Renault Grand Espace: Renault's creative inner Espace
IF YOU, like 99 per cent of the car-buying public, are driving a car with a traditional centre console with conveniently grouped controls, the Renault Grand Espace will seem like Galeries Lafayette in Paris on a Saturday afternoon. It is chaotic. Everything is everywhere. But like the iconic department store, you will eventually find what you want and when you do, it will all seem so natural.
The Espace created the MPV segment in Europe more than 20 years ago. Today's Grand Espace is a bigger car. The spacious, airy interior has three rows of seats and a flat floor. There are numerous cubby-holes and storage compartments, as well as an outstanding 14 air vents.
To get them to work, the aircon controls are located on the driver's door handle, which is a good thing because they are nearer the driver than they would be if they were in the middle of the dashboard.
And where most other cars have their audio controls on the steering wheel, the Grand Espace's are found on a column-mounted stalk. This is also more ergonomic because instead of just your thumbs, your fingers can operate them too.
But perhaps the hazard lights take the cake for unusual locations. The button is on the roof beside the map-reading lights.
One feature that is not a surprise, though, is the Renault's magic-carpet ride. It seems to glide over bumps, although the floatiness can be disconcerting initially, especially when going fast around a corner.
The Grand Espace has a two-litre turbocharged engine. It does a credible job of hauling the large car around while displaying little turbo lag. The big car's angular shape also means it is surprisingly easy to park. This French model may be quirky and somewhat overpriced but it really is tres bien.
