In-depth reviews

Renault Espace MPV (2003-2012): owner reviews

"The Renault Espace is huge, but the rearmost seats are cramped, and there’s not much room for luggage."

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by Richard Ingram

28 Jun 2013

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Carbuyer Rating

3.2 out of 5

Owners Rating

3.9 out of 5

Reviews

Owner Reviews

5 out of 5
4 out of 5
3 out of 5
2 out of 5
1 out of 5

54%of people would recommend this car to a friend

Common Problems

Engine (7 cases)
Electrics, Gearbox / clutch, Other (1 case)
Other (7 cases)
Brakes, Electrics, Gearbox / clutch, Other (1 case)
Suspension (2 cases)
Brakes, Electrics, Engine, Gearbox / clutch, Suspension (1 case)
Brakes (2 cases)
Gearbox / clutch (2 cases)
Electrics (2 cases)
Gearbox / clutch, Other (1 case)
Electrics, Engine (2 cases)

Review 1 of 59

Tell us what you think about your car?

starts every time no fuss, everything works as it should

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

256,000 and is very reliable. I would never willingly part with it.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

no real problems but key fobs pack up regularly - for a keyless car pretty important!

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

engine unreliable expensive to maintain

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Extremely comfortable and very easy to drive, you do not feel you are driving a large car

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Excellent people carrier, very practical, pretty comfortable

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Brilliant to drive and really comfortable but to gready on the fuel

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

I was going to change this car this year, but it has been so good i haven't had to. In the current economic climate it's nice to know that i can keep a (french!) Car for over 4 years and it has been utterly reliable. The petrol consumption is poor and road tax high, but these costs are insignificant compared to changing it!

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

It's very reliable but the tyres wear down quite quickly

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

very good

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

It's practical in principle, but turned out to be very costly due to bad engineering / french engineering

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

223,000 miles and still a joy to drive. I am looking forward to taking this car four times round the clock. Watch this espace!

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

2.0 16v espace series 3, absolutely superb, closest car to a porsche 944 i've ever driven for performance and road holding, amazing fuel consumption for it's size (30mpg motorway cruising), incredible acceleration for overtaking, superb abs brakes and well balanced power steering. Bad seats are the biggest downside, like riding a log on long distances, parts expensive, and thank goodness i can do my own repairs. Would buy same model again, but not later models, too many electrical gizmo's to go wrong!

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Great car, very practical for a family. Very reliable

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Great styling and practicality. unreliable engine, multiple problems, new engine needed etc.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Grande espace - had it for 10 years - it has been fantastically useful for transporting family on holidays wiith all the luggage/tents etc and great for large shops at ikea and taking stuff to the tip. On the downside expensive to run and door won't close properly last few years.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Love the car and practicality but not it's reliability

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Excellent. Does exactly what it was bought to do and even better

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

everything

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Excellent, had no problems at all with it.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Left it for a week and battery flat.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

no problems experienced

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Too early to tell - OK so far....

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Electrical problems have presented as well as a steering box probel early on. Overal I am pleased with the car's performance and it suits me as a disabled person where it conveniently caries my disability scooter and wheelchair

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

In 40,000 miles of ownership, it has never missed a beat. It has used no oil either.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Comfortable and very versatile

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Its brilliant. Good leg room and easy to take seats in and out. I have 6 children and 3 grandchildren. Ages range from 26 to 13 months. Tallest son is 6' 4". Never complains of lack of room. Pushchair fits in boot. Boot big enough for weekly shop when only 5 seats in. Can't expect miracles.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Poor. poor dealer. poor service, would not buy renault again

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Very good

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Very practical and great for a big family

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Does what we expected. More expensive to run and insure than expected. Good reliability let down by indifferent and pricey service

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Excelent, flexible, comfortable

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Wonderful for the family.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Grand espace is a bit too large really.some interior trim could be better.seats heavy to remove. 2.0 diesel engine excellent.brakes /visibilty /road noise /safety all excellent. tyres expensive. 1 breakdown only due to faulty wheel bearing at 4000 miles

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Great

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

When everything works, it's the most comfortable & practical car ever. When things go wrong (several times per year), even alan sugar would sweat at the bill!!

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

A really clever and comfortable car that has never let me down.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

nothing major has ever occurred

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

No breakdowns.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

After 6 weeks my car is still not fixed . I've never experienced anything this before. I can't write down what i think.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

I feel that i got extreemely lucky with this car as it has served myself and family very well.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Disappointing - poor engibne - poor indoor trim.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Great capacity, 2 surfboards inside plus luggage, kids and wife still not cramped!!!

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Reasonable value to buy and own. Decent styling. Practical.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

No serious problems.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Only broken down once - recall replacement part failed next day!

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Perfect for a large family and excellent mix of perormance and economy for such a big car

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Good spacious people carrier great for a young family. On going engine problem which is very intermittent.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Seven really comfortable idividual seats keep passengers happy and the quiet but extremely rapid engine whisks the family both on daily trips and loves summer holidays in france. For a large mpv the grand espace still looks a stylish vehicle. Love it.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Overall its a great car we are a family of 5 and it it had no problems taking us all to france camping with all the kit we needed, really comfortable to drive and for a big/heavy car it has plenty of go. it is a bit thursty but im not to worried about 34mpg. can be a pain to parc sometimes due to size and space in muti car parks. would and do recomend to others to buy if you need an mpv this has it all!!

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Brilliantly practical. Will carry 7 in air-conditioned comfort on leather seats, yet with the rear 5 seats removed it's almost as big as a transit - great for trips to the dump and buying building materials. Great stereo and abs add to it's qualities. Easily achieve 30mpg, which i admit is not the best, but it's complete versatility far outweighs it's running costs. Finally, with a plastic body and galvanised chassis i never need worry about rust. Best car i've ever owned - apart from my tr6!!!

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

On average it has broken down every 3 months! Had to be towed on half the occasions. Aa man said the espace model was very unreliable but not as bad as the laguna! I got a copy of the warranty work done in the first 3 years and it amounted to over £3,000 in parts alone. After that i thought surely it would be ok, but no. It was so unreliable my wife wouldn't drive it for fear of braking down. Sold it with only 51,000 miles on the clock. Renault rubbish - absolute rubbish.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

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