Better early than late
Facelifts are updates that usually only occur three or four years after a model’s introduction, but the Renault Espace is getting a significant overhaul after just two years. There’s a good reason for this, however.
A quick facelift, so also a subtle one?
Well, no. The current Renault Espace was presented in March 2023, but as early as March 2025, we had a heavily revamped version on our screens. Renault claims that no less than a third of the exterior is new. Considering the hood, front fenders, headlights, bumpers, tailgate, and taillights are all new, we tend to believe that.
But why, and why so soon?
The fact that the Espace is being thoroughly addressed so soon has everything to do with the fact that this car shares a lot technically and visually with the Austral and the Rafale. The shorter Austral has been around a bit longer, and the sleek Rafale is the car with which Renault launched its new design language, three months after the unveiling of the Espace. So, the Espace is one of the last new Renaults to still have the ‘old’ front, and that is precisely what is being rectified with this significant facelift.
Above the ‘old’ one, below the new one. Quite a bit changes at the rear as well.
What else changes on the Renault Espace?
The fact that the Espace is not that old yet also means that, apart from the visual aspects, not much is changing on the car. The Hybrid 200 powertrain, for example, remains untouched, and nothing changes to the chassis either. However, according to Renault, the Espace has become slightly quieter due to laminated glass, different door rubbers, and modified engine mounts. Indeed, it is pleasantly quiet on board. The Hybrid 200 technology is, as before, built around a 1.2-liter three-cylinder with a turbo, a striking choice next to the smaller Renault models that, as Hybrids, have a larger four-cylinder. The Espace manages excellently with the only available powertrain, although we do occasionally catch the car with its complex transmission exhibiting a jolt, and the three-cylinder sounds a bit rough outside the car.
Let’s not forget that a Renault Espace used to be very different. Is this still a good family car?
This stretched SUV cannot hold a candle to those MPVs in terms of space, but as a five-seater, it does have almost 700 liters of luggage space. The rear seat can also be slid forward by 22 centimeters, creating even more space, which you can optionally fill with a (cramped) third row of seats.
Alright. And is there sufficient distinction from the competition?
Especially as a seven-seater and with the plug-free but fully hybrid powertrain, the Espace is a fairly unique offering, because the competitors are generally mild-hybrids or plug-ins. The price of the updated Espace will not be a hindrance, as the car is exactly as expensive in its updated form as it was before. There are, as before, three versions, starting at €47,590, and a seven-seater will cost you €1,200 more.