Renault had already officially stated that the forthcoming generation Espace, which will be a hybrid SUV, will appear this spring. What was previously a pioneer in the minivan market also will sit at the top of Renault’s SUV lineup, primarily based on the Austral and offering 5 and 7-seated options.
Renault just gave us a glimpse of the tailgate in the initial teaser. But that was more than sufficient to highlight how close the external styling is to the smaller Austral. After all, early photos revealed that a sizable chunk of the two SUVs’ bodywork, including the majority of their greenhouse, the whole front end, and the LED lighting units, will be shared.
If the rival Peugeot 3008 and 5008 SUVs are reminiscent of the Renault Austral and Espace in any way. Noting that Gilles Vidal, who transitioned from Peugeot to Renault in late 2020, was responsible for the design of all four vehicles. Renault probably will also provide a top-of-the-line Alpine trim with sharper styling and cutting-edge amenities.
Enhanced Electrified Model
The forthcoming Espace will be built on the T&T CMF-CD design, just like the majority of ICE-powered Renault Group vehicles in the C and D classes. The platform served as the foundation for the previous generation of Espace (2015–2022) as well. Recent revisions, however, demonstrate improvements in terms of chassis design and powertrain compatibility. The SUV may have the Austral’s top-tier models’ four-wheel steering and multi-link rear suspension.
Regarding the new Espace powertrains, Renault has not made any announcements. However, it’ll almost certainly be an electrified model. The Espace range will likely resemble the Austral, which is a sure guarantee. The latter is available with a 1.2-liter full hybrid producing a combined 197 horsepower (147 kW/200 PS), a 1.3-liter 12V mild-hybrid providing either 138 hp (103 kW/140 PS) or 158 hp (118 kW/160 PS), and a 1.2-liter 48V mild-hybrid producing 129 hp (96 kW/130 PS).
Espace Will be Comfortable, Innovative, and Top of the Range
According to the most recent French sources, the new Renault Espace will be 200 mm/7.9 inches longer than the Austral, with a 70 mm/2.8-inch increase in wheelbase and a 130 mm/5.1-inch increase in rear overhang. If the figures are correct, the sixth-generation Espace will be 4,710 mm/185.4 inches long. The same as the mechanically-related Mitsubishi Outlander but 168 mm (6.6) inches shorter than the fifth-generation Espace.
Despite its smaller size, the cabin will be relatively spacious, meeting the demands of bigger families. Renault has also revealed that the Espace would be available in 5- and 7-seater models, as opposed to the Austral, which only has two rows of seats.
The 5-seater Espace will be for people who prefer much bigger trunk space. It provides more baggage capacity than the 500 liters of its smaller counterpart. Additionally, the model may have greater legroom for the back passengers due to the longer wheelbase.
The 7-seater Espace, on the other hand, will enable families with more than three children to travel with them all owing to a set of additional seats in the back that can fold away when not in use.
