Item: Used Renault Espace MPV 1993 - 2003
Author: What Car? Team

What is it like?

Ownership cost

Advice for buyers

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Hatchbacks, SUVs, fast cars, electric cars: Renault makes them all, in a variety of shapes and sizes, so it has a line-up designed to tempt pretty much everyone.

From the roadside, the standout feature of them all is the design, with its cars now having a distinctive look that has won the firm a legion of fans for its flair and charm.

To drive and to own, the line-up is typically decent rather than outstanding. Best of the cars when they are rated against rivals are the Kadjar SUV, the fast RS models and the electric Zoe.

With new and used pricing also keen – and Target Price discounts through our New Car Buying marketplace usually more generous than most – there is the opportunity to negotiate an appealing price.

RENAULT

ESPACE

The Renault Espace offers a soothing ride and fine practicality, but bad ones can be very bad

Used Renault Espace MPV 1993 - 2003

In its day, this Espace was one of the best MPVs around, but the good news for used buyers is that never had especially strong resale values, so any version is pretty cheap to buy.

However, fuel economy varies widely from engine to engine. The early 2.0-litre petrol cars may look particularly cheap to buy, but they only average 26.4mpg. That's almost as bad as the 20.6mpg that a V6 of the same age returns.

Cars with the newer 2.0-litre engine introduced in October 2000 manage a more acceptable 31.7mpg. And, our favoured 2.2-litre diesel will cost you least to run, returning 39.8mpg.

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/renault">Renault</a> dealers charge less per hour than many rivals and you can make useful savings by giving independent Renault specialists a try. However, the low cost of maintenance has to be weighed against the comparatively high chance of something going wrong.

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The Renault Espace offers a soothing ride and fine practicality, but bad ones can be very bad

The entry engine was originally a 105bhp 2.0-litre petrol, but this was replaced with a 140bhp 2.0-litre unit when the car was facelifted in October 2000. Mind you, whichever you go for, performance is sluggish.

That's not something you can say of the flagship V6 models, but they're simply too thirsty. At least, there's a 110bhp 2.2-litre petrol that sits between these two extremes, and makes some sense.

However, it's the 130bhp 2.2-litre diesel that Renault introduced with the 2000 face-lift that best suits the Espace. It provides effortless performance and strong pull from low in the rev range, and replaced a far weaker 88bhp 2.1-litre diesel.

Safety kit on this version of the Espace looks a little meagre compared with more modern Renaults, but it does include anti-lock brakes and driver and passenger airbags.

Electric windows, remote central locking and air-conditioning are also fitted to all models, while higher trims bring you metallic paint, twin sunroofs and (on petrol models) cruise control. Other than the extra length and interior space, there's no difference between standard and Grand versions.

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plenty of space for all the family and their paraphernalia</li> <li>Comfortable ride for everyone inside</li> <li>Seats with plenty of adjustment and versatility of layout</li> <li>Engine that can cope with a full load of people and luggage</li> <li>Excellent efficiency to avoid big fuel bills</li></ul>

Practicality is king in the MPV market, which has taken a hit as buyers have turned towards trendier SUVs. There are still plenty of decent offerings to suit most budgets, though, with Citroën fielding a particularly strong line-up. The French manufacturer’s Berlingo offers bags of space for not much money and you can easily haggle off thousands of extra pounds in discounts, too.

Citroën also scores with the larger Grand C4 Spacetourer, which offers seven seats, lots of oddment space and appealing running costs for something so large. A similarly priced and even better option is the Volkswagen Touran. Meanwhile, if you prefer a premium badge, there's always the BMW 2 Series Active and Gran Tourers or Mercedes B-Class and V-Class.

But for something sizeable that's still decent to drive, we’d recommend you check out the Ford Galaxy, which can offer three rows of seats and decent luggage space at the same time. It’s not that much pricier than the smaller S-Max.

Renault doesn't have the best of reliability records, and information supplied to us by Warranty Direct shows that the Espace is one of the worst performing cars in any sector.

For starters, its digital speedo is prone to problems and costs a fortune to fix. Heater leaks are also common, the 2.2-litre diesel engine may need an expensive rebuild at some point, and both the suspension and ABS have been known to fail.

This all makes a full service history a must, as do the many recalls that have been issued on the car over the years.

The potential faults that led to these recalls range from relatively minor problems such as the possibility of the spare wheel coming loose to far more serious concerns. For example, there was a fire risk on cars built between March and August 1999 because the exhaust manifold and fuel pipe had been positioned too closely together.

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Unlike most MPVs, the Renault Espace comes in two body styles - standard and Grand. The Grand, launched in 1998, is more than 250mm longer than the standard car, improving luggage and rear passenger space.

In both versions, all five rear seats can be folded forward to form tables, or removed completely, while RXE and Initiale models have floor rails that add to your seating options.

Up front, the unconventional control layout - much of the switchgear is housed to the right of the steering wheel - and centrally mounted digital speedo can take some getting used to. But, this does keep things uncluttered, as do the many useful cubbies Renault have included.

The ride is smooth and comfortable, although the price you pay for this soft suspension is a lot of body roll. Things are impressively quiet at motorway speeds, with little wind or road noise reaching the cabin. However, diesel versions emit an unmistakable clatter until they're warmed up.

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Used Renault Espace MPV 1993 - 2003 review

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