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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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