Test Drive Renault Espace since 2006 Minivan
Family affairs
The meaning of the automaker in the title of the next model is often not available for understanding by simple mortals. But in the case of Dodge Journey and Renault Espace, everything is clear: Journey is translated as a journey and Espace space.
When Dodge Journey did last year the first steps in the world car market, he was presented to the public exclusively as a crossover of high comfort with the corresponding wheel formula and appearance. But only appearance arrived from crossover attributes to Russia. And everything is fine with her: the car looks exactly how the modern American jeep should look like. Journey looks like a big SUV. Auto impressive wheel arches, with ease of arriving 19-inch discs, and good ground clearance in 182 mm. Chrome-plated giant grille with a stylistic solution characteristic of modern Dodge in the form of an excellent recognizable cruciform structure. If a person impresses archetype uncle in a jeep, then this car for him. The car is noticeably afar, and it has a definitely brutal view. At least the neighbors in the flow perceive Journey this way.
Unlike American Renault Espace is not a newcomer on the market. This is the fourth generation of the model. He has already been issued since 2003, only in 2006 Prederpev is a small restyling. If we talk about the exterior of Espace IV, it is entirely fully placed in the stylistic line of the brand, exposing its blood connection with Megane and Vel Satis. We have here all the same rescued lines and facets. When looking at the front of the machine, attention is concentrated on the characteristic form of headlights and a huge panoramic windshield. Large wheels, slightly speakers for body rubber, create a feeling of aspiration forward.
In the profile, this impression is enhanced by the reverse tilt of the rear rack of the body and remotely resembling the tail plumage of the rocket to fireplates on the rear wings. It is curious that in the presence of all these emphasized abrupt design elements appearance Espace is perceived as exceptionally friendly.
Ease of access to Dodge Journey provide wide doors, sprinkling almost 90 degrees. In the cabin reign in American hard plastics. Moreover, it is impossible not to notice that although short-term, but official marriage between Daimler and Chrysler, who owns the Dodge brand, clearly went American cars for the benefit of both constructive solutions and design. The interior of our hero is perceived quite harmoniously. And the square panel of the instruments, and the solidity of the large steering wheel, and the pretty central console is unequivocally saying: here we visited the Germans. On the European orientation of the Auto indicates the location of the AKP selector between the front seats. And the chairs here, by the way, remind the American roots of the car.
There are no complaints about the ergonomics of the driver's workplace: everything in its place, you do not need to get used to anything. The rear view camera helps to park this wagon-overgrowth. Four-zone climate control coupled with multimedia installation on the ceiling are designed to brighten the life of the rear passengers. Brighten because with all the impressive width of the rear sofa, the legs of the sediments of the second row increases more than 180 cm. There will be no special comfort, despite the possibility of longitudinal adjustment of the rear seats. This fact surprises exactly until you find the presence of a third row of seats, which are in the folded state form a flat surface with the floor of the trunk. Most likely, the designers slightly pushed the passengers of the second row exclusively to equip the car with an extra pair of chairs located in almost the luggage compartment.
Renault Espace as a decent successor of the traditions of the Honored Dynasty of Minivans simply must be bus. The corresponding sensations arise immediately as soon as you are driving the car. Here you and the driver's bus landing, and the impressive area of \u200b\u200bglazing, and four personal chairs for passengers of the second and third row. The dashboard is located in the middle of the front panel. Its electronic pictograms are unobtrusive and easily read. Among the highlights of the machine, you can call the climate control control panel, made to the driver's door, and the inclusion button, which makes it up on the ceiling in the area of \u200b\u200bthe rear-view salon mirror. If it were not for the ACP selector between the front seats, then from the driver's seat it would be possible to reach the back door of the car. And if you first open all five gloves of the front panel, there is a persistent feeling that in front of you the most natural chest. Apartment motives strengthen the functional capabilities of the passenger seats of the second and third row. They can be rolled along the longitudinal rails in the floor of the cabin, to fold, rearrange the backward way or to dismantle, the benefit of the weight of every about 25 kg and any manipulations with the seats do not require the cultivist past.
On the road, the front-wheel drive Dodge Journey (solely such cars are supplied to Russia) behaves quite predictably, that is, an American. A six-cylinder V-shaped 2.7-liter 185-strong gasoline engine gently accelerates the car. Smoothly swaying on the waves of asphalt, it swallows any digs and bumps rather loudly. The desired steering control does not contribute to active rudge, but largely due to it the car does not pay attention to such trifles as inecilious beacon on domestic trails. The perivides of the suspension manifests itself in turns in the form of early rolls and leaning towards the demolition of the front axle. When trying to ride active style, the machine does not have time to include reduced gear. Therefore, it is better to use manual ACP mode. However, be prepared for the fact that in this case the average 15-liter consumption of AI-95 will increase even more.
Curious fact: The behavior of Renault Espace on the road is very much reminded of Journey. There are practically the same slightly inhibited reactions of a two-liter 170-strong gasoline turbo turbogue to press the gas pedal. The same yacht rolls in turns caused by the high center of gravity of the bus body. Approximately the same fuel consumption. But there are nuances.
The Espace suspension seems to be more assembled that. Oddly enough, but the Renault bus seems more yurt. It is easier compared to american to act in the stream. The reverse side of this property turned out to be quite high sensitivity of the Frenchman to Karai. By the way, the car that visited us on the dough was not equipped with a parking sensor, although he does not hurt such dimensions at all.
Dealers offer the domestic buyer Dodge Journey a choice between two gasoline engines. We are talking about a 4-cylinder 2,4-liter 170-strong engine designed to be still jointly with Mercedes-Benz, and a 2.7-liter 185-strong V6. Both cars are equipped exclusively ACP. Prices for Dodge Journey float in the interval 1 009 0001 236 375 rubles.
Renault Espace is sold from us only with a 2-liter gasoline turbocharged unit with a capacity of 170 hp Unfortunately, a 2.2-liter 150-strong diesel engine is exclusively suitable for this car available only to European buyers. Domestic Renault dealers offer car buyers with both mechanical and automatic gearboxes at a price of 1,295,800 to 1,430,000 rubles.
Crash test Dodge Journey
Dodge Journey crash test was conducted according to American NHTSA. The car showed excellent results during the front-line testing and lateral collision, having received the highest possible five stars in each of the disciplines. The car is equipped with original multistage security pillows for the driver and front passenger. There are special air bags for breast protection.
Renault Espace Test
Renault Espace became the second minivan in the five-star machine list of EUROncap (followed by Peugeot 807). At the same time, Espace put the record test EUROncap, step over the threshold of 35 points, earning 35.11 points. For the frontal blow, he received 15 points, and for the side 18.
Among the features of the machine duplex front airbags.
Dodge Journey.
+ Off-road image. Energy intensive and comfortable suspension. Abundance of comfortable options.
- Waste steering. Mediocre dynamics. Little place to feet rear passengers.
Renault Espace.
+ Many interior transformation options. Good handling. Thoughtful and fairly original ergonomics.
- Insufficient engine power. With unfolded passenger seats, there is little luggage space.
Alexey Batushenko
Photo: Armen Maitarjan
A source: Mkmobile magazine [June / 2009]
