The Renault Espace, the French pioneer in the minivan segment since 1983, will get an all-new sixth-generation model set to debut in spring 2023. The new Espace will break away from its predecessors in terms of bodystyle, morphing into an SUV that appears to be heavily based on the Austral. The French company published the first teaser of the 2023 Espace showing a part of its rear end with Austral-sourced LED taillights confirming earlier spy shots. Renault said that the new Espace is an SUV designed for long journeys, with five or seven seats. The automaker described the new model as “comfortable, innovative, and top of the range” following in the footsteps of the previous generations.
The new Renault Espace will be based on
the CMF-CD architecture which also underpinned the previous generation. The
same platform is used in the Renault Austral, Nissan X-Trail, and Mitsubishi
Outlander. We guess that engine options will be carried over from the Austral,
including mild-hybrid and full-hybrid setups while a plug-in hybrid could also
join the range at a later date since the hardware is already there.
Spy shots from last year showed that the
model will look very similar to the Renault Austral, albeit with a stretched
wheelbase and rear overhang resulting in a more spacious cabin. Unlike the
Austral which is only available in a five-seater layout, the Espace will also
come in a seven-seater flavor adding practicality to the mix. Reading between
the lines, the model will likely serve as a replacement for both the fifth-gen
Espace (2015-2022) and the second-gen Koleos (2016-2022). In terms of rivals,
it will compete with the likes of the Skoda Kodiaq, VW Tiguan Allspace, Peugeot
5008, and Nissan X-Trail in the D-SUV segment in Europe.
Renault will celebrate the 40th
anniversary of the Espace nameplate in November 2023. This sounds like a great
excuse to bring all of the Espace generations together. Contradicting earlier
reports, the French automaker decided to use both the Scenic and the Espace
nameplates in its future lineup, keeping the spirit of the iconic minivans
alive in their SUV replacements.
