The Renault Espace: What We’re Missing Out On

It’s been 40 years since the Renault Espace first introduced us to the concept of the MPV. While the rise of SUVs has caused the MPV class to become virtually extinct, the Espace continues to live on by adapting to the market shift and transforming into more of a crossover. However, despite its longevity and success in other parts of Europe, the UK has been absent from the Espace lineup since 2012. Let’s take a closer look at what we’re missing out on with the all-new sixth-generation Espace.

The new Espace is a follow-up to the Renault Austral and is essentially an extended version of the family crossover. It shares the same CMF-CD architecture as the Austral and measures 4.72m in length, making it 21cm longer than its counterpart. This increase in size translates to a longer wheelbase and greater rear overhang. Additionally, the new Espace is 215kg lighter than its predecessor, which is a notable achievement in an industry where weight reduction is not the norm.

Despite being 14cm shorter than its predecessor, the new Espace offers improved interior space thanks to better packaging enabled by the new architecture. It is available with either five or seven seats, and the seating configuration provides excellent flexibility, with all seats capable of folding flat into the floor. With the rear seats folded, the boot space can reach up to 1818 litres. Although it may have transitioned into more of a crossover, the Espace still retains its MPV roots.

In terms of design, the new Espace is both smart-looking and practical. While the Austral may appear somewhat anonymous, its fundamental styling translates well to the larger Espace model. The Espace exudes presence without the drama associated with recently revealed seven-seat rivals such as the Kia EV9 and Hyundai Santa Fe.

Inside the Espace, the design is pleasing to the eye and familiar to those acquainted with the Austral. The materials used are of high quality, and the perceived durability is excellent, which is crucial for a car like the Espace. The infotainment system is also borrowed from the Austral, featuring a 12.0-inch portrait screen on the centre console and an equally vibrant 12.3-inch driver display screen. Both screens offer crisp graphics and function seamlessly.

On the road, the Espace provides a comfortable driving experience, with a smooth ride on Danish roads during our test drive. This is surprising considering that one of the Austral’s weaknesses is its ride quality. However, it remains to be seen how the Espace would fare on the more broken surfaces of UK roads. Rear passengers reported good comfort levels and a sense of airiness, further enhancing the overall driving experience.

One notable feature carried over from the Austral is the four-wheel steering system, which proves to be far more useful on the larger Espace. It makes low-speed town manoeuvres effortless and improves handling, making it more predictable than in the smaller car.

Under the hood, the Espace offers just one powertrain option: a 197bhp hybrid system. Similar to the Austral, this hybrid system combines a turbocharged 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine with twin electric motors and a small battery. While this hybrid system performs well in the Austral, providing a mix of performance and refinement, it feels underpowered in the Espace. Extracting performance from it requires working the engine hard, which results in noticeable engine noise. However, it remains efficient, achieving around 50mpg on mixed-roads test routes.

Considering the current market landscape, it’s difficult to determine if the UK should be longing for the Espace. The seven-seat SUV market is already well-served by established players like the Skoda Kodiaq and Nissan X-Trail, with exciting new additions such as the Kia EV9 on the horizon. The Espace falls into the category of solid yet unspectacular, which is precisely what Renault aims to break away from with its new era of electric cars under the leadership of CEO Luca de Meo. While we may not be getting the Espace in the UK for now, we eagerly await what the future holds for this iconic MPV.

Verdict: 3.5 stars

Renault Espace E-Tech 200 Iconic 7 seats

Price: €48,800 (£42,300)

Engine: 3 cyls in line, 1199cc, turbocharged, petrol, plus 80bhp electric motor

Power: 197hp

Transmission: 7-spd automatic, front-wheel drive

0-62mph: 8.8sec

Top speed: 109mph

Economy: 61.4mpg

CO2, tax band: 104-111 g/km, na

Rivals: Skoda Kodiaq, Kia EV9