Renault ESPACE RANGE
Renault Havent Waited Too Long To Give The Espace IV A Makeover. Andy Enright Reports On The Results
Received car industry wisdom goes like this. Launch a car. Three years down the road give it a facelift. Two years later start getting desperate and launch a whole slew of risible special edition models as you wait for the next model to come on stream.
Year six normally sees the old model axed and the new car introduced. Of course, it doesnt always work like that. Spectacularly successful cars can run and run whereas vehicles like Renaults Avantime, well, dont. The Espace, however, is a different kettle of fish and has been a very big seller since its Spring 2003 debut.
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The key thing to remember with this revised model is that the styling has been left untouched.
Renault are saving that joker to play for a later date. This time round we get a new trim level Dynamique and a rationalisation of the existing Espace range to make way for it. Plus there are revised interior trims and more appealing option packs.
Lets start with the rationalisation. Renault have removed the 3.0V6 and 3.5V6 dCi engines from the range of variants offered at the Privilege trim level, seeing as most buyers went for the plusher Initiale versions.
These people also apparently thought themselves too good for the lesser powered 2.0T 16v engine (which hence disappears from the Initiale line-up in standard and Grand Espace long wheelbase versions). Grand Espace buyers are also pretty well-heeled, so the marketers have additionally decided that theres no point in offering them an entry-level 1.9dCi Expression model in that bodystyle at the foot of that range.
All of this frees up a bit of elbow room for the new Dynamique trim level, traditionally the big seller amongst Renaults other models offering sporty looks and mid-level specification. Dynamique trim Espaces get 17-inch alloy wheels, dual automatic climate control, extra tinted glass on the rear windows and tailgate, a heat reflecting windscreen, roof bars, carbon and beige interior trim and Cantanzaro part-leather sports seats. As a result, although its still not a vehicle youd choose to fling down a mountain road just for the fun of it, the Espace Dynamique does now cut quite a dash. Engine choices include the 165bhp 2.
0-litre turbo and a pair of diesels. The 1.9dCi 120 will attract plenty of takers, starting at £23,295, although theres a lot to be said for the punchier 150bhp 2.2-litre dCi powerplant.
Grand Espace Dynamique versions do without the 1.9-litre engine and get 3.5-litre V6 and 3.0-litre dCi options instead.
"Renault give the Espace VIP billing, selling it exclusively through their range of Premier Centres"
Renault have given the existing trim levels a mild fettling too, starting with the entry-level Authentique which adds Sam dark upholstery and carbon/beige trim. The Privilege models add rear parking sensors, a Renault ignition card, roof bars, automatic headlamps and rain sensing wipers to their already extensive specification, but for those looking for additional personalisation, Renault offer four option packs Comfort, Driving, Convenience and Ultimate Style. Theres also an improved seating system available to Espace customers with a slide and lock feature which means that the rearmost five seats can be removed and refitted far more easily than before. Another innovation to make the team sheet is the fitment of Sleep Safe head restraints which aim to reduce whiplash injuries, especially among young passengers.
Finally there are some changes to the colour palettes, with Mercury Grey and Nordic Green now available. The Espace IV, as Renault prefer to call it, is an evolutionary advance over its predecessor rather than anything manifestly revolutionary. What is surprising is that 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 Espace instead opts for a more conventional steel monocoque platform shared with the Laguna and Vel Satis.
Only the wings and tailgate are now made of plastic composites, the doors and bonnet being fabricated in aluminium with a steel roof. In total across the whole range, three petrol engines are available, a 140bhp 2.0-litre 16v, a 165bhp 2.0-litre 16v turbo and then a big step up to the 245bhp 3.
5-litre V6. Three diesel engines are also offered, a 120bhp 1.9-litre dCi, a 150bhp 2.2-litre version and the mighty 180bhp 3.
0-litre dCi unit. Truth be told, there isnt a bad engine here and the diesel models are superbly economical. Even the 3.0-litre dCi powerplant manages 30mpg whilst hitting 60mph in a smidgeon over 10 seconds.
With a prodigious slug of torque at its disposal, it makes an awesomely relaxed high speed cruiser in the best Gallic traditions. The exterior styling is a little more angular than the outgoing Espace, although few will have any cause for complaint. The detailing is very neat, with rakish scalene triangles formed by bevelled front and rear wings. The interior will be largely familiar but Renault have taken the concept of hiding all the major instruments and controls to extremes.
A single central digital display shows most of the main functions, but the stereo controls are hidden under one of a multitude of flaps, as is the optional satellite navigation system. The controls for these features are a little fiddly, although the door-mounted air conditioning and ventilation controls are well executed. The Espace IV has gained an additional 57mm of rear headroom and a not inconsequential 225mm of length behind the front pair of seats. Safety has been well attended to, with curtain airbags that cover all three rows of passengers as well as the more usual twin front and side balloons.
The four outer passengers in the rear also get chest airbags, making the Espace a vehicle that must be quite magnificent to crash in. The Espace has long been the top contender in this class and the latest suite of changes look set to keep it on the top step of the podium. Heres to product planning.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Renault Espace range
PRICES: £19,645-£34,595 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 10-16
CO2 EMISSIONS: 187-292g/km
PERFORMANCE: [2.2 HDi] 0-60mph 12s / Max Speed 117mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [2.2 HDi] (urban) 27.4mpg/ (extra urban) 44.8mpg/ (combined) 36.7mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags, full length curtain bags, lateral airbags, ABS with brake assist, ESP with CSV understeer control
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