SYDNEY: Renault’s all-new Trafic load-hauler is available in Australia at $33,490. The third generation Trafic was unveiled early last year, and its arrival in local showrooms complements the updated Master and Kangoo models in Renault’s commercial van range.
The new Trafic can be configured in up to 270 ways in various markets, but the Australian range will be somewhat simpler.
For 2015, the Trafic is available in two lengths with the choice of two diesel engines, but only one height and one transmission will be on offer.
Renault’s dCi 90 is the entry-level powerplant, producing 66kW and 260Nm from its 1.6 litre, four-cylinder turbocharged layout.
Buyers can also opt for the dCi 140 engine, which is a twin-turbocharged unit with the same 1.6 litre capacity that boosts power and torque to 103kW and 340Nm.
Fuel consumption is listed at 6.2 l/100km for all models, although the dCi 140 features stop/start technology as standard.
Renault has dropped the automatic transmission option for now, with all Australian 2015 Trafic models to be fitted with a six-speed manual exclusively.
Automatic models made up 40 percent of sales in the outgoing range, meaning that Renault is likely to see a marked impact on sales for this new range. (Interestingly, manuals are far more popular globally, making up around 90 percent of sales in light commercial vans.)
The carmaker may work to counter this by boosting its marketing efforts for the new line-up, attracting manual buyers that hadn’t previously considered the brand.
The dCi 90 is available only with a 3098mm wheelbase as the L1H1 model, while the dCi 140 is available as either L1H1 or the L1H2 with a 3498mm wheelbase.
L1H1 models boast a 3750mm load-length, which Renault claims is the segment leader, and the L1H2 extends this advantage to 4150mm. Payloads are 1235kg for the L1H1 with dCi 90 engine and 1274kg for the L1H2.
Beyond the cargo area, interior features include 90 litres of space from 14 cabin storage compartments, new seats and Bluetooth, while the L1H2 adds an A4 clipboard, under-seat storage and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.
The L1H2 is also available with three option packs: the Pro ($1290), Premium ($1990) and Lifestyle Packs ($2490).
Pro Pack adds side airbags, a wide-view mirror, anti-slip timber floor and more, while the Premium Pack also includes 17-inch alloy wheels, heated seats and a seven-inch touchscreen with sat-nav.
Buyers opting for the Lifestyle Pack get all Pro and Premium Pack options plus climate control and body-coloured exterior features.
Safety features include a reversing camera, automatic headlights and wipers, hill-start assist, electronic stability control (ESC), rear parking sensors and ‘Grip Xtend’ which maximises grip for off-road surfaces such as mud or snow.
Renault’s three-year, 200,000km warranty applies to its new Trafic models, which are also covered by the carmaker’s capped-price servicing program. Services are yearly or every 30,000km, and are capped at $349 each for the first three services.
Customers can opt to purchase extended warranties for the Trafic, which stretch the timeframe out to four or five years but retain the 200,000km maximum distance.
The 2015 Renault Trafic is on sale now, priced from $33,490. This sees the new model enter at $1500 below its predecessor, while pricing for the top-spec model is unchanged.