Thank goodness I don't suffer from agoraphobia. During the few days I drove the latest Renault Espace, its cavernous interior left me feeling almost as if I were alone in the world. It's hard to imagine that some people find it cramped.
But they do. Friends of ours with three children are about to add another two. An ordinary car is no good to them. They need a cross between a station-wagon and a jumbo jet. In the absence of such a vehicle, they tried the seven-seater Espace. Too small, they cried. The seat number is right but what about packing space for push-chairs, nappies, toys, shopping and holiday luggage? Last I heard, they were measuring a Stuttafords furniture removal van.
Luckily, most of us have less extreme space needs. Since the original Espace was launched in Europe 21 years ago, more than 1m people have bought what many consider to be the original family-orientated people-carrier, or multipurpose vehicle (MPV). The current version on sale in SA is the fourth generation.
Though nearly every major motor company is today represented in the MPV segment, the Espace continues to set standards. The new version is the first MPV to be awarded the maximum five-star occupant safety rating by the independent Euro-NCAP testing organisation.
It is higher, wider and longer than its predecessors, and comes in three options: the baseline 2 turbo Authentique, 2,2l Expression turbodiesel and top-of-the-range 3,5 V6 Privilege. All are five-speed automatics with flick-shift controls.
Renault's publicity blurb claims top speeds from 185 km/h upwards and acceleration rates that some cars would be proud of. That surprises me: the version I drove was positively tortoise-like from a standing start. But that's fine. This is a family mover. Anyone carrying children at the claimed V6 top speed of 225 km/h should have their accelerator foot immediately amputated.
But drive it sensibly, and you see why the Espace is so popular. Despite its size, it handles like a car. It's easy to steer. There's 25% more window area than before, which considerably improves visibility. Inside, there's the usual Renault versatility of three rows of seats that sit up, lie flat, fold into the floor, and swivel 180°.
On the other hand, I'm disappointed by the amount of convenient storage space. Renault thinks otherwise: it boasts of 117l of storage capacity. But I use the word "convenient" deliberately. Much of the capacity is at the back; seasoned Renault drivers and front-seat passengers may be disappointed by what they find within their reach.
Overall, though, families that know when to stop breeding will find the Espace a comfortable, convenient means of travel. It's not the prettiest vehicle (Renault uses words like "handsome" and "muscular"), but for versatility and functionality, it remains a leader.
Prices? The list price of the Authentique is R315 000, the Expression R369 000, and the Privilege R403 000. These include a three-year/60 000 km maintenance plan and three-year/100 000 km warranty.
