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No more MPV

We had to gulp for a moment when the curtain was pulled back on the all-new Espace. We knew it was coming, but it still takes some getting used to: the Espace is now an SUV. And of course it is an SUV, because they are not crazy at Renault. For five generations – the first generation unveiled by Renault in 1983 – the Espace was perhaps Europe’s best-known MPV, but today no one is waiting for a Multi-Purpose Vehicle. The all-new Espace therefore goes through life higher on its legs from now on.

Seven President

A number of things, however, just stayed the same. The Espace is still the largest model Renault will soon have in the showroom. The new version will again accommodate five or seven people. At 4.72 meters long, it is as much as 14 cm shorter than the outgoing model. However, the passenger compartment is longer than before. Three children can effortlessly fit side by side in the back seat, and tall passengers can create extra legroom by moving the sliding rear seat.

The third row of seats is only suitable for children. A short ride to the train station could possibly last adults. All passengers have seat belts with tensioners, ceiling lights with touch controls and USB-C connections. Even at the very back, the kids can power their tablets. During a long drive to camping in southern Europe, these power points are worth their weight in gold.

Gigantic panoramic roof

Renault is very proud of the panoramic roof that is on the option list. The glass roof offers more than one square meter of unobstructed glass area, thanks to its length of 1.33 meters and width of 84 centimeters. Passengers in all three rows of seats therefore benefit from extra light. The glass has a coating on the inside that filters UV radiation and most infrared rays and reflects most heat. In the sterile studio setting in Paris overlooking a white ceiling, the rooftop already makes a big impression, which bodes well.

4Control

An option also worth considering is the 4CONTROL system. This is the third generation of Renault-developed all-wheel steering. Usually you find this kind of system only on big, expensive German bolides, but Renault offers it to death on the Austral and Espace. According to Renault, the system – thanks in part to a multi-link rear axle – ensures not only better road holding, less driving noise and more comfort, but also a small turning circle. This system allows the rear wheels to countersteer by up to 5°, giving the Espace a turning radius of a Renault Clio. Pleasant in the city, but also on vacation on narrow French roads.

Luggage space Renault Espace

You buy an Espace because you are looking for space. Space for passengers and for belongings. You can also use the new Espace as an excellent moving van. The numbers in a row:

• 1,818 liters in five-passenger version with second row of seats folded down.
• 777 liters in five-passenger version with the second row of seats pushed forward to the maximum.
• 159 liters in seven-passenger version with third row of seats in use.

You can easily fold down the two rear rows of seats from the luggage compartment, creating a flat cargo floor. You can also store a lot of stuff in the interior. The front storage compartments offer a combined capacity of 20 liters. The glove box alone has a capacity of over six liters. Do you have your hands full when you get to the car? With a foot movement under the rear bumper, you can have the tailgate opened electrically.

Infotainment

The OpenR display, as Renault calls the infotainment screen, draws all the attention in the interior. It actually consists of two large screens – both 12 inches – placed side by side. One horizontal, the other vertical. By the way, you get a 12- and 9-inch screen as standard, but that should not spoil the fun.

Android Automotive

The operating system comes from Google: Android Automotive. We first encountered the system in the Polestar 2, but more and more car brands are now using it. The Renault Austral and Mégane E-Tech Electric already use it, too. The system works lightning fast and several Google apps, such as Maps and Assistant are present. The Google Play Store features apps such as Spotify and Waze.

200 hp

The Espace is available with only one powertrain: a 200-hp E-Tech full-hybrid powertrain consisting of a 1.2-liter three-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine and two electric motors. The gasoline engine provides 130 horsepower and the electric motors take care of the rest. According to the French, the Espace E-Tech full hybrid is capable of fully electric driving in city traffic up to 80% of the time. Whether that is true is something we will test soon, when we take the car out on the road for the first time. Prices of the new Espace will be announced by Renault at a later date.