• Revised exterior styling
• Increased standard equipment
• From £18,235 on the road

Renault has announced refreshed editions of its Scenic and Grand Scenic MPVs.

Exterior styling on both models has been revised for the 2012 model year. New rear light clusters, tweaked front styling and gloss black and chrome detailing, combine to create a more contemporary look.

It is now better placed to compete with the younger Ford C-Max and Grand C-Max, which were launched last year.

Two new engines join the Scenic line-up. The first is a 1.5-litre, 110bhp diesel unit equipped with stop and start. Returning 68.9mpg on the combined cycle and sitting in road tax band B (meaning £20 tax per year after the first year); it will be the engine of choice for those looking for maximum economy.

A 1.2-litre, 115bhp petrol engine is also coming, but won’t be available until April. It returns 49.6mpg and is liable for £115 road tax per year.

Only one trim level, Dynamique TomTom, is available. Rear parking sensors and LED daytime running lights have now been added to the refreshed standard equipment list which includes 16-inch alloy wheels, automatic lights and wipers, Bluetooth connectivity, cruise control and sat-nav. Hill Start Assist, which holds the car automatically when performing a hill start, is also included as standard.

Renault’s new Visio system is available as an optional extra, which incorporates both automatic dipping headlights and a lane departure warning system for safer driving.

The Visio system is included as part of the optional ‘Luxe’ pack. For £1,500 the pack will also equip a Scenic with uprated 17-inch alloys, dual-zone climate control, BOSE sound system with digital amplifier, a sliding centre console and electrically folding door mirrors.

All Scenic models are eligible for the Renault 4+ programme, which includes a four-year/100,00 mile warranty, four years free servicing and four years roadside assistance worth £900.

Order books open on January 23. Prices for the Scenic range start at £18,235 for the 1.6 VVT 110, rising to £21,325 for the dci 130 Stop and Start. Grand Scenic models start at £19,725 and go to £22,725, with the same engine options.

By Daljinder Nagra