RENAULT has a new, very svelte and smooth Scenic which is a truly excellent family holdall in most ways.

Its nearest shape from the Renault stable is the smaller Captur SUV and it looks quite like a tall coupe from some angles.

Yet inside, it's a medium five seat people carrier from the company that invented the genre, with all the practicality Scenics have always had.

I drove the 1.5 turbo diesel in Dynamique Nav spec, which is likely to be the biggest seller and left it very impressed indeed.

Comfort is excellent over all surfaces, whether at slow speed in town or out on the open road, and that's quite an achievement because all models get massive 20 inch alloy wheels and low profile tyres.

It has a secure feel on the road, and road holding is quite brilliant, with the car absolutely planted on the road, giving very swift cornering speeds with little roll.

The whole car drives very impressively, with decent feel from the steering and excellent grip on dry roads.

The engine is very refined and quiet, and will pull gently away from tickover in all gears, but there is very little acceleration in fifth, and none at all in sixth.

If I'm honest, I would say that the 1.5's 110bhp is not quite enough for the weight so if you want a diesel with a bit more urge, go for the 130bhp 1.6.

Standard kit with every Dynamique Nav includes sat nav of course, with a new vertical touch screen at the top of the centre console that also controls many other functions.