New 2023 Renault Espace reborn as family SUV

The new-generation 2023 Renault Espace has finally been revealed and, as expected, the wagon has switched from a traditional people-mover to a medium-large three-row SUV to rival the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace, Peugeot 5008 and the closely-related Nissan X-TRAIL.

Available with either seven seats or just five to maximise luggage carrying capacity, the all-new sixth-generation Renault Espace returns to sit above the new Renault Austral and could replace the Renault Koleos in Australia.

Said to measure 4720mm long, the all-new Espace SUV is 140mm shorter than the people-mover it replaces but still 190mm longer than the Austral.

For reference, those dimensions make it bigger than the Peugeot 5008 (4641mm) but smaller than a Kia Sorento (4810mm).

Despite shrinking compared to the last model, cabin space is said to be greater.

The new Espace uses the same Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance CMF-CD platform architecture that underpins the new Nissan X-TRAIL and Mitsubishi Outlander.

Renault has so far confirmed just one powertrain for the Espace, the E-Tech hybrid, which combines a small 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder with two electric motors and a 2kWh lithium-ion battery to produce 147kW.

This is slightly down on the 157kW 1.5-litre three-cylinder e-POWER hybrid powertrain found in the Nissan X-TRAIL.

Weighing 215kg lighter than the car it replaces, no performance figures have been released for the new Espace, but the French car-maker says it can achieve economy of 4.6L/100km while emitting 104g/km of CO2.

Ensuring the big Espace remains as nimble as a much smaller car, the latest Renault SUV gets the car-maker’s 4CONTROL four-wheel steering.

Elsewhere, the new Espace’s cabin is bathed in plenty of light thanks to what’s claimed to be the biggest sunroof in production that provides more than one square metre of surface area.

Following on from the practical people-mover, the new car is said to once again major in comfort and versatility – the second-row seats can recline by up to 31 degrees, while the bench also slides 260mm to aid access to the third row.

Boot space is huge too, at least in the five-seat version, offering up to 777 litres with the second row slid forward. Second-row folded-down space increases to 1818 litres.

The seven-seat Espace, meanwhile, can only accommodate 159L of luggage with the third row raised, but folded flat into the floor and this is boosted to 677L.

Like the smaller Austral, the new Espace comes equipped with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster that’s supported by a 9.3-inch head-up display.

There’s also Renault’s OpenR infotainment system that’s operated via a 9.3-inch portrait-mounted touch-screen.

On sale now in Europe, it’s still not yet known if the new Espace will be produced in right-hand drive. And if it is, there’s a strong chance it will come to Australia.

“We are looking at any product that is made available to us in right-hand drive and works from a business case point of view,” a spokesperson for Renault Australia told carsales.

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