It’s 40 years since the Renault Espace introduced us to the concept of the MPV. The class of car it helped create is now virtually extinct due to the rise of the SUV yet still the Espace lives on, having followed the market shift itself by morphing into more of a crossover.
We Brits never got the fifth-generation Espace that’s been on sale elsewhere in Europe since 2014 so it’s no surprise that we’re not getting this new sixth-generation version either. The Espace was last seen on our shores in 2012, the year Renault removed it from UK showrooms as part of a brutal cull of unprofitable models, alongside the Modus, Laguna and Wind ranges.
So what are we missing out on? The new Espace is a follow-up to the Renault Austral and is effectively an extended version of the family crossover. Think of the Espace as a Nissan X-Trail equivalent to the Nissan Qashqai-sized Austral.
It is based on the same CMF-CD architecture as the Austral and, at 4.72m long, is 21cm longer than the Austral, that growth being roughly split between a longer wheelbase and greater rear overhang. The Espace is also a significant 215kg lighter than its predecessor, a welcome bucking of the industry norm.
The new Espace is 14cm shorter than before but interior space has improved thanks to the better packaging allowed by the new architecture. It is available with five or seven seats and there’s excellent flexibility in the seating, all of which can fold flat into the floor. The boot space can be as much as 1818 litres with the rear seats folded. While it might now be an SUV, it’s still an MPV at heart.
It’s clever inside and is smart looking on the outside too. While the Austral looks a bit anonymous, the fundamental styling of that car translates well to a larger model and the Espace has presence but without the drama of recently revealed seven-seat rivals such as the Kia EV9 and Hyundai Santa Fe. It looks better on the road than in pictures.
The interior design is pleasing on the eye and, as you’d expect, also familiar from the Austral. The materials are nice and the perceived quality is excellent, while also retaining a sense of durability that is a must in a car like the Espace. Infotainment is also from the Austral: there’s a 12.0in portrait screen with crisp graphics on the centre console and an equally vibrant 12.3in driver display screen. Both work well.
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When you read the article and then the comments you realise the commentators have read a different story - the one in their heads.
Their latest releases are a success on the market, the first half of the year bringing an 11% increase in sales compared to last year.
It's no surprise we're not getting the 6th Generation either.
Yes we are, it was in yesterdays motoring news under the headline 2024 Skoda Kodiaq.