Renault Espace Car Reviews

The most recent Espace was the first Espace to be produced entirely by Renault, it had some pretty interesting features, such as 90% of the new model was recyclable and it was designed to be particularly light considering its size in order to reserve fuel consumption.

The Espace will be used predominantly by families with children of all ages. Buyers will find it reassuring that the car is well equipped with a generous safety kit. Five crash test stars and a significant amount of airbags will be very appealing to parents and grandparents alike.

Background

Renault created an entirely new market segment with the introduction of its Espace Mk I. It was introduced in 1984 as the first non-commercial seven-seater to hit the market.

The first generation Espace ran for 7 years until 1991 and was originally intended as a replacement for the Matra Rancho leisure activity vehicle. The first generation Espace received a facelift in 1988 which consisted of some changed headlights as the only real notable change.

The second generation Espace was in production from 1991 to 1997. It kept the same chassis as the first generation model with changes being largely cosmetic. It was then replaced by the Espace III in 1997. The Espace III was again pretty similar to its predecessor; however the interior was really something  new, it was one of the first to have a centrally-mounted dashboard, digital speedometer and radio/CD display.

The fourth and most recent generation of the Espace was introduced in 2003 and represented a restyled more upmarket direction. Production ended in 2011 with the Espace V not expected till 2014.

Summary

The Espace comes with a high asking price, and not everyone will be able to afford this car. Buyers who can manage to swing it will not be disappointed. The comfort, style, and practicality that the Espace delivers will be difficult to match.