The car that invented the European MPV is now reinvented in its fourth incarnation, and more than ever before it's being billed as the upmarket alternative.
The Espace IV, however, breaks away from the previous models' construction of composite plastic body panels over a galvanised frame, which has served the Espace well since 1984. Now, instead of being built by Matra, the Espace comes from the same Sandouville factory that builds the Vel Satis and Laguna. That means it has a conventional bodyshell, easier to build to satisfy the extra sales Renault is hoping to achieve. But if the Espace is less unusual in its construction, it is close to outlandish in its radical new look - especially when fitted with the world's biggest glass sunroof.
Bigger than Espace III and only fractionally smaller than the C8/807 rivals from Citroen and Peugeot (slightly heavier than these, too), the Espace IV is again available in an 8in longer Grand version. All new Espaces have full-length runners for the rearmost seat pair, and a degree of solidity and quality unseen in previous Espaces. Many underskin parts are shared with the Vel Satis, but the rear suspension is not one of them: the Espace has a s Plush as it was, the previous Espace never quite shook off the plasticky, creaky legacy of the first versions. This new one's panels and trim fit together more closely, rattles and creaks are virtually absent, all feels solid and well Configurationered.
The downside is the acreage of hard plastics in the cabin's lower half, more than in the old model, whereas its Peugeot/Citroen rivals have padding and soft-touch surfaces. It's a pity the fabric covering has gone from the facia top, too. The complex electronics do give potential for problems - the Megane and Laguna have not been reliability paragons.impler, cheaper, more compact system.
