Renault Espace 2015, the reinvention of the car

Renault Espace reinvents in its fifth generation merging concepts to offer a crossover with traces of minivan and sedan. A different car.

2015 results very important one year to Renault, it plans to renew its entire upper range, and includes a new SUV, the Kadjar, which will arrive in late June. In September You see the light the substitute Laguna, but no longer have this designation, although Renault say they have yet defined the new name of the saloon D. At year’s end the new generation of Mégane be presented, which you will see its commercial development with other bodies, including Scénic, over 2016. And the fourth model this year, the first to arrive and that fact CMF releases the platform 1 group, also used Mégane saloon and D is the new generation Espace.

According Renault crossover; but rather is an evolution of the last generations of the van, a mixture of concepts to offer a car eminently functional but with some SUV image. The diamond mark It reinvents taking into account market trends. When the fourth generation Espace was launched in 2003, SUV sales accounted for only 5 percent of the market, while the MPV was around 15 percent. Today the trend has changed and SUVs cover 25 percent of current demand about and continues to increase its importance in the market. Hence, Renault has decided to reinvent the Espace, always based on their functional values, maintaining a outstanding roominess and versatility, with innovative solutions in infotainment and connectivity. A new category you can have your mirror at some American concept but under European standards.

Spacious and comfortable, up to 7 seats

New forms of body imply a lower height of 6 cm, although the length copy 4.86 m the former Grand Espace, 20 more than the short variant of the people carrier. How does this change in style is manifested inside? Well, in two basic finishes, while not incorporate the optional panoramic roof, with good headroom. But with the addition of panoramic roof, standard on the Initiale Paris finish, space is limited in the two back rows for adults over 1.80 m, to just head evident in the two outer seats second. Where there is more space is the longitudinal coordinate, advantage that the new CMF platform 1 wheelbase grows 16 mm. Passengers in the second row enjoy enough room for your knees, especially if the sidewalks are positioned behind entirely. If we use the two rear seats, leaving them to usable space for the knees, must be displaced almost totally 16 mm travel which it allows the second row, and that have more seat height down than usual these accessory seats. The rear seats no longer they are removed as before, complicated operation because of its weight. Now They fold down independently on the ground to leave a completely flat surface, and therefore has the One Touch system. This allows you to fold by means of an electric control placed on the left side of the trunk, each of the five seats independently, or from the dashboard display.

The work done to achieve maximum interior comfort in a modern and attractive atmosphere It has its rewards. The floating center console characterizes the dashboard design. It rises above the floor leaving less space for depositing objects, with greater height in automáticas- versions, although their access, to be so low, is not easy. The front glove It provides large capacity (20 liters) in addition to the numerous holes scattered around the cabin. And she stands on the 8.7 inch large screen standard with the R-Link 2 system, where are handled numerous Infotainment functions and parameters of the car, very accessible and highly visible. The instrumentation is very compact, counting with a configurable TFT display with Multi-Sense system in your data and colors and can complement optionally with the Head-Up Display reflecting the main data, such as speed, navigation guidance, warning for exceeding the speed limit and driving aids. The interior is accompanied on top of console and dashboard with plastic overstuffed excellent visual quality. But the lower waist They are hard and break the excellent harmony achieved.

The trunk volume is large, very large, 660 liter volume (2.101 l with the folded rear seat) and It has very usable forms, with a vertically gate, and broad access and very low load line. The gate has electrically controlled or automatic opening passing the foot at the bottom. The spare wheel is optional -standard 17 “in the Initiale- and is accessed from the underbody.

three powertrains

The range of engines constitute two variants dCi 1.6 l, with 130 hp and 6-speed manual transmission, or 160 hp with two turbos and EDC automatic transmission 6 relationships -no exceeds the limit of 120g / km CO2 emissions, ensuring them exemption from registration tax in Spain.

And a new 1.6 TCe petrol twin turbo 200 hp, always associated with an automatic gearbox double clutch EDC, in this case seven relations. good performance and efficient engines. We have not led yet the most economical variant, the 130 hp with manual transmission only on paper and can be somewhat fair to move decisively Espace road when we go loaded. Because the dCi 160 hp shown itself solvent, with a effective response at low engine speeds and outstanding resilience, helped by the good understanding with EDC change, declaring a consumption of only 4.6 l / 100 km. But tact and ability to accelerate the engine that we liked most is the gasoline, it also helps change the effectiveness of EDC. It’s a shame that this is handled only from the ergonomic shifter and are not available, or as an option for the steering wheel paddles. It is able to accelerate from 0 to 100 km / h in 8.6 s, with an average consumption of 6.2 l / 100 km and 140 g / km CO2.

The new Espace premieres Multi-Sense system 4Control, standard on Initiale Paris and optional on Zen (1,818 €), with five driving modes (Eco, Comfort, Neutral, Sport and customizable) and they are acting on different parameters, including Piloted damping and steering wheels, for the driver to select it. Good performance, especially in the dynamic mode in which completely reduce unwanted movements of the body and that slight nod yes bumpy roads is evident in comfort mode. Rear wheels guidelines below 60 km / h (70 in sport mode) They rotate in a direction on each axis and above, in the same direction, in varying degrees, with a maximum amplitude of 3.5 degrees according to the selected mode.

Three trim levels

The range is staggered three trim levels, from 29,350 euros: Life and Zen for the dCi 130 (29,350 and 32,150 €); Zen for the TCe 200 (34,450 €); and Zen and Initiale Paris for the dCi 160 (35,450 and 42,950 €), being able to choose from nine different colors. To complete the finishing Zen numerous options, almost all standard with the Initiale Paris are offered. Only metallic paint or third row (€ 991, 743 for Life and Zen finishes), plus heated seats in the first two rows of seats, with two special packages, can be taken as optional. A sale on May 22, not all outlets will sell versions Initiale Paris; concessions only able to supply the entire experience associated with the new firm Renault Initiale Paris will receive the seal.