When you team the world's best full-sized MPV with the most powerful 2.0-litre diesel engine available on the market, you just know the result is going to be something a little special. Renault has done just that, and although the Espace 2.0 dCi 175 is, thanks to the laws of supply and demand, far from inexpensive, it's nevertheless the yardstick against which all other big MPVs are judged.

The engine itself is a real piece of work. The act of extracting 175bhp from 2.0-litres of common-rail diesel engine is no mean feat but Renault has employed some of the latest developments in engine technology to achieve their goal. Piezo-electric injectors seem to be the must have accessory for any high-tech diesels at the moment. They use a stack of electrodes and ceramic layers which elongate very quickly when an electrical current is introduced. It's used to instantaneously raise and lower the injector's needle, allowing the timing and volume of fuel injections into the cylinder to be precisely controlled. Small pre-injections are made at the start of each cycle which heat up the cylinder so the main injection can be burned more efficiently. Then a post injection is introduced to burn off any soot which remains in the cylinder after the main combustion. Finally, there's the possibility of a second post-injection which is used to burn-off soot particles that have been trapped by the FAP particulate filter.

It's complicated stuff but that's not the half of it. Factor in the twin balancer shafts which limit engine vibrations, the twin mass damping wheel which also helps improve refinement plus the variable geometry turbocharger and you really do have one highly advanced engine. Most prospective buyers, of course, will be more interested in what it does than how it does what it does. The 175bhp unit produces its maximum output at 3,750rpm and has substantial torque of 360Nm available from 1,750rpm, making for really lively acceleration in the low to mid range. The 0-60mph sprint, not always the best criteria on which to judge a diesel MPV, is nevertheless covered in a rapid 10s and there's a 117mph top speed.

"This 2.0-litre model elevates itself to the pick of the Espace range"

Given its ample proportions, this Espace is certainly quick but as with all good diesels there's the capacity to sit back and coast along on that surge of torque. On long open roads, gearchanges will become a distant memory as the diesel engine eases up gradients and dispatches dawdling traffic with distain. Despite the considerable efforts of Renault, the engine isn't the most refined of its type, especially on start-up, and the power delivery can be a bit abrupt when you're pressing on. All that torque suddenly kicks in then drops away leaving little point in searing up to the 5,200rpm limiter but keep the engine in the sweet spot and it can really hustle.

Cleanliness is next to godliness where modern diesels are concerned and the Espace dCi 175 is impressively clean. With the help of a maintenance-free periodic-regeneration particulate filter, which incinerates the soot it's trapped at 570 degrees Celsius every 500 miles or so, the car comfortably meets Euro IV emissions regulations. It also emits only 199g/km of CO2 - a creditable performance for a vehicle that weighs in at over 1,800kg. Equally impressive is the combined cycle fuel economy of 38.2mpg. Prices open at £24,835 for the Dynamique model, then you'll pay from £26,585 for the Dynamique S, in each case adding around £1,200 more if you want the longer wheelbase Grand Espace variant. The flagship Initiale comes only in Grand Espace form and costs £30,935.

The headlights are an integral part of what Renault describes as a softer styling theme for the latest Espace. A slimmer bumper and a simpler grille design lose some of the fussy styling of this model's predecessor. The lights feature Bi-Xenon lamps for better illumination and they also pivot, taking into account steering input and vehicle speed. This helps illuminate roadside obstacles such as pedestrians just beyond the apex of a dark corner or roadside debris that could cause an accident. Chrome-trimmed foglamps are also included with these dCi models and the rear lights have been revised while the interior benefits from a revised range of upholstery choices and trim colours.

It's not all window dressing though. Important safety upgrades have been introduced including rain and light sensors, "See Me Home" lighting, front and rear parking assist, a tyre pressure monitoring system and Emergency Brake Assist to beef up the response of the anti lock brakes. The Electronic Stability Program has also been improved with the addition of understeer control. Otherwise there's the eight airbags and three-point seatbelts with load limiters and that almost mandatory (for Renault at least) Euro NCAP five-star qualification.

This generation Espace is an evolutionary advance over its predecessor rather than anything manifestly revolutionary. What is surprising is that Renault has, if anything, toned down its recent excess of novelty and restored some normality to the Espace. Whereas the Mk III model was built around a radical spaceframe chassis with composite parts, the Mk IV Espace instead opts for a more conventional steel monocoque platform shared with the Laguna and the ill-fated Vel Satis. Only the wings and tailgate are now made of plastic composites, the doors and bonnet being fabricated in aluminium with a steel roof - a roof punctuated by some serious glazing.

British customers don't tend to require a whole lot of nudging to make them buy an Espace. Some have grumbled that prices are high but in this case you do get an awful lot of trick engineering, clever practicality and the reassurance that you're buying manifestly the best product available. The 2.0-litre dCi 175 engine is, in its own way, even more impressive than the range-topping 3.0-litre diesel. This might just be the Espace to have.

TOP 5 ESPACE DEALS

The results below show the top ESPACE deals on buyacar

	Renault Grand Espace 2.0 dCi 150 Quest 5dr Spec edn People Carrier
	ETR	Mthly £372	Saving £4,632	Price £19,888
	Renault Espace 2.0 dCi Dynamique S 5dr Auto People Carrier
	ETR	Mthly £423	Saving £6,681	Price £22,134
	Renault Espace 2.0 dCi 130 Team 5dr People Carrier
	ETR	Mthly £336	Saving £4,061	Price £17,634
	Renault Espace 2.0 dCi 150 Dynamique 5dr People Carrier
	ETR	Mthly £353	Saving £5,616	Price £18,809
	Renault Espace 2.0 Quest 5dr Spec edn People Carrier
	ETR	Mthly £312	Saving £3,712	Price £16,258

typical 10.35% APR

PCP finance quote over 48 months,  10,000 miles pa,  deposit of £1000