2023 Renault Espace 1.2L E-TECH (130 HP)

Vehicle Overview

The Espace reached its sixth generation in the Spring of 2023, and Renault placed its bets on a daring evolution by transforming the beloved European MPV into a crossover-style people carrier.

Sharing its CMF-CD platform with the Austral crossover, the new Espace went to the next level and adopted an SUV stance, leaving behind the minivan shape that made it so special on the European market. But the French automaker took all the right steps to create a vehicle that could successfully replace the successful MPV.

While the previous generations of the Espace sported an MPV-like bodywork, the sixth generation was different. It featured a distinct engine compartment and a steeper windshield. The car’s front fascia showed the specific, C-shaped, LED daytime running lights that surrounded the outer sides of the headlights. A massive grille with eighteen vertical slats and the broad Renault badge in the middle created a potent image for the vehicle. On the lower side of the bumper, the automaker added a secondary grille flanked by a pair of scoops. The profile revealed a set of enlarged rear fenders that made the SUV look muscular.

Inside, Renault offered the option for five or seven seats, the latter being in a 2-3-2 configuration. The automaker installed a pair of screens on the dashboard. The one fronting the driver was a landscape-mounted, 12.3″ TFT display, while the one atop the center stack was a 12″ touchscreen mounted vertically. In addition, the automaker offered an option for a 9.3″ head-up display.

Among other attractive features of the CMF-CD modular platform was the all-wheel steering system, named 4CONTROL, which helped the car get a tighter turning radius. In addition, it improved handling at higher speeds.