Renault Avantime (02-03) - Review

Review by Simon Harris on
The Avantime represents a time when Renault was into making bold styling statements. It's a four-seat coupe based on the third-generation Renault Espace. Its tall design with imposing angles and intricate detailing found a few friends in the UK, but numbers never reached the 1500 a year originally predicted by Renault, and the model faced similar problems with demand elsewhere in Europe, with slow sales eventually sealing the fate of the Matra company that built it for Renault. Only petrol models were brought to the UK, and equipment levels are good, but the Avantime is more about making an entrance than the journey itself.
2.5 out of 5

Other Renault reviews

4 out of 5

Safety

The Avantime comes with front and side airbags, as well as curtain airbags, and although there is no middle pillar between the front and rear compartment, the front seatbelts are integrated into the front seats. ABS is standard as well as traction control and electronic stability control that helps correct the car's line when the driver loses control during a skid.

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2.5 out of 5

Reliability

Renault doesn't have a great reputation for reliability, and although this is slowly improving, the Avantime was produced at a time when it was at its worst. Watch out for electrical glitches, and make sure the double hinges on the doors haven't dropped. Those doors are very heavy.

Car check problem points

Body

Plastic bodied, so no rust.

Engine/Gearbox

No problems reported.

Other

Check robustness of door hinges and whether electrics work.