Insurance Group: 24
MPG: 39.2
CO2: 189
0-62 Mph: 11.1 secs
BHP: 175 BHP
Range: 716 miles
PROS: It has space for up to seven passengers, the cabin is quiet and comfortable and feels well put together and it comes with a decent level of kit and safety features.
CONS: The controls and layout of the dash can take some getting used to and there is limited legroom in the third row of seats. For a maximum load area the rear seats need to be removed which is a bit of a palaver. It has cheaper rivals that offer a better use of space and reliability can be an issue.
The 2.0 litre four cylinder diesel engine produces maximum figures of 175bhp at 3750rpm and 266lb-ft at 1750rpm which is just about enough and it feels very refined at cruising speeds. A 0-62 mph time of 11.1 seconds and a top speed of 123mph show that it’s no firecracker in the performance department however let’s not forget what this car was built for.
The Espace’s ride comfort is generally fine and for a car of this considerable size, it grips surprisingly well in corners. However, it is a people carrier and not designed for thrill-seekers on B-roads. On the open road at cruising speeds there is very little in the way of wind and road noise.
There’s plenty of adjustment in the driver’s seat and the steering wheel so most drivers should be able to find a decent position. The high driving position and large windscreen offer a grand view of the road and the rear parking sensors are handy when it comes to slotting into a parking space. The dashboard’s unconventional controls for heating, Satnav and audio are a bit confusing and take a little getting used to. It’s also starting to look a little dated when compared to the dashes in some of its rivals. Overall the cabin feels well screwed together but the quality of the materials is pretty good.
The Renault Espace Dynamique TomTom dCi 175 Auto FAP 5dr is a handsome if not interesting looking car. Inside, you get a CD, MP3 connectivity, Bluetooth, Satnav, cruise control, electric windows, electric door mirrors and climate control as standard. It also comes with an alarm and immobiliser, alloy wheels and front fog lights.
Options include metallic paint at £520 and leather seats at £3,600.
There is plenty of head and legroom for five people however legroom is limited in the third row of seats for two further passengers. There are numerous handy storage spaces dotted around the cabin. The boot has a modest 291 litres of room with the rear seats up but they all fold, rotate and slide to aid load space. However, if you want the full transit-like 2860 litres of carrying space then the seats need to be removed completely for a flat load area and this can be a nuisance and would only be practical if you had somewhere else to store them.
The Espace is right up there with the safest family cars on the market and as so it comes with a five star Euro NCAP rating, six airbags as well as ABS and stability control.
Renault have a questionable reputation for reliability although they purport to have worked hard on improving this, and for a certain piece of mind this car comes with a three year 100,000 mile warranty. Fuel economy is relatively low for a family car of this size but its carbon footprint of 189 g/km means its running costs isn’t the best in its class.
At £27,820 the Renault Espace Dynamique TomTom dCi 175 Auto FAP 5dr is not the cheapest people carrier out there nor is it the most economical. It has a roomy, comfortable cabin with a good level of equipment, feels well screwed together and gives a refined albeit no-thrills drive. But it’s not the most user-friendly seven-seater out there.
A combined cycle of 39.2mpg is a reasonable figure for a seven-seat family car but with a CO2 emissions figure of 189g/km the taxes and running costs aren’t particularly low. All things considered the model still represents good value for money.
A large family car providing plenty of space and near-executive saloon levels of comfort, delivering a decent drive, the Renault Espace Dynamique TomTom dCi 175 Auto FAP 5dr has a lot to offer. It ...
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