Skip to main content

Renault Scala Road test and review

You've probably heard that the Renault Scala is a rebadged Nissan Sunny. Yes, it is.
The French carmaker hasn't had budget-busting development costs to roll out their fifth car in fifteen months as it's a Sunny in disguise.

But hey, look again — although it looks familiar, Renault has thrown in some smart design cues to make it a unique product. Let's go into detail.


Design

Up front, the Renault Scala looks much better than the Sunny.
The large hexagonal grille with chrome-plated bars and Fluence-inspired headlamps stay true to the 'lozenge' logo. The Sunny roots are more obvious in profile, however, the Scala gets trendy alloy wheels and chrome beading around the glasshouse.

There's a decent amount of Renault-isation at the rear, too. The tail lights are of the same shape but have a different design. The white strips on the tail lights join a large chrome garnish across the boot lid. As we saw on the Duster, the name 'SCALA' is embossed on the chrome strip. Overall, Renault has done a neat job of disguising the Scala's origins.

Features
Scala is available in three trims — RxE, RxL and RxZ and the features are similar to the ones of Sunny. The RxZ variant which I drove came with adjustable steering column, electric folding mirrors, rear defroster, rear comfort fan, push start button, keyless entry, climate control and steering mounted audio controls.

My only quibble then was the absence of USB or Bluetooth supported audio system. The multi-info display shows tripmeter, instant consumption, average consumption, outside temperature and distance to empty. No compromise is made on safety as well; the Scala is equipped with ABS and driver airbags on all variants. Top variants get passenger airbags, too.

Performance, Ride and Handling
Scala buyers have the choice of a 1.5-litre dCi engine or a 1.5-litre petrol. The familiar K9K diesel engine produces 86 PS @ 3750 rpm and 200 Nm @ 2000 rpm, making Scala a quite responsive car once past some initial turbo lag.

Yet, a little more oomph would be nice, especially when pulling out of a trafficky junction in second gear. Refinement is good, however, the diesel engine can be heard noisily in the cabin. The company claims a mileage of 16.95 kmpl for the petrol and 21.64 kmpl for the diesel.



Ranault had chosen a perfect test drive route from Chandigarh to Shimla. Thanks to the slightly tweaked suspension, the Scala hangs on well through sharp bends and feels stable on the highway. I was impressed with its ride quality and the way the suspension soaked up the gnarliest of roads. The steering is not as light as the Sunny but is responsive. However, Scala has a tendency to fishtail when thrown sharply into corners.

Renault is planning to launch Scala in the first week of September. Expect it to be roughly Rs. 30,000 costlier than its Sunny equivalent. Now you probably wonder why spend that extra money, but the Renault Scala certainly has sportier looks and better dynamics that make every extra penny worth the purchase.


 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Veerapandi arumugam Dead

Veerapandi S Arumugam  (born 26 January 1937) is a Tamil Nadu politician. He was born on 26 January 1937 in Pollavari,  Salem  in a vanniyar family DMK Member from 1957 President, Poolavari Panchayat Board, 1958–1976 President, Poolavari Village Co-operative Thrift Society, 1959–1976 Chairman, Veerapandi Panchayat Union, 1970–1976 President, Salem Central Co-operative Bank, 1973–1976; Member,  Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly , 1962–1967, 1967–1971, 1971–1976, 1989–1991, 1996–2001, 2006–2011; Member, Tamil Nadu Legislative Council, 1978–1984 Minister for  Rural Development and Local Administration , 1989–1990 Minister for  Agriculture , 1990–1991, 1996–2001, 2006–2011 He lost his MLA election 2011 seat to his niece Mrs. VijayaLakshmi Palanisami of ADMK with big Margin from Sankari constituency.      Now him political life is finished.       He is dead in chennai hospital. Friday morning 23.11.2012...

🧠 What is a Data Science Job?

A Data Scientist is like a detective who works with data instead of clues . Their job is to collect , clean , analyze , and interpret data to help companies make smart decisions. 📊 Key Roles & Responsibilities Collecting Data From websites, apps, sensors, databases, etc. Example: Getting data on how customers use an app. Cleaning Data Removing duplicate, missing, or incorrect entries. Like making sure the data is usable and correct. Analyzing Data Using statistical tools (like Excel, Python, R) Finding trends and patterns. Example: “Most customers buy on weekends.” Building Models (AI/ML) Predicting future outcomes using Machine Learning. Example: Predicting which customers might cancel a subscription. Communicating Results Making dashboards, charts, and reports. Explaining to management in a simple way. 💻 Skills Required Skill Purpose Python / R Programming languages for analysis SQL For accessing databases Excel / Tableau / Power BI For data visualization ...

"How to Get RERA Approved Real Estate Agent Registration in Tamil Nadu"

1. Understand RERA RERA stands for Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act – a central government law. It ensures transparency, safety, and trust in the real estate sector. 2. Eligibility Criteria Must be at least 18 years old . Should have a PAN Card and Aadhaar Card. Office address and prior experience in real estate (optional but useful). 3. Required Documents PAN Card (for income tax purposes) Aadhaar Card Address proof (EB Bill, Voter ID, Rent Agreement, etc.) Passport size photo For companies — Registration certificate, partner details, GST details 4. Apply Online (Example: Tamil Nadu) Visit Tamil Nadu RERA Official Website : https://www.tnrera.in Select the  “Agent Registration” option. Fill in details (name, address, contact, experience, etc.). Upload required documents in PDF format. Pay the registration fee online (Tamil Nadu RERA: Individual ₹25,000 / Company ₹50,000). 5. Getting Approval Once the ap...