Is the Renault Espace at 410 euros per month worth it?

When searching for a 7-seater vehicle, the first thought is immediately the Renault Espace. But the model is aging without any significant price reduction.

Developed in the late 1970s by Matra, the Espace project was finally launched in 1983 with the help of Renault. The start of a great adventure, and despite some teasing, the Renault Espace quickly found its audience. With interior space never before seen on a mass-produced model, the Espace quickly established itself as the best-designed model for families.

Highly refined, the fifth generation introduced in 2015 marks a turning point. Amid the SUV craze, the Espace 5 does not enjoy the same enthusiasm as its predecessors, despite its top-tier comfort. The fault lies in its minivan design, which is no longer trendy. Its moderate success prompts Renault to consider its successor, but ultimately, a stretched version of the best-selling Renault Austral SUV will be the choice.

Visually, the current Espace 6 appears rather balanced despite having a wheelbase that is 70 mm longer than the Austral’s and an overall length increased by 21 cm (now 4.72 meters). According to Renault, this directly benefits rear passengers, who theoretically gain more space for their knees. The sliding bench allows easier access to the last row.

The Espace Struggles Against the Peugeot 5008

In terms of trunk capacity, there are 159 liters with all seats in place, which is almost 100 liters less than the Peugeot 5008. When all seats are folded down, capacity increases to 1,714 liters. The interior storage options are numerous, with 39 liters scattered across the glove compartment, center console, and generous door pockets. Sadly, this is still less than the Peugeot, which offers 80 liters of cleverly distributed interior storage.

Tech-wise, there is only one offer: a 1.2-liter 200 hp hybrid gasoline engine that gets the job done, no more, no less, with a total weight of 1,587 kg. The combined cycle fuel consumption is set at 4.6 liters per 100 km, and CO₂ emissions are quite reasonable at 104 g/km, avoiding any penalty charges.

For a vehicle already 18 months old, buying outright starting at 44,500 euros (+500 euros for the 7-seater version) makes little sense, as the vehicle will be facelifted or replaced in the coming months. Instead, we think rental offers might already be a good deal. Renault currently offers the Espace Techno E-Tech full hybrid 200 (excluding options) with a long-term lease of 37 months and 30,000 km for as low as 410 euros per month after an initial payment of 5,500 euros. It sounds promising on paper, but it quickly becomes clear that it’s almost the same offer as in April 2023 when the pricing was published: The prices of the new Renault Espace 6 are known!

Thus, discounts have not yet been applied to this model. If you are truly sold on this Espace, we can only recommend postponing your purchase for a few months, as there is little appeal to this offer right now. Similarly, if you opt for a certified used vehicle, wait until the new car’s price drops, which will cascade down to used market prices.