Insurance Group: 22
MPG: 43.5
CO2: 170
0-62 Mph: 10.6 secs
BHP: 150 BHP
Range: 794 miles
PROS: Massive interior space, superb cruising ability, powerful dCi engines, excellent safety.
CONS: Expensive to buy, non-folding seats, its size makes it difficult to manoeuvre.
Inside the cabin it retains the futuristic feel of previous models. Sitting high in the driver’s seat gives you a commanding driving position with an excellent panoramic view of the road thanks to the slim front pillars. The seats are sculpted and very comfortable and the legroom can be varied by sliding them. The dash is very stylish although some of the controls seem to be a bit scattered.
This Grand Espace Dominique comes powered by a 150bhp, 2.0-litre diesel engine. The 4 -cylinder, 16-valve power unit is capable of a top speed of 121mph and 0-62mph in 10.6 seconds.
It produces 251lb-ft of torque, giving it plenty of pulling power through the six-speed manual gearbox fitted, and for a seven-seater MPV the average fuel economy is decent at 43.5mpg.
Superbly at home cruising on the motorway or soaking up twisty country roads, the suspension keeps the car composed at all times and over a variety of road surfaces. It may not be the most thrilling car to drive but it’s sure, safe and predictable in its handling.
Noise from the road and tyres is well suppressed in the cabin and thanks to its body design wind noise is minimal too.
The Grand Espace still looks modern with its clean flowing lines and although it’s designed to carry up to seven people it avoids looking boxy and van-like.
The Dynamique comes well equipped with standard kit including an automatic parking brake, central locking, stability control, alloy wheels, climate control, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, cruise control, rear parking sensors, automatic headlamps, alarm, immobiliser, CD+MP3 connectivity, Bluetooth and satellite navigation. Also available as options are a full length glass roof, metallic paint and leather seats.
The extra space offered in comparison to the regular Espace is a big bonus, however the seven seats can’t be folded away and to boost load carrying capacity you have to actually remove the seats, not to mention store them someplace. The tailgate is low which makes loading easier and with the seats out you get access to a massive 3,050-litre space which is on a par with some vans.
All the Grand Espace models have air conditioning and electric windows and the high seating position gives easy access to the first two rows of seats.
EuroNCAP gave the Grand Espace its maximum five-star rating for safety in its crash-tests. As well as the standard features, there are also curtain airbags on all three rows of seats. Security measures include card-entry system, deadlocks, electrically-assisted de-clutching steering lock, and visibly marked components to prevent theft.
The Grand Espace feels sturdy and the build quality is excellent. Many owners have only positive things to say about it with regard to reliability. It comes with Renault’s three-year, 100,000 mile warranty and regular service intervals of 18,000 miles.
The Grand Espace is well equipped, and certainly roomy, and with a price tag of £26,915 it offers a lot as a people carrier, but there are other rivals such as Ford’s Galaxy which are better value for money overall.
Residual values for the Grand Espace are better than the regular Espace but you’ll need a full service history and an immaculate interior to get decent money when you decide to sell it.
Running costs are typical for an MPV in this class; group 22 insurance, and CO2 emissions of 170g/km which put it in VED band H for Road Tax shouldn’t stretch your budget too much though.
A great option if you have a lot of kids and a lot of money.
This long-wheelbase version of the Espace, Renault’s best-selling people carrier, has the same driving characteristics and futuristic looks as the regular model. Internal space is massive and it’ll...
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