Renault Scenic: Is the online configurator misleading?

Voted Car of the Year 2024 in Europe, the Renault Scenic is enjoying quite a popular success, but are its prices as low as advertised?

While the first deliveries to customers have begun a few days ago, the new Renault Scenic continues to make waves. Elevated to the highly coveted title of Car of the Year 2024 in Europe, it is said to be the first rival of the Tesla Model Y. Its very attractive prices, starting at 35,990 euros in France, with a 4,000 euro bonus deducted, indeed make it 3,000 euros cheaper than its American competitor.

Both are produced in Europe: the Renault in Douai, in northern France, and the Tesla in Berlin, Germany. This is a good point to encourage employment in our territories compared to other offerings from China.

Is the Renault Scenic really attractively priced?

However, surprise can take hold of the online configurator user when setting up their Renault Scenic. The advertised prices, with the ecological bonus of 4000 euros, are striking. A small asterisk invites the customer to check the eligibility conditions on the government website economie.gouv.fr, which seems rather odd.

If you are somewhat aware of the conditions, you know that the bonus is only possible for models priced below 47,000 euros including VAT. However, when referring to the price table of the new Renault Scenic electric, you notice that the Esprit Alpine and Iconic trims, offered at starting prices of 48,990 and 52,490 euros respectively, would be eligible for the bonus?

Is this a mistake or a commercial lie to mislead customers with a prettier-looking price than the reality?

A cleverly exploited loophole

Let’s face it: there is no lie. These trims are indeed eligible for the bonus, but through a sleight of hand? Tesla’s trick was to reinterpret the French government’s conditions to make their Model 3 and Model Y “optioned” vehicles also eligible for the bonus. Options are not included in the final price of the car.

Renault has adopted this idea as well, so if you pay attention to the titles of the Esprit Alpine and Iconic trims, it is about a Techno trim with an optional choice. Therefore, the upgrade is possible.

This is ultimately a matter of semantics that helps sell cars at prices well above the initial 47,000 euro threshold. There remains a moral question: should incentives be paid on vehicles that expensive when the owners do not have financial issues? The debate is open…