Renault Scénic dCi 86 Oasis

This was a hire car we had for a week.

It started badly as the rep didn't show the unusual controls to us, and we found locking th vehicle tricky. It is not possible to tug the door handles to see if the door is locked with the "key" in your pocket or bag, as the door will open.

It took a long time to come terms with the key-less system, and to be honest, I don't like it. It may be the way forward, but it needs developing. It is not in my nature to just press "stop", get out, press the "lock" button and walk while everything bar the engine is still on - the illuminated dash, the radio, the A/C, the lights, the fan, the wipers, etc.

The electric handbrake comes on when the engine is stopped - nice, but I expect to do it myself. The release handle is mounted on the dash to the right of the steering wheel, and it is supposed to release as the clutch is engaged, but it didn't seem to work for me, and I had a lot of difficulty releasing the handbrake manually at just the right moment when pulling away at a junction on a slope.

The headlights were supposed to come on automatically as the light level fell, but the dash displayed "not activated" permanently, despite pressing the "auto" button.

The trip computer was not easy to operate, but did record we averaged around 51mpg.

The radio was difficult to work and programme, and finding Radio 5 AM proved a challenge but I got it in the end after I figured "SRC" meant "Source", i.e Band. The quality of the sound was just adequate. I found the bass adjustment, but not the treble.

The fuel filler was again automatic, with no removable cap. I think the flap could only be opened when the "key" was in the near proximity, and the pump's nozzle is pushed straight in. The fuel gauge was a but vague, but after pressing the buttons on the end of the wiper stalk, it did display an estimate of how could be travelled on the remaining fuel.

There were a few neat storage places in the doors and floor of the vehicle.

With the gear lever and handbrake both mounted on the dash, there is a big space between the front seats. This is crying out for an armrest.

It was an uninspiring drive; bland really. The steering was very light, and a bit detached. The suspension and general poise of the vehicle did not suggest very high limits, but then it didn't encourage me to "push it". The seats weren't comfortable as they could be and there was a lot of tyre noise. The small diesel engine needed revving a lot to keep up, and 3500rpm at 70mph was higher than my own car (2300rpm at 70mph), so perhaps I drove more slowly than usual, which resulted in the good fuel consumption - which maybe a good thing.

For me, the final straw was constantly banging my head on the hatch door when bending down to access the boot. The shape of the rear and the position of the hinge does not allow the door to fully open. Very poor.

Avoid.