features a honeycomb pattern centered around the Renault logo, giving an impression of an advanced electric vehicle. Inside, the panoramic glass sunroof, which covers most of the ceiling, provides a sense of openness.
The rear legroom is 278 mm, making it one of the largest in its class, and the height from the seat to the ceiling reaches 884 mm. The trunk capacity is initially 545 liters, which expands to 1670 liters when the rear seats are folded down. However, the narrow width seems to make it difficult to fit long items such as golf bags.
Renault Korea began pre-orders for the Scenic on the 27th. The official launch is in August, but there are plans to complete the import procedures before then to minimize the delivery time.
The Scenic is divided into three trims: ▲Techno ▲Techno Plus ▲Iconic. The Techno has a price range of 54.94 million to 56.34 million won, and when factoring in subsidies and tax benefits, it can be purchased for 46.49 million to 48.13 million won based on Seoul’s standards. The Techno Plus is priced between 49.8 million and 53.13 million won, while the Iconic ranges from 54.4 million to 57.73 million won.