Renault Trafic 2015 Review

Renault Australia has made great strides with its LCVs in recent years, experiencing growth of 48 per cent in 2014. Now, following on from its updated Master and Kangoo families, comes its next-generation medium van, the Trafic.

The Trafic was Renault Australia's top-selling LCV last year, with 1643 new registrations. Renault says the front-drive model's sales have increased by 1000 per cent over the past four years and it was Australia's third-best-selling medium van in 2014 – it's clearly found favour with a growing band of devotees.

Now the new Trafic is here, boasting a choice of new engines, new dimensions, new capacities and numerous improvements. Gone is the old 2.0-litre engine in favour of two new and frugal 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesels – the dCi 90 and the Energy dCi 140.

The former, with variable-geometry turbo, produces a claimed 66kW at 3500rpm and 260Nm at 1500rpm, while the latter – a twin turbo – pushes those numbers to 103kW and 340Nm. That gives a choice either side of the old engine, which produced 85kW and 290Nm, while Renault says the new powerplants deliver fuel economy savings of 25 per cent, with a touted combined figure of just 6.2L/100km.

The engines have been mated with a six-speed manual transmission, effectively dispensing with the previous AMT option.

The new line-up comprises the entry-level SWB (3098mm) Trafic with dCi 90 plus SWB and LWB (3496mm) versions with the Energy dCi 140, with just the one available height.

The Trafic's front and rear overhangs have been increased by 100mm and 110mm respectively, pushing internal volumes from the 5.0 and 5.9 cubic metres of the predecessor to 5.2 and 6.0 cubic metres, and Renault says load-through flaps in the twin-turbo models' bulkhead and passenger seat base allow for benchmark maximum load lengths of 3.75 and 4.15 metres.

Payloads span 1235kg to 1274kg and the two wheelbases afford turning circles of 11.8 and 13.17 metres, while towing capacity is limited to 2000kg.

The Trafic's exterior has been restyled to reflect the brand's latest design cues, with slimmer headlights, a steeply raked windscreen and a larger grille and logo giving more dynamic look, while internally, the cab has new seating and ergonomics, new instrumentation, a new dash and a number of new features.

The three models are priced at $33,490 (L1H1 dCi 90), $36,990 (L1H1 Energy dCi 140) and $38,490 (L1H1 Energy dCi 140), plus on-roads (less GST for ABN holders). However, as an introductory offer during May and June the entry-level model is priced at $32,990, while the full Renault line-up – including all LCVs – receive a five-year/200,000km factory warranty with five years of roadside assistance. After the promotional period the warranty will revert to the regular three-year/200,000km terms.

The new Trafic's service intervals are pegged at 30,000km or every 12 months, whichever comes first, while the first three services are capped at $349 each. Renault says the long service intervals and fuel economy actually put the Trafic out in front of its competition in terms of total cost of ownership.

The Trafic dCi 90 receives a fixed passenger bench, six-way adjustable driver's seat, DRLs, manual air-conditioning, 16-inch steel wheels, heated mirrors, cruise control, tinted windows, stereo with Bluetooth/USB connectivity and glazed tailgate as standard, while for the twin-turbos add a dual-bench seat (with laptop storage, work tray and clipboard holder), auto lights and wipers, cornering front fog lights, leather steering wheel, stop-and-start technology, a glazed bulkhead, reversing camera, glazed 50/50 barn doors and CD/MP3 stereo.

Three options packs are available for the twin-turbos: a Pro Pack ($1290), Premium Pack ($1990) and Lifestyle Pack ($2490). Items include a 7-inch multimedia touchscreen (with sat-nav), curtain airbags, timber load bay flooring, 17-inch alloys, climate control and more.

motoring.com.au recently sampled the new Trafic in South Australia, where Adelaide's city streets, the Barossa Valley and the Adelaide Hills gave a good overview of the model's prowess. We sampled the twin-turbo in both wheelbases – there was no single-turbo available – with the models boasting the higher-spec Java cloth upholstery, 7-inch touchscreen and more. Each was carrying a 300kg load – enough to settle the MacPherson-type strut/rear flexible beam suspension.

Resplendent in Renault's 'hero' colour of Bamboo Green, the new Trafic makes a bold statement. The fresh styling delivers a noticeable lift over its predecessor, while owners will appreciate the moulded protection at likely scrape points.

The driver's seat is now 36mm lower but it's still a bit of a step up from ground level – an A-pillar grab handle would help. Still, once behind the wheel, the cab immediately impresses for its comfort, finish and features.

There's plenty of adjustment on offer and vision is excellent, helped by slim A-pillars, a wide bulkhead window, quality side mirrors and a reversing camera. We didn't sample the optional Wide View Mirror, which turns the passenger's vanity mirror into a wide-angle view down the near side, reducing the van's blind spot.

The centre-seat headrest obstructs the view to the rear but when the seat isn't required the fold-down module is brilliant – it provides a handy workspace, laptop storage and a clipboard holder.

Further clever touches include a tablet bracket, a mobile phone bracket and 54 litres of storage under the twin-passenger bench. We like the large central dash-top bin, the concealed passenger-side bin and the large glovebox.

The plastics of various colours and textures add a touch of class, as does the leather-wrapped wheel, though some panel tolerances are bigger than others. The new instrumentation is attractive and legible.

The cab is impressively quiet – a deal quieter than any other LCV we've reviewed, in fact. Along with the comfort, climate control and ergonomics, it's a haven on wheels.

On the road, the twin turbo offers a broad spread of urge from 1250rpm through to 4000rpm. We'll reserve judgement on the fuel economy but the trip computer was displaying an average of 7.3L/100km, which augers well.

Handling is confident and stable, with minimal body roll, strong brakes, effective damping and secure steering. The 300kg test weight irons out any harshness and vibration is barely noticeable. We look forward to testing the Trafic with a heavier load.

The six-speed manual transmission may deter some but it's a sweet unit,
shifting cleanly and smoothly, at at 100km/h in top gear the engine is
ticking over at a lazy 1900rpm. Hill-hold assist is standard; it's just
one of several safety features, including next-gen stability control
with enhanced traction control, plus rollover mitigation and
load-adaptive control. Optional curtain airbags can complement the
standard driver and front passenger airbags.

The load bay is a single-skin affair but it does come with half-height plastic protection (full timber protection is an option). The load floor height is low at 552mm and the various doors have wide apertures. Renault says both wheelbases can accommodate two Australian pallets, while the rear door aperture and load bay dimensions are the same as the older model, so upgrading owners can retain their custom fit-outs.

A new and optional overhead rack can handle a 13kg load and there are numerous tie-down anchor points – up to 18 in the long-wheelbase model. An optional second sliding side door can be added if required, while Renault also offers options to facilitate a range of conversions, from heavy-duty suspension to double crankshaft pulleys for refrigeration units.

We were impressed with this initial taste of Renault's new Trafic. Competitive pricing and back-up enhance a quality package with a long list of smart features. Add in the Trafic's comfort, performance and easy handling, and the model's momentum looks set to continue.

2015 Renault Trafic pricing and specifications:
Price: $33,490 to $38,490 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel dCi 90 (single variable geometry turbo);
1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel dCi 140 (twin-turbo)
Output: 66kW/260Nm; 103kW/340Nm
Transmission: Six-speed manual
Fuel: 6.2L/100km [ADR Combined]
CO2: 164g/km [ADR Combined]
Safety Rating: N/A

Also consider:
>> Toyota HiAce (from $32,990 to $47,490 plus ORCs)
>> Hyundai iLoad (from $30,990 to $40,990 plus ORCs)
>> Ford Transit Custom (from $37,490 to $54,180 plus ORCs)