For an exercise in frustration, try pulling off from a standstill in the new Renault Espace 2.2 dCi turbodiesel automatic when you're in a hurry.
I've seen glaciers accelerate faster.
Mating a turbodiesel engine to an automatic gearbox is often not a great idea, especially on the Highveld where the altitude exacerbates turbo lag. Engine/transmission packages that feel fine at the coast sometimes don't work well at altitude and this is a prime example.
I suspect that Renault never product tested this vehicle under "hot and high" conditions.
Before the turbocharger kicks in there's around 17 percent less power in Gauteng than at sea level and that makes this MPV super-sluggish from a standing start. With a manual gearbox you'd cure this by simply revving higher before releasing the clutch, but in an automatic - the only transmission available in the Espace - you're stuck there helpless waiting for the turbo to wake up.
Once the engine's revving a little this laziness disappears and the French people-carrier cruises with a relaxed and easy gait. It overtakes with reasonable gusto and there's no lack of grunt once it's on the move, reaching a respectable top speed of 190km/h. There's little engine or wind noise and it makes a terrific long-distance hauler.
The R369 000 Espace 2.2 is the middle model in Renault's long-wheelbase MPV range, launched here in August and now in its fourth generation.
The other two versions are the petrol two-litre turbo for R315 000 and the 3.5-litre petrol V6 flagship for R403 000, each of which is also automatic. It seems Renault doesn't want its customers to stress their left legs unduly.
The Espace 2.2 Expression has a lot to offer in spite of the sleepy pull-off; it's a luxury people-hauler with enormous space and all the trimmings. The buzzword in this French vehicle, unlike with French cuisine, is quantity.
There are three rows and the two rearmost seats are large enough for adults, making the Espace a true seven-seater, not a five-plus-two with rear seats suitable only for stunted dwarves (or height-challenged people, as we're supposed to call them nowadays).
The view out of the giant windows is panoramic and combined with that cavernous cabin passengers will never experience claustrophobia. If things become just a little too panoramic, there are sun blinds that can be pulled down.
With the full complement of seats the boot isn't exactly large but it's expandable to gigantic proportions. The seats can be folded and slid in any number of configurations in a versatile display of interior gymnastics, depending on whether more cargo or people space is needed.
Contoured and comfy
The rear seats can also be folded flat to serve as tables, or removed completely. Each passenger can adjust his or her own backrest angle and slide their seat forward or rearwards to vary legroom.
The leather-covered chairs are contoured and very comfy to sit on, and each is equipped with its own headrest and seatbelt.
The captain's chair is height-adjustable and the steering wheel can be set to the desired height or reach, so there's a driving position to suit everyone.
There's no instrument panel in front of the driver, as is becoming the trend in French cars. Instead it's in the centre of the fascia on view to all passengers.
Ahead of the driver there's a storage nook in the dash, one of a raft of hiding places in the Espace's cabin. This vehicle's unbeatable for stash space and the only problem will be remembering where you left your stuff.
The Espace has automatic air-conditioning (with the controls conveniently located on the doors so you don't have to stretch for them on the dashboard), a radio/CD with fingertip controls on the steering, electric windows and mirrors, and remote central locking.
Five-star rating
The Espace was the first MPV to achieve the maximum five-star rating in EuroNCAP crash tests and has no less than eight airbags, including chest airbags for the second row of seats.
There's no ignition key; this job is done by Renault's key card that's about the same size and about three times as thick as a credit card. Jab it into a slot below the fascia, press the start button, and voila.
One cool feature is the electronic handbrake, which engages automatically as soon as you switch off the ignition and disengages when you apply the throttle.
The five-speed automatic transmission is an adaptive type that changes its responses according to driving style, vehicle load, engine operation and other parameters.
It tends to upshift a little early when you're driving around town, so we were thankful that it offered manual shift so we could keep the engine in its power band.
If only it had a shorter first gear to deal with that glacial pulloff. The fuel consumption is 12 litres / 100km and the 83 litre fuel tank ensures a range of nearly 700km between pitstops.
Reasonably swift
The Espace handles just as you'd expect such a large, tall crate to handle. It wallows. That said, it's capable of taking corners at a reasonably swift pace as the grip is good, and any driver over-enthusiasm (ha, ha) is curbed by the electronic traction control.
All-disc ABS anti-lock brakes bring it to a safe halt. The steering also delivers good feel and it's not too light. The ride quality is impressively comfortable, just the kind of distance-eating, bump-soaking characteristic that's appropriate to a big people-carrier.
Summary
Renault invented the MPV and its 4th generation Espace is a grand tourer with great space, versatility and comfort. But this turbodiesel version really needs a manual gearbox to cope with that low rpm sluggishness.