Renault Espace Range Car Review

Facts At A Glance
Car: Renault Espace range
Prices: £20,295-£35,840 - on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 10-16
Emissions: 187-292g/km
Performance: [3.0 dCi] 0-60mph 10.4s / Max Speed 130mph
Fuel Consumption: [3.0 dCi] (urban) 21.2mpg/ (extra urban) 38.3mpg/ (combined) 29.8mpg
Safety: Twin front & side airbags, full length curtain bags, lateral airbags, ABS with brake assist, ESP with CSV understeer control
Dimensions: [Grand Espace] length/width/heightmm 4861/1860/1746

ATTENTION TO DETAILS

Our Rating: 7.0 / 10

Another year, another tweak to Renault’s Espace range. Andy Enright fills you in on the details

For many, the Renault Espace is still the default large MPV and, in certain areas, it’s still the best, the French company leveraging its experience in building cars of this type to great effect. The latest range is less focused on the high-end models and therefore better value, though it’s still not that hot to drive in the face of challenges from the likes of Ford’s Galaxy.

When it comes to building large MPVs, Renault has effectively written the book on the art. Although it can’t claim to have originated the people carrier, it has done more than any other manufacturer to populate Western Europe with the things, taking the Japanese model of ‘borrowing’ somebody else’s original idea and refining it to devastating effect. Since 1984, when the first Espace was launched, Renault has gradually edged the range upmarket to the extent where this model is seen as a real premium product.

The rise of seven-seat MPVs that offer a lot more badge equity has seen this market rather shrivel of late and the 2007 Espace retrenches and takes the fight to the volume manufacturers with the focus on well-equipped, sensibly priced models and more efficient diesel powerplants. The challenge in doing this is to offer all the cachet of Espace ownership without compromising on quality or safety yet keep prices sharp and Renault looks to have pulled it off.

The Espace has never been about a sharp drive, instead letting its practicality and styling do the talking. Should handling and performance be priorities in your large MPV buying decision, go for a Ford Galaxy or S-MAX. If, on the other hand, you feel that family duties don’t jibe with cornering like Lewis Hamilton, there’s little that you won’t like about the latest Espace. The big news is the addition of a pair of diesel engines that are now mated to butter-smooth six-speed automatic gearboxes produced by the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Both are 2.0-litre dCi units and are available in either 150 or 175bhp power outputs and both feature FAP particulate filters. Renault claims that both of these engines are quicker and more economical than the Chrysler Voyager 2.8 CRD’s unit.

As before, it’s possible to buy the Espace in regular length, which is still hardly insubstantial, as well as a stretched Grand Espace model. Both cruise very nicely at speed, with excellent refinement, but are a little less composed if you’re hustling through corners. Still, horses for courses and all that. You probably wouldn’t expect a Lotus Exige to be much cop at driving the family to EuroDisney and back.

Given that the Espace was treated to a rather extensive facelift in 2006, Renault has wisely left well alone when it comes to exterior styling. At that juncture, it got a slimmer bumper and a simpler grille design. Swivelling Bi-Xenon headlights debuted and the rear lights were revised. One theme that was introduced with the 2006 car and carries on with latest version is a more restrained approach to technology and innovation. Renault have, if anything, toned down their recent excess of novelty and have restored some normality to the Espace.

Whereas the MKIII model was built around a radical spaceframe chassis with composite parts, the MKIV Espace instead opts for a more conventional steel monocoque platform shared with the Laguna. Only the wings and tailgate are now made of plastic composites, the doors and bonnet being fabricated in aluminium with a steel roof. The interior is as spacious as ever with plenty of space for seven. Need more room? In return for increasing the size of your cheque to your Renault dealer by about £1,000 for a ‘Grand Espace’ model, you get substantially more luggage space. Over 165 litres more to be exact when all the seats are in place, making a total of 456 litres which could make the difference between having to use a roof box or trailer and not having to bother. Should you be able to get rid of all the seats bar those at the front, the total carrying capacity rises to removal van standards, up by 190-litres to 3050-litres.

As well as having revised the engine line up, Renault has performed some major surgery on the model ran