Renault Espace | Test Drive | Auto Class Magazine

Renault Espace | Test Drive

Words Marco Mancino / Photos S. Lomax

Do you remember the very first Espace? The MPV that has motorized Europe for forty years with an exceptional use of space and cutting-edge solutions. Well, forget it, or rather, get ready to welcome the sixth generation, which reshuffles the genetic traits of a fundamental model for the brand and launches it into a present in which the world of SUVs has definitively taken over. It is therefore reasonable to expect deep differences with the model it replaces and in fact we have 14 centimeters less in terms of length, a value that could make people turn up their noses, because after all we are still talking about the model with the most generous dimensions for the Renault list, for which one would expect anything, except to shave off on board roominess. But let’s try to understand a bit more about it.

The new Espace, as mentioned, continues the legacy introduced 4 decades ago by the quintessential multipurpose vehicle, but moves everything onto a more commercially fruitful level, that of SUVs. It does so by starting from the Austral platform and offering a very similar design but which emphasizes a 7 centimeter higher wheelbase. Habitability is the key-word, it always has been and continues to be even if the length is shorter than before, i.e. 472 centimeters in total. There is plenty of space for five occupants, but the sliding rear sofa also allows the possibility of accessing the sixth and seventh seats, an option for those who plan to travel with several friends and relatives, in this case sacrificing part of the luggage compartment, which from 581 liters goes to 159. They are instead 1,818, with all the rear seats lowered, authentic van figures.

There are three versions to choose from, but only one engine, a Full Hybrid 3-cylinder 1.2 turbodiesel, combined with a 50 kW electric motor and a motor generator useful for starting the engine and optimizing the gearbox work, a 6-speed automatic that is quite precise in all circumstances. The Espace enjoys a sporty look especially thanks with the Esprit Alpine setup of our test, where we find the familiar matt gray paint and Alpine logos which with blue profiles give a truly remarkable presence on the road, especially with rims that can reach up to 20 inches. The general dimensions can be misleading, because although the Espace seems very bulky, it is actually driven like a more compact car – like the Austral I dare to say – also making use of rear steering wheels, very useful for maneuvering and at low speeds, situation in which they virtually shorten the wheelbase of the car. Among the driving modes that can be selected using the Multi-Sense positioned on the steering wheel (or on the screen), you can also vary the incidence of the steering radius (again thanks to Renault 4Control), finding the ideal compromise for your needs and your driving style.

Sitting on board I find myself greeted by a familiar environment, with the sliding central armrest hiding a seemingly bottomless storage pit. There are two screens, the one in front of the driver – customizable – and the one positioned centrally and equipped with Android Automotive, a system that uses Google and all its apps, including the excellent and effective sat-navigator. I haven’t yet told you that the overall power under the hood comes with 200 horses and 205 Nm of torque, values that may seem modest, but which take into account a surprisingly low weight which stops the scales at just 1,694 kilograms. These are in fact the characteristics that make the 1.2-litre 3-cylinder agile in the city and outside of built-up areas, offering relaxed driving and which in Sport mode – albeit without any roadrunner ambitions – rewards the precision of a car body that reads what happens under the wheels in a precise manner.

Front-wheel drive only, a shame because given the height from the ground there would have been everything in order to move away from the asphalt and make the new Espace an even more effective SUV than it actually already is. I drove a lot and noticed how, like the Austral, Renault is continuing to move its quality level higher and higher, definitively leaving to Dacia the task of dedicating itself to entry-level models. The Espace has changed its identity, fully embracing the SUV segment and offering a more generous alternative to the Austral – I’ve repeated it ad nauseam, but their relationship is so close. It did it in the only way that allowed it to exist in a panorama in which MPVs have now been completely supplanted by those who cannot give up a sportier look and a bit of ground clearance. It matters little if we don’t have all-wheel drive to further broaden the range in terms of use. Techno is the first step on the list, at €43,700, with the Esprit Alpine embellishing its aesthetics at €46,500, just before the top of the range Iconic at €48,500.