Erin Baker: 15 reasons the Renault Grand Scenic is the best car on sale

But there’s an important distinction, not often made by motoring journalists, between cars that are good to drive and cars that are good to own. The consumer has a wishlist invariably entirely different from that of a pure petrolhead, as many who belong to both parties sadly know. You might want that Jaguar F-Type SVR, but you know you’re going to end up with a Ford S-Max. You might want two seats, but you know you need five. You might want a V8 turbocharged petrol engine, but you know you need 55mpg. You might want cream leather but you know you need wipe-clean black plastic. You might want the sexy little rear luggage shelf of the McLaren 570GT, but you know you need an estate-shaped boot to throw things in. And on it goes.

Well, my goodness, the Grand Scenic goes straight to the top of the pile for cars that are good to own. I admit it’s been a couple of years since I drove a Renault and haven’t owned one since my mother’s Renault 5, back in the mid-Eighties. I forgot what a family-friendly, consumer-friendly brand it is, full of little French ways to innovate, delightful quirks and decent basics. And the chassis is compliant, the steering nicely weighted, the manual shift short. 

If I had actually to part with my own hard-earned cash now on a car to transport my blended family of six about, this would be top of the list. Here’s why:

1.   Entire centre console slides forward, to give you a better arm rest, or back, to reveal two cup holders and an extra tray. Either way, it has an illuminated, deep cubby hole. Never seen that before.

2) Five driving modes to choose from: Sport, Neutral, Comfort, Perso, Eco.

3) Ambient lighting strips change colour to match the driver mode

4) Large touchscreen with easy graphics for satnav, media, climate control and phone

5) Really smart “Dark Carbon” ribbed black textiles on the seats; will age well

6) Four USB ports

7) Fantastic new exterior styling; the best looking Renault we’ll get in the UK (we won’t get the Espace)

8) 53mpg without even trying, with six people in the car

9) Short overhangs front and rear make parking this 7-seater a doddle

10) It’s not a Ford, or a Kia, or a Peugeot, or a VW… it’s something a little different

11) Head-up colour display including distance alert 

12) One-touch folding rear seats

13) Electrically adjustable, heated and folding door mirrors

14) Multi-position boot floor

15) All of this for £28,445. That’s unbelievable.