Renault Scala

Thanks to the long wheel base of the car the Sunny boasts the best space in its segment. The rear seat passengers get lots of legroom and decent headroom. Even if tall passengers are sitting in the rear, they will be very comfortable. The dashboard, button configuration and the instrument cluster however are borrowed over from the Pulse hatchback, which does have a very unique and comfortable design, but there are a few differences. However the ergonomics are not the best and you can see the poor use of materials.

The Scala comes with a 1.5 litre petrol engine with 99bhp and 130Nm of torque and is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. There is also an automatic CVT transmission available and in that engine setup you get around 101bhp. The diesel unit, which we drove comes with a 1.5 litre diesel unit that can create 86bhp and 200Nm of torque. The engine is very well refined and the 5-speed manual transmission works well with it.

The first thing you notice when getting into the car is that it is very comfortable, and when you start driving this comfort remains. This is due to the soft suspension setup, which has been tuned to keep comfort in mind, and this is great for both city driving and highway cruising. The diesel engine mill is definitely not very responsive at first, but once you get the sweet spot at around 2500rpm in second gear you start to feel the power and torque. There is a lot of turbo lag and switching gears is not the smoothest, but it is manageable. The steering setup is decent and quite responsive and the brakes work well also. There is a little bit of body roll around corners but only if taken at high speeds. It is definitely not a driver’s car, but it is one of the most comfortable rides.

The petrol unit is said to give around 12kmpl, while the diesel unit will provide around 15kmpl on average.

The Scala comes with some decent features including power steering, power windows, air conditioning, an audio system with steering mounted controls, intelligent key with push start, and follow me home headlamps.

Safety features include ABS with EBD and Brake assist, dual front airbags, and fog lamps.

The overall quality of the Scala is quite good, but not soo much in the interior. The outside panels are very nice and the finishing touches very good, that it almost looks like a luxury car. On the inside however the panels are not the best and don’t look the best. The engine is very well built and the frame of the car is strong. It is a reliable vehicle for sure and there is not much cabin noise or vibration heard inside. The build quality is therefore good. Parts and servicing doesn’t seem to be an issue, as most parts are inexpensive. The car is based on a shared platform so availability of components will never be a problem.

The Renault Scala is priced rather decently and it does offer you a good package. It is not the greatest package but you are definitely getting your money’s worth. Value for money is spot on.

Like I mentioned this is not a driver’s car, but it sure is a nice car to be in. It has got lots of space, plenty of features and looks good and big. It’s got a fantastic engine with various trim levels, all of which have great safety features. If you are looking for something just underneath an entry level luxury car, the Sunny is not a bad idea.