This is a car predominantly for back seat passengers, and the good news is that those seated at the rear will have a plush ride, tending towards the soft side of things. Up in the hills, this is a bit of a disadvantage — if you’re maintaining a decent pace around corners, those with more sensitive stomachs are likely to feel a bit queasy! In city conditions, and on relatively good roads, the ride is good enough to iron out all but the biggest craters. The steering wheel isn’t the liveliest unit around, with a lack of feedback, and the brakes, although they possess adequate stopping power, feel somewhat wooden to operate. The Scala, therefore, makes for a very good city and middle-distance car, but it’s not one which will provide too many thrills.

Pricing hasn’t been announced yet, but as we said, the Scala will be priced at a premium over the Sunny. Renault needs to be careful, though — too much of a premium and the Scala will be up against the likes of the Volkswagen Vento and Hyundai Verna, both of which are better cars. We reckon that Rs 6.5 lakh to Rs 8.5 lakh (ex-showroom) for the range would be a sweet spot. Finally, would we buy one? Provided the price is sensible, undoubtedly — the Scala is a nicer car than the Sunny, on looks alone, and that makes it a better buy.