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Teletubby Espace craft. Image by Syd Wall.

Teletubby Espace craft
The Espace was one of the first MPVs, but it's having to fight hard to stay at the top of the pile.

   



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| A Week at the Wheel | Bucks, England | Renault Espace Tech Run 2.0 dCi 150 |

More than 20 years ago, Renault all but invented the genre of the MPV as far as the European market goes. Despite a seemingly never ending release of potential new rivals, the Espace remains one of the most accomplished cars of its type on the market. The current model received its face lift last year and new revisions to the range can only make the Espace seem an even more enticing option.

We tested the Espace in the limited edition Tech Run specification - the Tech part of the name refers to the DVD system with twin headrest mounted 7-inch screens to keep the rear passengers occupied, and a multi-functional 'TunePoint' where iPods and other MP3 players can be plugged into the audio system. The 2.2-litre dCi diesel engine in our test car was the more powerful 150bhp diesel option (there is a 120bhp 1.9-litre as well), although there is an even gruntier 175bhp 2-litre engine available in the Dynamique and Dynamique S grades.

Climbing aboard, the Espace is normal MPV fare - you sit a long way back from the dashboard and the windscreen is even further away. The dashboard is all very hi-tech in the Espace with a shallow domed centre section comprising the instrument panel housing (faintly reminiscent of the Teletubbies home). The panel display itself is very retro-futuristic, the large digital readout for the speedometer and the moving line tachometer reminds us of an 1980's Vauxhall Astra. To an extent, Renault has taken the futuristic theme too far, as the whole fascia is completely devoid of any switches like you might imagine on a concept car. Yet, being a practical car the switches have to be somewhere and all the functions have to work. It all hangs off the steering wheel on the column stalks - almost everything! You need to study the manual in detail to figure out what each movement of a stalk will do, and you certainly can't see the stalks as you're driving along. Likewise, the heating and ventilation controls are on some flying saucer inspired switch panel on the driver's door armrest. Maybe if the Espace is your only car, and you spend a week or two studying the handbook, it will all make sense, but the Espace is not a car you jump into and drive intuitively.

The clean look extends to the audio system and the DVD player - both are hidden. The audio system hides in the centre console compartment - steering wheel controls ensure that once set up, you don't need to open the flap - and the DVD player is in the glovebox in front of the passenger's seat. Probably the best place for it as the passenger will no doubt be changing DVDs regularly during the journey as the kids change their minds. Again...

Given that Renault invented the MPV, then seating practicality is a given. Seven individual seats (three in the third row) can be swapped and folded in almost every imaginable combination, and of course all unused seats fold flat into the floor. But beware; with all seven seats in use, luggage space is meagre. If you need to carry seven people and luggage you will need the larger Grand Espace.

Driving the Espace proved that even Renault with all its Renaultsport heritage has not managed to make a sporty MPV. You sit high with a commanding view of the road, although there is nothing visible in front of the windscreen except road. But being high up means you feel the roll, and the Espace sure does roll - enough to discourage any sort of press-on driving. Better to relax and enjoy the comfort that soft suspension settings bring.

The 150bhp diesel engine is, somewhat surprisingly, only adequate in the Espace, although you must consider that this Espace weighs almost 1,800kg. The six-speed 'box, with a gear lever that is too far away for this driver to easily reach, needs some serious stirring to match the claimed 0-62mph figure of 10.6 seconds, although decent aerodynamics allow the Espace to reach a not-so-shabby for its size 121mph. Stir the gears too much and you might struggle to match the 39.2mpg Combined Cycle fuel economy though.

All in all, remember this vehicle's purpose in life: to ferry people; large families of them. Treat the Espace like a responsible family man should and it doesn't seem so slow. Revel in the comfort, don't rush. It's just a shame that with all the effort to look futuristic, some basics let the Espace down. Some of the plastics in the interior are not fitting for a £23,735 car: the seat height adjustment lever was so rough I almost cut my finger on it. Seat controls and levers are hidden away, and manually adjusting your seating position a touch was impossible with the door shut. Admittedly these are small details that should not ruin the MPV that has made Espace almost a generic word in the same way as Hoover.
2007 Renault Espace range overview

ModelUK (£ on-the-road)Ireland: (€ on-the-road)
Renault Espace Team 2.0 16V 140£18,595n/a
Renault Espace Rush 2.0 16V£19,035n/a
Renault Espace Authentique 2.0 16V£19,740n/a
Renault Espace Rush 1.9 dCi£20,000n/a
Renault Espace Tech Run 2.0 16V 140£20,444n/a
Renault Espace Authentique 1.9 dCi£20,705n/a
Renault Espace Team dCi 130£21,005n/a
Renault Espace Expression 2.0 16V£21,890n/a
Renault Espace Team dCi 150£21,930n/a
Renault Espace Dynamique Turbo 170£22,390n/a
Renault Espace Dynamqiue dCi 130£22,810€50,990
Renault Espace Tech Run 2.0 dCi 130£22,810n/a
Renault Espace Expression 1.9 dCi£22,855n/a
Renault Espace Expression 2.0 Turbo£22,890n/a
Renault Espace Dynamique dCi 150£23,735€54,850
Renault Espace Tech Run 2.0 dCi 150£23,735n/a
Renault Espace Dynamqiue 1.9 dCi£23,805n/a
Renault Espace Dynamique 2.0 Turbo£23,840n/a
Renault Espace Dynamique Turbo 170 Auto£23,890n/a
Renault Espace Dynamique Turbo 170£24,140n/a
Renault Espace Expression 2.2 dCi£24,385n/a
Renault Espace Expression 2.0 Turbo Auto£24,390n/a
Renault Espace Dynamique dCi 175 FAP£24,835n/a
Renault Espace Privilege 2.0 Turbo£25,190n/a
Renault Espace Dynamique dCi 140 Auto FAP£25,235n/a
Renault Espace Dynamique 2.2 dCi£25,335€57,850
Renault Espace Dynamique 2.0 Turbo Auto£25,340n/a
Renault Espace Dynamique S Turbo 170 Auto£25,640n/a
Renault Espace Expression 2.2 dCi Auto£25,885n/a
Renault Espace Dynamique S dCi 175 FAP£26,585n/a
Renault Espace Privilege 2.2 dCi£26,685n/a
Renault Espace Privilege 2.0 Turbo Auto£26,690n/a
Renault Espace Dynamique 2.2 dCi Auto£26,835n/a
Renault Espace Dynamique S dCi 140 Auto FAP£26,895n/a
Renault Espace Dynamique S dCi 150£26,985n/a
Renault Espace Privilege dCi 175 FAP£28,135n/a
Renault Espace Privilege 2.2 dCi Auto£28,185n/a
Renault Espace Initiale 2.2 dCi£30,635n/a
Renault Espace Initiale 3.0 V6 dCi Auto£34,235n/a
Renault Espace Initiale 3.5 V6 Auto£34,240n/a


Trevor Nicosia - 26 Jun 2007



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2007 Renault Espace specifications: (Tech Run 2.0 dCi manual)
Price: £23,725 on-the-road.
0-62mph: 10.6 seconds
Top speed: 121mph
Combined economy: 39.2mpg
Emissions: 191g/km
Kerb weight: 1757kg

2007 Renault Espace. Image by Syd Wall.2007 Renault Espace. Image by Syd Wall.2007 Renault Espace. Image by Syd Wall.  


2007 Renault Espace. Image by Syd Wall.
 

2007 Renault Espace. Image by Syd Wall.
 

2007 Renault Espace. Image by Syd Wall.
 

2007 Renault Espace. Image by Syd Wall.
 

2007 Renault Espace. Image by Syd Wall.
 

2007 Renault Espace. Image by Syd Wall.
 

2007 Renault Espace. Image by Syd Wall.
 

2007 Renault Espace. Image by Syd Wall.
 

2007 Renault Espace. Image by Syd Wall.
 






 

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