Scenic E-Tech

The entry Techno EV60 claims 430km WLTP from its 60kWh battery; the EV87 grades claim 625km from an 87kWh pack. That 625km is the longest of any small electric SUV on sale in Australia. Independent Australian road tests of the EV87 return closer to 500 to 520km in mixed driving, short of the claim but still comfortably ahead of most rivals its size. The EV60's 430km is best read as a city and suburban figure. For regional running or regular longer trips, the EV87 is the one to have.

The Scenic runs a 400-volt architecture, so peak DC charging is 130kW on the EV60 and 150kW on the EV87. That gives a 15 to 80 per cent top-up of about 32 and 37 minutes through a CCS2 plug. AC charging peaks at 11kW, enough for a full overnight charge at home on a wallbox. Those DC figures are respectable rather than class-leading, as a handful of newer 800-volt rivals charge considerably faster. A standard heat pump helps protect range and charging performance in cold weather, which not every rival fits.

There are three grades, at 2026 launch pricing. The $55,990 Techno EV60 is fully equipped but its 430km range suits city use. The $59,990 Techno Long Range EV87 is the sweet spot, adding the 87kWh battery, 160kW and a claimed 625km for $4,000 more with no loss of kit. The $65,990 Esprit Alpine keeps that drivetrain and layers on 20-inch wheels, a Harman Kardon sound system, power and massaging front seats and Alpine styling. The flagship's extras are nice, but its bigger wheels firm up the ride, so most buyers are best served by the Techno Long Range.

Practicality is a real strength. Despite its compact 4,470mm length, the flat floor and wide-opening rear doors free up genuine room for adults in the back, and the fold-down centre armrest packs cupholders, USB-C ports and swing-out phone and tablet holders. The boot holds 545 litres with the seats up and 1,670 litres folded, though it is a deep, short shape with a load lip rather than a long floor. Every grade carries a five-star ANCAP rating and a full suite of driver-assistance systems, and Renault has kept physical climate controls, which makes day-to-day family life easier.

As an electric car, the Scenic is cheap to fuel: energy use is a claimed 16.3 to 16.8kWh/100km on the WLTP cycle. That keeps charging costs well below a comparable petrol SUV, especially on home electricity. Servicing is capped-price with a long 30,000km interval, and the battery is warranted for eight years or 160,000km. The catch is the vehicle warranty, at five years and 100,000km, which trails the seven, eight and even ten-year cover from Chinese and Korean rivals. Roadside assistance runs for five years. Overall the ownership case is strong on energy and servicing, weaker on warranty length.

The Scenic E-Tech carries a maximum five-star ANCAP rating from its 2022 assessment. Sub-scores are strong: 88 per cent adult occupant, 92 per cent child occupant, 77 per cent vulnerable road user and 85 per cent safety assist. Standard across every grade is autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, driver-attention monitoring and a 360-degree camera. Reviewers singled out the calibration of the safety systems as unusually well judged, working without the constant beeps and interventions that plague many rivals, which is worth confirming on a test drive.