The trouble with people carriers is that when you fill them with people you have no room for luggage. Fill them with luggage and you have no room for people. So you buy a top box for the luggage and stop using multistorey car parks. Unless you buy a Renault Grand Espace.

Introduced in February 1998 it overcomes the problem. At nearly a foot longer than the standard Espace it puts all that extra space into where you need it: the boot. Meaning that both people and luggage can be stored where they should be: inside the car.

Power comes from a choice of 2 or 3 litre petrol engines or a 2.2 litre diesel. In a car the size of a Grand Espace the 2 litre 140bhp unit works hard for a living. Choosing the larger 3 litre 194bhp V6, married to a four-speed automatic gearbox, gives you more punch but you’ll pay the price: fuel consumption takes a hit and you will struggle to get 20mpg.

Most popular is the 2.2 litre diesel. Early cars produced 115bhp but in October 2000 the new common rail dCi engine boosted this to 130bhp. With less power but more torque than the 2 litre petrol it feels almost as quick and in mixed driving you’ll easily average 35mpg. But with strong demand prices are high and you’ll pay about £1,500 more than for the petrol equivalent.

Inside, a Grand Espace offers high levels of comfort and safety (it achieved four stars in the Euro NCAP tests, the highest of any MPV). Visibility from the elevated driving position is excellent and both the steering wheel and seatbelts can be adjusted for height Standard equipment includes air-conditioning, antilock brakes, multi-play CD and remote central locking. Buyers of the top-spec Initiale model also gain leather upholstery but with only six seats — one less than other models — it’s less practical.

Release a few catches, remove the seats and you can convert the Grand Espace from car to van, with enough load space to shame a Volvo estate. But the seats are large and heavy so they’re easier to fold than remove.

Unlike almost every other large French car, the Grand Espace holds its value well, although the introduction of an all-new Espace and Grand Espace in February has seen a slight softening in the value of the outgoing model.

If you’re looking to buy used and cover low mileages then you could save yourself some money by going for a petrol engine. Some cars from 1999 are changing hands for less than £9,000.

Alternatively, if your budget is a little lower then buy a standard Espace and settle for a top box for the luggage. Nice cars can be bought for less than £5,000 but check trim and electrics carefully as earlier cars can suffer from heater problems and broken stereos.

In October 2000 Renault made its range even more attractive with the addition of a three-year 60,000-mile warranty, so if you buy a used one and it is less than 36 months old, get it checked by a dealer before the cover expires.

VITAL STATISTICS
Model Renault Espace 2.2dT
Engine 4-cylinder, 2,188cc diesel
Power 115bhp
Transmission Five-speed manual
Fuel 35.8mpg (combined)
Acceleration 0 to 60mph: 14.3sec
Top speed 109mph

THE ONE TO BUY
Renault Grand Espace 2.2dT RT-X. 1998 S-plate with 50,000 miles. Pay £10,795 at a dealer or £9,800 privately

OR FOR SIMILAR MONEY ...
2000 W-reg Seat Alhambra TDi SE
2000 V-reg Ford Galaxy 1.9TDi Ghia
1999 T-reg Toyota Previa 2.4 GX Auto
1998 R-reg Mercedes-Benz V 230
1993 L-reg Toyota Land Cruiser VX Diesel

CHECK IT OUT
Air-conditioning Standard on all models
Entertainment Boot-mounted CD changer
Seating Initiale models have six individual 'captain's chairs'
Interior Folding trays on front seat backs
Security Remote central locking and immobiliser standard since 1997
Interiors Trim can be a little flimsy so check carefully
Versatility Front chairs can be turned through 180 degrees
Size Grand Espace is 11in longer than standard Espace, wheelbase is 7in longer
Screen Check carefully, the large screen is prone to chips and cracks
Dashboard bulbs Can be expensive to replace as entire fascia needs to be removed
Brakes ABS standard after 1998
Engine Diesel gained more power in October 2000; 3.0 litre petrol only available with auto gearbox

VALUES Renault Grand Espace 2.2dT RT-X
Mileage 30,000
1998 S Trade £10,100; Retail £11,750
1999 T Trade £10,950; Retail £12,650
2000 V Trade £11,900; Retail £13,595

Mileage 50,000
1998 S Trade £9,150; Retail £10,795
1999 T Trade £9,900; Retail £11,595
2000 V Trade £10,750; Retail £12,395

Mileage 80,000
1998 S Trade £7,850; Retail £9,475
1999 T Trade £8,450; Retail £10,950
2000 V Trade £9,525; Retail £11,195

RXE models worth about £1,000 more; 2.0 petrol models worth £1,500 less than diesel equivalent; 3.0 petrol models worth £500 more than 2.0 petrol.

Source: estimates are based on confidential CAP black book prices. 'Trade' is what a dealer would pay to buy your car; 'retail' is what you would pay a dealer