Cars with seven seats tend to be more expensive and larger than your normal five-seater car which is why most brands that do 7-seater cars exist in the luxury part of the segment. The most common seven-seater cars belong in the full-size SUV segment, but you can also find 7-seater cars in the minivan segment, mid-size SUV segment, or even a few compact SUVs with seven seats.
In the case of Renault, it really isn’t a luxury brand nor it is known for making large family cars as most Renault models are compact, but is there a 7-seater Renault? Yes, there are actually a few Renault models available with seven seats such as the Renault Espace, Renault Grand Scenic, and the upcoming Renault Grand Austral which replaces the outgoing Renault Kadjar.
The Renault Escape is a large five-door MPV (multi-purpose vehicle) designed primarily for family use. As such, it offers a really large interior with lots of space. This enables it to comfortably take up to seven passengers. The Grand Scenic is also a large MPV with up to seven seats, but it is a tad bit smaller than the Espace.
Last, but not least, the upcoming new Renault Astral will be available with seven seats as an option. It is not going to be a large SUV, but rather a more compact one. However, it should be spacious enough for a family of seven.
Renault Espace
The Renault Espace was first introduced in the mid-1980s as a large five-door MPV and was later followed by four new generations until now. The Espace is available in two configurations, a normal Espace with five seats, and a Grand Espace model which features a longer wheelbase in order to offer more seating space and accommodate seven seats.
The very latest generation of the Espace is a mixture between a crossover, a saloon, and an SUV, but Renault says that the next generation is going to be a full-on SUV. The Espace features two gasoline engines, a 1.6L inline 4-cylinder or a 1.8L inline 4-cylinder with 200hp or 225hp for the larger unit.
The Espace is also available with three diesel engines, a small 1.6L 4-cylinder with either a single or twin-turbo configuration or a 2.0L 4-cylinder. The power is rated at between 130hp and 200hp. All in all, the Espace is designed primarily for comfort which means that it does not try to be dynamic.
It features quite a long list of active safety features which is to be expected as the Espace is one of the more expensive Renault models you can buy. Lastly, reliability seems to be okay for the latest two generations of the Espace while the earlier ones are a bit of a nuisance.
Renault Grand Scenic
The Renault Grand Scenic is a small MPV that was first introduced in 1996. Back in 2016 the last generation of the Scenic came out and is still available as new throughout Renault’s dealerships around Europe. Renault decided to discontinue the “regular” Scenic in order to fully electrify it for the 2024 model year.
As with the Espace, the Scenic can also be had as a normal Scenic, or a Grand Scenic which features a larger body with more space, and the availability of seven seats. The Grand Scenic is good for younger families but isn’t as spacious as the Espace which is designed to be a seven-seater from the get-go.
Design-wise, the Grand Scenic looks rather similar to the Espace, only smaller. The interior is pretty much the same as with the Espace which means that it looks okay at best. Engines on offer are a 1.2L gasoline 4-cylinder with 114-130hp or a 1.3L turbo 4-cylinder with 150hp.
You can also choose between three diesel engines, a 1.5L 4-cylinder, a 1.6L 4-cylinder, or a 1.7L 4-cylinder with up to 160hp. Reliability is okay with the Grand Scenic, nothing more, nothing less.
Renault Austral
Ever since Renault discontinued the Kadjar, we are waiting for the Austral to drop which was first thought to be a five-seater, but it seems like Renault is going to offer it with seven seats as well. The Austral promises to be larger than the Kadjar which means that it is likely going to be the most comfortable and spacious SUV in Renault’s range.
Not many things are known about the Austral except for the fact that it is going to be larger, longer, and taller. You can also count on a few hybrid models while diesel engines are likely going to be discontinued fully.
FAQ Section
Is Renault Making Comfortable Cars?
Yes, Renault is making comfortable cars even though you can’t deem them to be luxury cars by any means. Renault is one of those brands that try to pack in as many benefits as they can into a relatively affordable package. This makes the entire brand philosophy quite sensible and popular among younger families and individuals alike.
You will not find trick technology such as active suspension, true massaging seats, high-quality stitched and extended leather, or wood trim inside a Renault, but Renault does not try to be a luxury brand which means that they are going to offer you a good comfortable experience completely in line with the price.
When is the Renault Austral Coming out?
The Renault Austral is coming to most markets around the world in 2023 which means that the Austral is currently making its way to the market. Renault hopes to sell a ton of these because the Austral should represent the next-gen Renault with a futuristic design, lots of tech, and efficient hybrid engines.
This means that the Austral is likely going to be the most advanced SUV in its segment, so we can expect it to sell really well at first.
Why did Renault Discontinue the Scenic?
Renault discontinued the Scenic because they want to re-design the Scenic from the bottom up. As such, the Scenic is going to make a return in 2024, but only as a full-on electric vehicle as Renault is also hoping to re-arrange its entire lineup for minimum CO2 emissions.
