New Car/Review

Renault Espace 1997

by Paul Negyesi

Has the new Espace enough space to compete with the Ford Galaxy?The Galaxy is one of the roomiest, most comfortable MPVs on the Europeanmarket, so it was evident that the new Espace had to beat it. The newEspace has 2763 liters of maximum luggage capacity, the Galaxy 2610.Let's see what are the other news?

The new Espace is bigger than its predecessor. It's the new mode: oldname, size which puts the car one market segment higher. The much hailedMegane Scenic is in fact not too much smaller than the old Espace!
Anyway, the Espace wants to be the Range Rover of the MPVs. It's based on theLaguna - the upper-class model of the Renault range (the recently retouchedSafrane is on top of the range).The front looks similar tothe Laguna and the whole car has a distinctive Renault feeling. The body ismade of composites.
While in the old Espace the engine was longitudinally mounted, in the newmodel it's been placed transversally. When sales start in 1997 three engineswill be offered: 2.0-litre four, 115 bhp: the 2.2-litre turbo diesel 115 bhpand the 3.0-litre V6, 170 bhp.

What makes an MPV a true MPV? Versatile seating layout. With the optionalfloor rails there's a combination of two or three rows, as a five, six orseven seater. In case of need all five rear seats one behind the other shouldbe piled up on one side.

Interesting features include a 33-litre glove box with two lids and twoheater units, one for each front occupant.

Renault itself doesn't want to be the market leader. They just wantedto creat the best MPV. Whether they succeeded will turn out next March.