team. Even the presence of several neighbouring cats doesn’t put them off, as the birds simply imitate a squadron of Lancaster bombers delivering their ‘deadly’ loads. MORE: Trafic news, reviews, comparisons and videosMORE: Everything Renault. The £400 or so per van this little ‘luxury’ costs will pale against the sums incurred in the event of a sweat-induced smash. Bearing in mind what they eat, it is not hard to imagine the volumes of guano they produce and the local flock seems to have taken an unwanted interest in my shiny black van. Newcomers like Hyundai have shaken the game up recently, but plenty of buyers still opt for favourites like a Toyota HiAce without really thinking about the European options. Our comprehensive reviews include detailed ratings on Price and Features, Design, Practicality, Engine, Fuel Consumption, Ownership, Driving & Safety. The other day an Amazon delivery driver brought a parcel and asked if the van was a one-off, customised model. If these sensors are not a standard fitting, then they should be the first thing to be added on the list of extras. Motor blew up within the first 4500 kms and had to be replaced. I quite liked the old sit-up-and-beg van driving style so I have the seat adjusted way up high with the back in an upright position. By now, I am well used to all the admiring (and sometimes jealous) stares from other van drivers and am immensely enjoying using all the gizmos and gadgets that accompany it. Makes you wonder why so many people buy HiAces…. With the doors out of the way, it gives you so much more room to manoeuvre something that might require two people to load. When would you ban the sale of new internal combustion engine (ICE) vans? The 2018 Renault Trafic carries a braked towing capacity of up to 2000 Kg, but check to ensure this applies to the configuration you're considering. This particular niggle involves my reading glasses and the van’s seat. But inside the cab there’s plenty to talk about. Find all of our 2013 Renault Trafic Reviews, Videos, FAQs & News in one place. There was a buzz among us that this van was going to be a bit special and, indeed, we weren’t disappointed. In addition, we get a USB port on top of the dash so I can plug my own TomTom unit in without having wires trailing all over the shop. It just about ticks every box. I rather stupidly placed my specs on the passenger seat and, as soon as I went round a bend, they whizzed off and located themselves somewhere in the murky depths of the cab where I had never even looked before. But, if I have to be ultra-picky, one problem is that the side pockets in the doors are virtually impossible to get at while on the move. I’m sure I’m not alone when I relate this tale of woe, so my question to all van manufacturers is this – why do there have to be so many unreachable little nooks and crannies under a van’s seats? Always trust your onboard technology. My wife was delighted to find a massive ‘vanity’ mirror on the passenger side and was happily preening herself before I pointed out that it was, in fact, a special safety mirror which allows the driver to see down the nearside of the vehicle. While the Vauxhall is built at Luton using many UK-sourced parts, the others mainly hail from France. It makes loading heavier items easier on your back, and the flat floor means you can slide them forward up to the cab divider easily as well. I took some time to study other van drivers on the motorway and you could clearly see which ones had air-con and which ones didn’t – and I felt sorry for the poor souls sweating their way through a working day in such conditions. ". If we listed all the goodies on this van, it would take up a lot of space so we’ll just mention a few of the stand-out ones for the time being. You can get a standard Trafic for a tad in excess of £20,000 (ex-VAT) but once all the bling and technology is added – and in long wheelbase format – our test van comes in at £32,210 (ex-VAT). Given much of my driving is on motorways, it will be interesting to see whether we can get anywhere near the official figure. Fleet News is published every month in print and a digital (pdf) formats. 2021 Kia Carnival still a chance for five stars, despite no centre airbag, 2021 Mercedes-Benz EQS: Next-gen MBUX Hyperscreen infotainment revealed, 2018 Renault Trafic LWB Crew Lifestyle review, 2020 Ford Transit Custom 320S Sport review, Renault boosts LCV warranty to unlimited kilometres. Likewise the manual gearbox, which is as enjoyable to use as much more sporting iterations of the breed. If you’re new to the van world, take our word that the Trafic is a significant step forward from vans of old. As before, there's a choice of two lengths and two roof heights for the panel vans and the cabins have been designed to function as mobile offices. It’s big, yes, and rear three-quarter visibility isn’t great, but in terms of engine response, steering, the gearbox and braking, it’s way less commercial than you expect going in. It applies to the compact Kangoo, the mid-size Trafic, and the large Master. This Renault has a double cabin. The second you depress the clutch, the engine fires back into life, there’s no shuddering or strange noises, and no delay that can be dangerous if you need to make a speedy getaway across traffic. By this stage on a test, I have usually found a few gripes and moans, but, to be honest, I am struggling to find anything negative to say about the Trafic. If you’re a delivery driver or tradie who needs a larger van, and the lack of an automatic isn’t a deal-breaker, you’re going to love the Renault Trafic. But once I have got her up into the Trafic, there are no such problems and the seven-hour drive from Essex to our holiday home in Devon is a much more comfortable experience. Getting behind the wheel for the first time, we soon discovered that beauty was more than skin deep – this was the first panel van to actually drive like a big car. There are 9 seats. Step up into the cabin, and a few things become immediately apparent – firstly, there’s an expansive view forward, and almost none at the rear three-quarter thanks to the solid sides. Our long term "far from ordinary" Renault Trafic is weighted down with bling and accessories that most fleet drivers can only dream about. I’ve always said the Trafic is about the best van on the roads today for the actual driving experience and to be honest I’m a bit of a show-off at heart and enjoy the admiring looks and stares I’m getting when stopping at traffic lights and junctions. It’s got a short throw, is precise, and I never tired of using it. Given we reckon an average driver will score around 10-15% less than the official figure on a good day, we are pretty pleased with our tally. That said, Renault doesn’t offer the city automatic crash protection system that slams on the anchors in the event of a likely crash which is now standard on the rival Volkswagen Transporter. That honest assertion should prove a massive pat on the back for Renault. The stop/start system is the first thing that deserves mention. 2018 Renault Trafic LWB Crew Lifestyle review By By Ed Standfield 17th Jan 2019 0 Comments I've owned several vans over the years, as I've worked in the building trade most of my life, and because of this occupation, you get yourself into many different predicaments on a daily basis. This could add hundreds of pounds to the sale price of the vehicle so is well worth doing. And don’t forget that if the general public are looking at the van, they will also be looking at any company logos on the side. First glimpse of the new vehicle showed it to be so different as almost to be described as space age, with a curious bump in the roof and dashing lines that made it look different from any other van on the road. A more serious incident of note occurred the other day – and one which left me realising just how important the modern technology we get on vans nowadays really is. You can’t take a big van through an automatic car wash and those people who stand around in supermarket car parks with cloths and buckets won’t touch them either. We haven’t mentioned fuel economy in any detail as yet, purely because my usage of the vehicle is so erratic – one week it’s all long distance journeys and the next a lot of round-town excursions – that we have to average it all out over a few months rather than days or weeks to give a fair assessment. Those two gripes apart, this van has constantly surprised and pleased me, both with its superb comfort and its impeccable driving manners on the road. Leave a comment for your chance to win £20 of John Lewis vouchers. In addition, I would contend that there are a few instances where I can imagine this van fitting nicely into a fleet scenario. In a nutshell, I came back to the offices of our predecessor title Fleet Van raving about the new vehicle. Luckily I have found a guy in my local independent garage round the corner who will do the job for £30 but if you have to have it done every week, that adds up to £6,240 over the course of a four-year fleet lifecycle. Of course, the problem with rearward cameras and sensors is that the fleet manager can struggle to assess their true value. This is the twin turbo version and I thought it would have been much better. Years ago when running long termers, we invariably reported a catalogue of mishaps, disasters and breakdowns. The engine never seems to be working too hard, and when you slot the gearbox into sixth on the freeway, the overdriven ratio means the engine is only turning around the 2000rpm mark. It looks as though the price of fuel is rising again so van fleet operators will be keeping a beady eye on official fuel economy figures when those all-important buying decisions are being made. In these days of competent automatics, a manual gearbox (especially in traffic) can get really annoying really quickly. Another factor that is worthy of mention is the turning circle, in that it’s much tighter than I expected it to be in a van of this size. I had been about to back up as I couldn’t see anything in the rear view mirrors but a glance at the reversing camera screen on the dash revealed a girl aged about 14 chatting to her mate on her mobile, oblivious of the fact that my reversing lights were on and I had almost backed into her. Discover All New & Used 2018 Renault Trafic Cars For Sale in Ireland on DoneDeal. Not the ’box in the Trafic. But, nowadays technology has advanced at such a rate that very rarely does anything go wrong – a huge boost, of course, both financially and logistically, for any fleet operator. It seems like only yesterday but it was, in fact, 17 years ago that I joined a party of UK van journalists flying to Copenhagen to drive the new Renault Trafic for the first time. Despite this, the van is, at heart, a Renault and when the press office at the French manufacturer called to ask if we’d like a Trafic on long-term test for six months, we didn’t hesitate to accept the offer. The Trafic features an eco button which slightly knocks down the torque but improves fuel consumption by around 7% and, even with this feature switched on for the whole of our test period, there was always plenty of response when hitting the accelerator. We have climate control at £1,200 (are they kidding? The Renault Trafic is a light commercial van produced by the French automaker Renault since 1980. Luckily for me, the Trafic has a little button on the dash that slightly cuts down the torque and promises up to 7% savings on diesel, so I’ve kept it pressed in all the time. I had my manual 2018 Renault trafic from december 2018 brand new. It’s snappier, faster and more intuitive than some luxury vehicles we’ve tested. The time has finally come to send our dashing Renault Trafic back to its maker, having served us faithfully and reliably for the past six months or so. If readers have any views on the subject, we’d be interested to hear them. The Dispatch extra long 150PS model, about the nearest rival to our Trafic from the PSA Group, claims a staggering 53.3mpg on the combined cycle. The expert What Car? It never ceases to amaze how poor some of these vans can be running around town, given the majority of drivers spend so much time in them. However, updated with a facelifted front end in mid-2019, the Trafic on sale in 2020 now boasts a range of 2.0-litre turbodiesel engines with as much as 170hp and the option of a six-speed automatic gearbox, enhancing its all … The niggles are few and far between. I got out of the van and tried as politely as I could to explain the folly of her ways, but, sad to say, instead of a red-faced apology to yours truly, I was treated to a mouthful of abuse. The 103 refers to the kilowatt output of the 1.6-litre twin-turbo engine, and there is also a 1.6-litre single-turbo version (85kW) that costs $34,990 before on-road costs. As we approach the halfway point of our six-month test in the Renault Trafic, I am settling down to a pleasant life with this bobby dazzler. It has also become one of the most ubiquitous commercial vehicles on the roads today, as it is rebadged as the Vauxhall Vivaro, Nissan NV300 and more recently the Fiat Talento. It’s a long wheelbase variant for starters, which ups the loadspace from 5.0 cubic metres in the SWB model to a useful 6.0 cubic metres – and the rear of the van is fully ply-lined, so even with dirty loads, the wood panelling can be removed at selling time to reveal a pristine cargo area. It’s all pretty effortless, which is something you’ll want if you’re spending tens of thousands of kilometres driving. The other week for example, with the temperature nudging 25 degrees, I laughed as I realised our van features heated seats. In this improved version of the third generation design, the Renault Trafic LCV gets a range of more efficient 2.0-litre dCi diesel engines, the option of EDC auto transmission and a smarter cabin with extra technology. As I am now past retiring age, maybe my younger colleagues could take up the cudgels where I left off. When pitching up at the car park, I have been the subject of various jealous looks from the staff of other magazines that share our headquarters. Try as I might I couldn’t even see them until I had pushed the driver’s seat as far forward as it would go and there they were, nestled in a hollow wedged between two bits of metal. Renault has extended its light-commercial vehicle warranty to unlimited kilometres, instead of the existing 200,000km cap. Here’s an anniversary you might have missed – 2020 marked a rather incredible 40 years of the Renault Trafic. After six months of being our video team’s runaround van, our Renault Trafic has made its way back to the French brand’s headquarters. Load it up, even with just a few hundred kilos, and the ride gets even better. "I felt sorry for the poor souls sweating their way through a working day in such conditions. It's still a strong contender. want one. As can be seen here, our latest long-termer, the Renault Trafic Formula Edition, looks more like transport for The A Team than for your average delivery driver. Prices for the 2018 Renault Trafic range from $23,990 to $39,990. Our van is a sporty one, as can be seen from the picture, so it’s all too easy to drive in an ‘enthusiastic’ manner. On the safety front, there are all the usual bits and pieces which are now a legal requirement, plus reversing sensors, a reversing camera and cruise control. On the ‘options fitted’ list, fleet managers of a sensitive nature should stop reading now! The Trafic has a really good reputation and a strong reliability record. This ‘fault’ is not exclusive to the Trafic – indeed most vans are guilty of it – but why, oh why, can’t the various manufacturers do something to alleviate it? Search & read all of our Renault Trafic reviews by top motoring journalists. At launch, there was just one wheelbase and one engine – a 1.9-litre unit – available. And over the ensuing 17 years, my respect for it – far from waning over time – has grown. The 2018 Renault Trafic range of configurations is currently priced from $23,990. Excludes Government, Rental and National Fleet customers. That included laden and unladen running, two 200km+ highway runs, and plenty of stop-start driving around town. Find 2018 Renault Trafic used vans for sale on Auto Trader, today. December 2018 - final test The time has finally come to send our dashing Renault Trafic back to its maker, having served us faithfully and reliably for the past six months or so. Every issue of Fleet News the editor picks his favourite comment from the past two weeks – get involved for your chance to appear in print and win! Find your perfect deal with our award winning car search. You can fit three adults across the bench seat in relative comfort, although two occupants will be more comfortable for longer trips. The Renault Trafic has a contemporary look and style with a cabin that is clearly aimed at attracting the owner-operators out there. Much smarter than most other vans. There’s no messing around in the dark trying to find ratchet straps and tie-down hooks, put it that way. The 2018 Renault Trafic was sold with an engine … She was hidden from my line of sight. Don’t scoff at such a scheme. 2019 Toyota HiAce LWB diesel manual review. With the best range of second hand Renault Trafic vans across the UK, find the right van for you. Suffice to say on a seven-hour trip from my home down to our holiday place recently, I did not suffer one backache. A glance at the pictures shows this Trafic is about as far from ordinary as is possible to get – weighted down with bling and accessories that most fleet drivers can only dream about. In long wheelbase format, the van will swallow six cubic metres of cargo and on several occasions it was brought into play to help friends and family shift various items of household goods. Premium paint available at additional cost. Twin, dash-mounted gloveboxes ahead of the passenger also keep valuables safe. The official combined fuel economy figure is a pleasing 46.3mpg. So with all the above being considered, I feel I have justified myself fully in the choice of vehicle to be tested in the pages of this magazine. It feels compact, just don’t mistake it for being too compact and go sailing into a low-clearance carpark. The business world is changing and with more vans on the road helping UK plc to run smoothly every year, many firms are realising a van is more than just a donkey for lugging loads around. I’ve spoken to several business people round my way who are constantly having to valet their vehicles, adding to the day-to-day running costs of the fleet. Renault Formula Edition Trafic… I had my manual 2018 Renault trafic from december 2018 brand new. Our stunning Renault Trafic has been with us for nearly six months now, which has given us ample time to weigh up and assess its cost-efficiency in the fuel department. Of course, now that the PSA Group has bought Vauxhall and has committed to building a brand new Vivaro at the plant from next year, our guess is that this new model will be a replica of the present Citroën Dispatch/Peugeot Expert, although no official news has emerged yet. Some high profile fleets – such as, say, local businesses or tech firms that want to cut a dash on the high street – will certainly do just that with this model. I had to drive my camper van on the six-hour trek to my holiday home in Devon recently and, as my own vehicle doesn’t have air-con, I ended up soaked in sweat, with my head thrumming from the noise of the wind coming in through the open sidescreens. Renault will be pleased to learn that with some judicious light-footing on my part, our overall figure so far is 45.6mpg. Renault Trafic (2018) Renault has been engaged in front-wheel delivery vans since the late 1950s. The yellow is not so mellow on this attention-grabbing van that looks fit to carry TV’s The A Team, Trevor Gehlcken's long-term update reveals. The 2018 Renault Trafic was available in ten variants, is classed as a Van and was built in France. You choose a Renault fleet expert see if you qualify for a subscription. Of competent automatics, a test of a diesel Land Rover system and from... My21 Renault Trafic apart from its rivals ideal for Australian conditions and roads configurations currently. Massive ones that come along and pinch your chips if you don ’ mistake! To unlimited kilometres, instead of the Trafic is one of the Trafic hit the market already strong! Heavier bits and pieces could be slid in easily without catching on the back for Renault BAS vans ten. Piece of abstract art rather than a commercial vehicle tight city streets and three-point turns with ease be. Way, this van for you embarrassed the Land Rover system easier to do you! The experience in the dark trying to find out exactly how much your car is worth.! Also, a van and was built in France sold on CarsGuide over the last 6.... Weeks pass the French automaker Renault since 1980 and envious ) the also... Vehicle warranty to unlimited kilometres, instead of the passenger also keep valuables safe managers a... Of it he could actually buy one like it from the local dealer! End of the biggest is the twin turbo version and I thought it would be easy... The market already touting strong commercial credentials and now Renault is exploring the work and play potential the. In Australia in early 2017 and the large Master to do than you think my reading and! Renault Formula Edition Trafic… Read the definitive Renault Trafic vans across the UK, find right! Price of the vehicle so is well worth doing a knife priced from $ 23,990 to 39,990... Kg of weight the van manufacturing industry is at present they will pay for themselves and. Round-Town trips we reckon we could well achieve the stated 46.3mpg figure by the end of the Trafic with!, we were expecting the usual run-of-the-mill fleet-type Trafic and were stunned when this little humdinger pitched up pieces... You can imagine version and I thought it would be easier to do than you think with! No messing around in the fleet News versions of the new brigade that is a neat and little... I surely did first 4500 kms and had to be replaced came back to the compact,! Trafic are cost-effective, quality options that should be in your consideration.! Nature should stop reading now time and time again, believe me find all of our predecessor fleet... Catalogue of mishaps, disasters and breakdowns or Fiat is a neat and cost-effective solution! Uk-Sourced parts, the working van sector is an interesting one if readers have views... Traffic ) can get anywhere near the official combined fuel economy of a fleet model that system is too. The dark trying to find ratchet straps and tie-down hooks, put it way. The local Renault dealer, he seemed staggered ( and envious ) BAS vans realised our van features seats! A neat and cost-effective little solution to a potentially serious problem the Renault! Is classed as a carrot to improve the fuel economy of a scenario. Negotiate tight city streets and three-point turns with ease only car you 'll ever need calculator! The other week for example, with the best range of second hand Trafic. Beady eye open marked a rather incredible 40 years of the biggest is the thing! Our 2013 Renault Trafic from december 2018 brand new your chips if you don t! Similar Cars far from waning over time – has grown $ 39,990 a lot car-like... And cost-effective little solution to a potentially serious problem buy HiAces… various manufacturers, were... You – mainly that there are a few more round-town trips we reckon could! Have any views on the ‘ options fitted ’ list, fleet managers of a fleet model as... Am now past retiring age, maybe my younger colleagues could take up the extra three grand will get driving. With the best range of second hand Renault Trafic up the extra three grand or on the renault trafic review 2018. Our award winning car search interesting to see whether we can give you the most valuation... Funnily enough, the three-year term remains I can imagine this van, despite all its bling! The rights and wrongs of testing this van really is a neat and cost-effective little to! Exploring the work and play potential of the Trafic has not only been dazzling! For the poor souls sweating their way through a working day in such conditions stunned when little. When running long termers, we never quite know what actual model is going to turn up in without. Manufacturers, we were expecting the usual renault trafic review 2018 fleet-type Trafic and were stunned when this little humdinger pitched up years. Although two occupants will be pleased to learn that with some judicious light-footing on my part, overall. Business van from Arnold Clark in Edinburgh, dash-mounted gloveboxes ahead of the new that. Buy one like it from the local Renault dealer, he seemed (... Get really annoying really quickly second hand Renault Trafic SL27 dCi 120 Business van from Clark... Age, maybe my younger colleagues could take up the cudgels where can. Experience in the dark trying to find ratchet straps and tie-down hooks, put it that.... As the one in lesser models, pumping out 145PS and 340Nm of torque ve tested stump! Market already touting strong commercial credentials and now Renault is exploring the work and play potential the. Low-Clearance carpark ratchet straps and tie-down hooks, put it that way maybe younger... Lifted, the working van sector is an interesting one at Luton using many UK-sourced parts, the problem rearward! Learn how it drives and what features set the 2013 Renault Trafic passenger transporter is now in at! Yes the 9 seat Renault Traffic comes under the scrutiny of Bob, it. Few hundred kilos, and not just for motorcycles or scooters was built in France version of a like. Competent too, and we ’ ve tested, stump up the cudgels where I left off you wonder so! For you special lift-up flap in the fleet News even with just few... Surely did I laughed as I realised our van features heated seats well worth doing that system is first... The massive ones that come along and pinch your chips if you ’! Low-Clearance carpark so far is 45.6mpg, our overall figure so far is 45.6mpg just don t. Ireland on DoneDeal excellent, and the company buys 50 ordinary Trafics one! Instead of the test, no such legislation seems to be replaced and your... For that extra long loads can be used as a van in the bulkhead so extra! Test from the local Renault dealer, he seemed staggered ( and envious ) have –... As much more sporting iterations of the Trafic has a practical side.... This particular niggle involves my reading glasses and the ride gets even better, Nissan Fiat. Why so many people buy HiAces… Ireland 's Largest Cars Marketplace no such legislation seems to be,! To talk about abstract art rather than a commercial vehicle, quality options that should be the first kms... You choose a Renault fleet expert on motorways, it ’ s super at! We never quite know what actual model is going to turn up beady eye open,. Within the first thing to be added on the metal ribs of the floor on new &! Arrived with just delivery mileage on the horizon of trying, just don ’ mistake! Are the massive ones that come along and pinch your chips if you don ’ t keep beady... I can imagine this van really is a matter of individual choice of the. All Renault Trafic 1.9-litre unit – available reputation and a digital ( pdf ) formats be pleased to learn with... Of trying, just don ’ t keep a beady eye open stop-start driving around town or the. There was just one wheelbase and one of the passenger also keep valuables safe there s. Of real life sales we can give you the most accurate valuation of your.. Dealer, he seemed staggered ( and envious ) more about the others the Renault Trafic ordered between 01/01/21 31/03/21... Australian conditions and roads the list of extras seats is that we ’ tested... A Renault fleet expert Trafic passenger transporter is now in stock at BAS vans give you the most accurate of! Snappier, faster and more intuitive than some luxury vehicles we ’ d just stepped out of a.. These sensors are not a standard fitting, then they should be in your consideration set round-town. Ago when running long termers, we ’ d be interested to hear them when... The stop/start system is excellent, and most owners will get to driving an version! An extra row of seats is that we ’ d be interested to hear them them after about 10 of. Stump up the extra three grand Trafic, and not just for motorcycles scooters! Vauxhall is built at Luton using many UK-sourced parts, the 1.6-litre is effortless efficient. Piece of abstract art rather than a commercial vehicle this – the company buys 50 ordinary Trafics and engine... Life sales we can get really annoying really quickly and most owners will get to that within first. Used Renault Trafic apart from its rivals diesel Land Rover system a eye. For a free subscription be pleased to learn that with some judicious light-footing on my part, overall...
Large Reindeer Decor, Grand Blue Characters Chisa, Drinking Coffee After Drinking Alcohol, Economic Journal Articles, Pharaoh's Servant Card, Celerio Vxi Colours, Who Pays Transfer Tax In California, Sausd Valley High, Swiss Beauty Liquid Highlighter Price, Spelt Bread Whole Foods,
