Sometimes when testing cars, you have to take them as fast as they will go. Or you have to cook the brakes. Or take them to the very limits of adhesion through corners after corners. And occasionally put in as many people as you can into the back seats. And sometimes, just sometimes, see how many seating configurations you can come up with.

Safety Wise

Safety seems to looms large over Renault's new MPV too. It should be, considering that this is the vehicle that will transport your nearest and dearest after all. But should the nightmare scenario become a reality while driving the Espace, one of the world's biggest full-length MPV curtain airbag will go a long way towards protecting your precious occupants.

Not only that. There's also a beefed-up body, ABS brakes with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Emergency Brake Assist (EBA), Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) with traction and understeer control and last but not least, twin airbags up front and four side airbags. That all should help in case the inevitable ever happens.

Interior

For a start, the driving position is right and importantly there's good upper body and lateral support offered by the front seats. The gearstick is located close by, while the adjustable-column steering wheel presents itself almost vertically like a car's, and not flattish like a van's. The dash, instrumentation and centre console are neatly and crisply designed, somewhat giving the Espace a homely interior.

Passenger seats are now all one size, which should let all rear occupants get equal treatment. And thanks to the generous 2,868 mm wheelbase, the Espace is a people mover that can now actually take a reasonable load of luggage - despite the fact that the Espace has a third row of seats.

Complete MPV-ness is achieved further by big captain-type front seats, tonnes of storage compartments, anti-glare rear view mirrors, built-in sun shades and an awesome-sounding audio system.

Exterior

The two words that struck very well with the Espace have to be "modern" and "posh". Why so? If you're familiar with Renault, the first thing you'll notice is how much the Espace resembles both the Vel Satis, and Avantime - the two most odd but at the same time, pleasant looking modern architecture on wheels ever churned out by Renault.

The Espace is a much more easy-to-swallow and practical looking MPV, if you were to compare it with the hordes of MPV in the current market now. It's neither overly square-ish nor too curvy, and based on that alone, the Espace should sway some potential buyers in its direction.

It has windows that are generously big which helps a lot in driver's vision of his surroundings - to begin with, a B-pillar that's not too fat and goes a long way in eliminating blind spots.

Driving it

The Espace is powered by a 1,998cc light pressure turbo engine, and mated to a 5-speed automatic "Pro-active" gearbox, is potent enough to haul the 1,810kg MPV in the shortest time possible. And surprise, surprise - with 170bhp on tap and a maximum torque of 270Nm, the century sprint is achieved in only 10.6 seconds! Looking at the figures presented here, the Espace is really respectable.

To begin with, the Espace is safe, communicative, cooperative and driver friendly. It's obvious the engineers have worked long and hard adapting the existing and excellent Gallic suspension and underpinnings to ensure the Espace doesn't undermine Renault's good driving values. It welcomes some enthusiastic driving mannerism too - despite the fact that it's a 1,819mm tall MPV, the Espace can take smooth corners well enough to keep up with pseudo hatches. Body-roll is very well-controlled.

Sum up

If you're in the market for what is now the new generation of MPV, Renault's Espace makes a really good argument for itself. It has comfort, space and maximum MPV-style flexibility. Oh, and one other nice touch - there's the super large panoramic glass roof just so you can let everyone in the car have a good view of everything above them.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION

Engine: 1,998cc, 4-cylinders 16 valves
Power: 170hp @ 5,000rpm
Torque: 270Nm @ 2,000rpm
Transmission: 5-speed automatic
0-100 km/h: 10.6 seconds

Length / Width / Height: 4,861 / 1,965 / 1,819 mm
Wheelbase: 2,868 mm

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