New Renault Trafic on sale

The new Renault Trafic has landed in Australian showrooms, with the model now sitting alongside the French maker's recently revised Master large van and Kangoo compact LCV.

Launched in Europe some 12 months back, the third-generation Trafic is now built in Sandouville, France – previous examples were built in either a Nissan facility in Spain or a GM plant in Britain – and it arrives with new dimensions, new styling, new engines and a host of practical features.

In Australia the front-drive Trafic is available in three models, the range spanning one height, two lengths and two versions of Renault's new 1.6-litre four-cylinder common-rail turbo-diesel – a single variable-geometry turbo and a twin turbo.

Renault says the variable-geometry single-turbo dCi 90 produces 66kW at 3500rpm and 260Nm at 1500rpm, while the twin-turbo Energy dCi 140 – the flagship engine both here and in Europe – produces 103kW at 3500Nm and 340Nm at 1500. The Energy dCi 140 is equipped with fuel-saving Stop & Start technology as standard.

Renault quotes a combined fuel-economy figure of 6.2L/100km for all Australian variants, representing a saving of 2.1L/100km over its manual-transmission, 2.0-litre-engined predecessor.

While the old model was offered here with both manual and automated-manual transmissions, the new Trafic will only be available with a six-speed manual transmission.

The range begins with the entry-level L1H1 with dCi 90 and progresses to the Energy dC1 140 in both L1H1 and L2H1 formats. The L1 models have a 3098mm wheelbase while the L2 sees this figure grow to 3498mm, with turning circles of 11.8 and 13.2 metres respectively.

The Trafic's front and rear overhangs have been increased by 100mm and 110mm respectively, while the bulkhead has been moved 30mm back to increase overall cabin space. Renault says the maximum respective load lengths of 3.75 metres and 4.15 metres (with load-through flaps) set new benchmarks in the market, with the two lengths boasting internal volumes of 5.2 and 6.0 cubic metres. Payloads begin at 1235kg for the short-wheelbase Trafic with dCi 90 engine and top out at 1274kg for the long-wheelbase dCi 140.

Refreshed styling has seen the van's front end adopt slimmer headlights, a larger grille and a larger Renault logo, forming a stronger visual tie with the brand's passenger vehicles, while the windscreen now has a steeper rake. The new Trafic is available in 10 body colours, including the new choices of Bamboo Green, Copper Brown and Laser Red.

Internally the Trafic's cab has received a significant lift. New seating is said to deliver greater comfort while the revised ergonomics are more readily associated with an MPV than a traditional van, says Renault, while a total of 14 cab storage options provide a combined total of 90 litres of space.

The entry-level L1H1 dCi 90 model receives a three-person bench seat, stability control with hill start assist and Grip Xtend (an advanced traction control system for use in instances of low traction such as mud or sand), rear parking sensors and Bluetooth audio and telephony, all as standard.

The two twin-turbo models get a front bench seat with folding centre passenger seat with A4 clipboard and 54 litres of under-seat storage, plus auto lights and wipers, a steel bulkhead with load-through flap, a retractable tablet bracket, a leather steering wheel and a reversing camera.

Renault Australia offers three optional packs with twin-turbo Trafic models, as detailed below:

Pricing for the new Trafic range is as follows (RRP):

While that upper pricing remains unchanged from that of the out-going
flagship, the entry-level model is now $1500 cheaper than its
predecessor. Meanwhile, and as an introductory offer, for the months of
May and June the new entry-level Trafic can be purchased for $32,990
(RRP, plus on-roads), while the standard three-year/200,000km factory
warranty will be upgraded to five years/200,000km plus five years of
roadside assistance cover.

The Trafic also comes with a
capped-price servicing program, the latter pegged at $349 per calendar
year for the first three services. Services intervals are yearly or
every 30,000km, whichever comes first.

Renault sold 1643 examples of its Trafic in Australia last year for a 10.3 per cent slice of the medium van market (FCAI VFACTS data), behind Toyota's dominant HiAce (6432 units) and Hyundai's iLoad (4344 units).

Renault Australia has been charging hard with its light commercials in recent times, registering growth of 54.3 per cent across the light commercial segment in 2014. That growth has continued into this year, with the 344 new LCVs the brand had registered to the end of March 2015 equating with growth of 12.8 per cent.