Ariya was much less of a useful guide to the likes of Scenic than I expected. That’s because while the French car certainly plays the SUV card with its exterior design, it all feels like a bit of a bluff next to Nissan (and I see actually).

The driving position in my new Scenic is noticeably lower and more car-like than the Arya or Explorer. Take out that impressive sight and the ride is firmer but more composed. It’s a matter of personal taste, but I’d accept the Scenic’s shakier progress on the regular B-road in exchange for its superior ability to take bigger bumps and sudden undulations in its stride without crashing and shaking (in the case of Ariya) or jumping (as Explorer). Renault’s agility makes driving more pleasant, hiding its own weight of 1,918 kg. Many, however, will appreciate the relaxed feel of a traditional SUV.

Our Scenic is the top-of-the-line Iconic Long Range, with no options except for £1,250 metallic paint. So it costs £46,745 as tested with unusually designed 20in wheels, a 360 degree camera system, 12in portrait infotainment screen, a 12.3 driver display screen inches and its party piece, the panoramic Solarbay roof, which can switch electrically from opaque to transparent at the touch of a button. It’s around £4,000 cheaper than the larger-battery, rear-wheel-drive Ford Explorer we tested it with.

Family buyers might panic at the sight of the Scenic’s interior. Faux leather and light gray textiles look like a recipe for disaster for those with small children. Our kids are a little past the “let’s color the headboard” stage, but we’ll be keeping an eye on how well the fabrics hold up to use over the course of the long-term test.

What the choice of materials does, in combination with the Solarbay roof, is to create an airy feel. It’s also a premium feel, perhaps not as luxurious as the Explorer’s cabin, but more modern and design-led. Renault’s compromise between touchscreen controls and physical buttons, either under the screen or on the wide array of steering column paddles, is working very well so far.

*Insurance quote from the AA (0800 107 0680) for a 42-year-old man from Banbury, Oxon, with three points.