08 Aug 07
The daddy of them all: Renault's innovative Espace was the first European MPV and these fourth-generation models have become ever more comfortable and stylish - and increasingly affordable as more come onto the second-hand market. Examples that were a good £25,000 new are now coming in well under £10,000: even near-£35,000 top-spec Grand Espace Initiale versions are now a third of their new price at three years old.
Renault Espace
The diesels are understandably preferred - you'll be lucky to see much more than 20mpg from a petrol V6 - but the 2.0T (165bhp) turbocharged petrol models are also popular, making for a slightly sportier drive. Rear seats can be heavy and awkward to remove, but they do fold and slide on full-length runners. Standard Espace models are 4.7m long, the Grand Espace 4.9m.
Reliability hasn't been perfect, but these are the first Espaces to have been built in-house by Renault, with a conventional steel bodyshell and panels, and they seem to be tougher than their plastic-bodied predecessors.
Road Test: Renault Espace
