Volkswagon Touran or Renault Scenic for 5 adults?
 

We live in the US, would like to rent a car for a week in France, and could use some advice. Is a Volkswagon Touran large enough for 5 fit adults with very minimal lugguage (one small sports bag each)? How about a Renault Scenic? Are there various sizes of Scenics? Any help is greatly appreciated! We've been draggin' our heels on this decision.

Both are so-called small MPVs in Europe. Basically tall wagons built on small car platforms. I've driven the Scenic before, and it's comfortable up to 4 people. Because they are narrow cars, 3 adults will have to squeeze in the back.

Okay for a short trip or two, but no way for touring France for a week.

The two are similarly sized. There's a Grand Scenic that's longer, with more luggage space. But as I said, the problem is rear seat width, and the Grand Scenic won't help.

Thank you for the reply. So how do 5 adults comfortably travel together? (Lugguage will only be with us for two hours enroute to our gite.)

for 5 adults + luggage you really need a 7 or 9 passenger van.

Either will do I suppose, although the Touran seems bigger.
However having driven a Touran I can say that it is incredibly expensive to run, fuel consumption was immense for a diesel on the one I drove. Can't speak for the Renault.Just remember fuel in Europe is significantly more expensive than USA.

Muck

"for 5 adults + luggage you really need a 7 or 9 passenger van." Ouch, Janisj, I can hear it gulping petrol already! Is there a sedan of some sort that would work? We'll be driving an hour one way at most each day in the Dordogne and are fit 40 somethings with a 14 year old. Thanks!

your main problem is no sedan will hold luggage for 5.

If you're only driving for an hour a day, then those the Touran or the Scenic will work.

Yeah, maybe not for a long haul, but we're troopers and can sit with a small bag under our feet or on our laps for a couple hours. It's worth it if we can avoid a US-sized van and opt for a sedan instead.... :)

but then you'd all be stuck in a sedan for your touring. Not fun to be wedged in the middle of the back seat while driving through the French countryside.

I would get a minimum of a 7-passenger van. Or you could consider 2 small cars.

janisj - ehku now says they're only driving "an hour one way at most each day". And they can squeeze.

The Touran or Scenic seats 5, and looks like the best way. Those have relatively good leg and headroom and have okay luggage space.

OK luggage space really doesn't mean luggage space for 5 adults. Even if you all get by w/ a 21 inch rollaboard and tote each there would be 10 pieces of luggage (not counting various handbags etc)

And if anyone takes two bags or larger ones it will be even more. IF you can get everyone to limit to a single 19-21 inch rollie bag or a similar sized duffle - the Touran would probably work - but it still won't be all that comfortable for touring w/ 5.

The OP says "one small sports bag each" in the thread starter. I hope they're not changing hotels each night that are only an hour away, but that may be what they're doing... Should perhaps stay in one or two place for the whole trip and they can drive around with no luggage at all for most of the trip.

Oh - right. I missed the one small sports bag each bit. If you really do only have the 5 small bags, the Touran will be OK.

Just take pitty on the "middle rider" and rotate who gets stuck there. That duty may get foisted off on the 14 yo - but he/she may hate the trip if stuck there every day.

oops hit post too soon. Don't think they are hotel hopping every day since ehku said they'd just have the luggage while traveling to/from their gite.

We hired a Grand Senic a few years ago and had a seat in the back (luggage part) that an agile adult sat in happily - even Ile sur la Sorgue to Mt Ventoux and back. I am not very agile and only took a turn when it was a short distance to travel.
We found the Grand Scenic very emonomical.

Sorry - it was economical.

I've got to say it....it depends how big you are. As you say you are fit adults - does that mean big and muscley or wirey little whippet long-distance runner types? Basically, if you are all larger than average, it'll be a squeeze. If you are about average, it'll be ok if not luxurious. If you are all smaller than average, you'll be ok.
I don't think it is that bad to travel 3 in these seats as long as you haven't got a big person along. As long as you stop now and then to let everyone stretch their legs.

"As you say you are fit adults - does that mean big and muscley or wirey little whippet long-distance runner types?"
I LOVE it! :) We are three whippets, a bulldog, a standard poodle. We'll try the Touran. Thanks for everyone's help!

The 3 whippets should be ok in the back then :-)