Renault Master Van Range
The Renault Master: an agreeable, well-built panel van, sophisticated diesel engines, sprawling model Range and pragmatic, efficient design. These are all good things, qualities that van buyers like, but pick any of the top-selling large panel vans currently available and you could sum them up in similarly glowing terms. The Masters problem is getting itself noticed in a market characterised by competence and proficiency.
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This is no bad thing, of course, as anyone who has used a Renault Master van or one of its contemporaries will tell you - they do the job. The resemblances that many of the modern panel van contingent evidently share are not solely down to the manufacturers hitting on a formula that works and sticking to it. Its a more often a case of them hitting on a formula that works and then liberally sharing it around. Citroen, Fiat and Peugeot grouped together to produce their respective Relay, Ducato and Boxer models, while the Master van, at which we look here, is the fruit of a union between Renault, Nissan and Vauxhall, which has also yielded the Interstar and Movano.
With essentially identical, albeit differently badged, models available from other manufacturers, even more emphasis is placed on the ability of Renault dealers to attract buyers by means of special offers and/or higher quality aftersales provision. The Masters sales success can be partially taken as evidence that they have adapted to this task well.
"From door handles to dashboard, it feels robust enough to stay the course and the diesel engines are similarly dependable"
Having made a brief explanation of the ins and outs of the wider market, its on to the Renault Master in more detail. The key to all good panel van Ranges is variety, there should be a product suited to the needs of every potential panel van customer, whether they prioritise low costs, big loads, high equipment levels, pretty colours or a healthy combination of all the above. Thanks to a package of recent revisions, there have been many changes to the Master line-up in recent times. Buyers have a choice of three wheelbases (short, medium and long 3078mm, 3578mm and 4078mm), three roof heights (short, medium and high, 2.
25m, 2.48m and 2.72m) and three body types: panel van, commercial passenger vehicle (Master 6, 9 and 16 Seat) and open transport (platform, chassis and double chassis cab). Load volume Ranges from 8m³ to 20m³. Completing the Master line-up are the bodies for conversion in bare chassis, chassis-cab (single and double) and platform cab versions. These form the basis for a host of body conversions to address various applications, including ambulances, refrigerated transport, motorhomes, mobile workshops and disabled passenger transport. The recently introduced 2.
5 dCi engine is available in the Master with three power outputs: 100hp, 120hp and 150hp. The mid-Range 120hp engine has gained 10Nm in maximum torque over the previous version and a particulate filter appears on the dCi 150 engine. All three 2.5 dCi powerplants are available with a six-speed manual gearbox or a semi-automatic Quickshift6 set-up.
The equipment levels on Master are more comprehensive than you might expect, with standard features including a 30W CD RDS radio with fingertip remote control, ABS with EBD, a full steel bulkhead (excluding passenger versions), a Thatcham category 1 alarm and a trip computer. The Master chassis accommodates heavy loads, with a double-delta front suspension system with upper swingarm, and wide track for precise steering and roadholding on any type of road surface in any weather. A front suspension system with independent wheels ensures steering efficacy and suspension comfort at all load levels. Getting the experience of driving and using the Master day to day right is a task to which Renault have obviously applied themselves.
In the back, the sills are low and the apertures are wide so weighty items can be hoisted on and slid in more easily. The cab is tidily assembled and thought has been given to storage, although a lot of the more ingenious solutions in this area are confined to the options list. Theres a handy recess in the centre of the dash that takes phones and wallets without spitting them back out onto the floor when you move off while the class-leading door pockets with massive capacity and separate flask section remain. One bugbear is that the heavy cab doors tend to bounce back off their stays when opened.
This can be infuriating if youre trying to get in with an armful of clutter and painful if youre still hoisting yourself inside when the door makes its return journey. The latest facelift brought improvements throughout the interior but the biggest boon is the dash-mounted gearstick for swifter shifting and better cross-cab access. The ride is comfortable for a big vehicle designed to cope with big loads and theres decent refinement along with a tight turning circle. In comparison to its adversaries at the top of the UK panel van market, the Master has set-out an eye-catching stall with a-view to attracting your business.
From door handles to dashboard, it feels robust enough to stay the course and the diesel engines are similarly dependable - then theres that varied model Range to consider. Whether it has the gumption to come out on top from the field of class-leaders is open to debate, theres not much to split the field on price or performance and buying decisions will be swayed either way on personal taste and the kind of package you can extract from your Renault dealership. Master buyers can rest assured that theres nothing significantly better out there.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
VAN: Renault Master van Range ENGINES: 100bhp 2.5dCi, 120bhp 2.5dCi and 150bhp 2.5dCi LOAD VOLUMES: 8.0-13.9 cubic metres MGVW: 2.8, 3.3 or 3.5 tonnes BODY OPTIONS: panel van, chassis cab, chassis double-cab, platform cab, minibus
