21/07/09

• Price29,495
• We like...Sliding doors, triple glove boxes
• We don't...Seats are heavy to remove

It's big, slidey-doored and, seven years after launch, it still looks futuristic. What's it like to live with? Find out hereThe C8’s pretty long in the tooth, having begun sale late in 2002. And since then new-car sales of big buses like this have dwindled. No surprise, then, that Renault has admitted that the current version of its full-size seven-seater, the Espace, will be the last that it will build.

Still, the C8 remains with us for the foreseeable. And if something roomy enough to carry up to seven grown-ups at once is what you desire, there’s plenty about it to like. For a start, there’s the bonkers dash.

It’s split-level, with the speedo and other instruments ‘floating’ between its top and bottom in a pod that sits slap-bang in the centre. Contrasting with the cabin’s futuristic vibe, they have a retro look, reminding us more than a whit of an olde-style Bakelite wireless set. And there are no fewer than three big glove boxes in which to lose your keys, phone, whatyouwill.

Behind it the wheel and pedals initially seem weird because they don’t line up as they do in most cars. But once you’ve accustomed to this, the feeling disappears and it's a comfy place to be.

The huge cabin is filled with big, squashy-soft chairs arranged 2-3-2. Each adjusts fore and aft and, even in the rearmost, there’s ample head- leg- and shoulder room. And getting in and out is a cinch thanks to those big rear sliding doors that whirr back and forth at the touch of a button on the key fob. And, yes, they do stop as soon as they sense something (or -body) in the way.

For all its size, though, when every seat’s taken, there’s chuff-all space left for luggage. And while every chair except the driver’s double-folds out of the way, you’ll still need to remove them to best use the space that’s there. Doing that, though, requires grunt ‘n’sweat – it’s not for weaklings.

You sit high to drive and, despite its obvious size, it’s not off-putting because its slabby sides make it relatively easy to place on the road. Ours had a 2.2-litre, 173bhp diesel that doles out just the sort of ready, low-revs urge to suit this big soft-riding vehicle. While it’s never going to be one to hustle along, the C8 covers distance surprisingly fast if you drive it quick but relaxed. Our test car had a six-speed auto gearbox that slurred the car along quickly and easily but boosted its emissions to 218g/km of CO2 and worsened its fuel economy to a best-overall 34.4mpg. There's no manual gearbox available with this engine, though: to get one, you must drop down to the 2.0, 136bhp diesel.

So, should you buy one? If you regularly need to ferry seven adults, it’s a good bet – particularly if you’re looking to buy second-hand. Go for a diesel-powered one, though, because the C8 needs that sort of easy, low-revs power to deliver of its best. And finally, try for an Exclusive model – its climate controlled air conditioning and leather seats make it super-comfy.

To view and buy new and second-hand C8s, click on motors.co.uk

• Engines2.2 turbodiesel
• Power173bhp
• 0-60 mph
• Economy34.4mpg (a
• CO2g/km218
• Insurance groups15A
• EuroNCAP
• Airbags6
• Seats7

Motors.co.uk value verdict: