Renault's Master for all trades

Renault Master:FWD van is great all-rounder

Practical interior includes flip out clipboard

Carminat TomTom satnav in the Renault Master

Carminat TomTom: neatly integrated satnav

Side door provides access to line interior

Renault Master FWD test
Review: Mark Bursa
Date Posted: 06/07/2010

Renault Master MM33 FWD dCi125

What is it?

FRONT-DRIVE VERSION of Renault’s new big van. The Master range now extends right up to 4.5 tonnes with new rear-wheel drive versions, but this medium-wheelbase, medium-height 3.3-tonner is right in the middle of the new line-up.

What's hot?

Bold styling gives Master more distinctive face than bland old model
Excellent build quality is up with the best in the sector
Front-drive models have lower load floor than RWD, so loading is easy…
…and helped by wide side doors and 270-degree opening rear doors
Test van has excellent load capacity of 10.8cu m...
...and impressive 1.415-tonne payload
...while medium roof load area is tall enough to stand in
All-new cab has good ergonomics, with some very neat touches...
...like the centre seat back that doubles as a swivelling laptop stand...
...or TomTom sat-nav mounted where the rear-view mirror might be...
...and the clipboard that folds away into the dashboard
We liked the step built in to the front bumper...
...it allows you to easily clean the windscreen
Also liked non-slip load floor, and the wipe-clean white interior panels
New 2.3-litre dCi engine has 125hp and a whopping 310Nm of torque…
…though we recorded an impressive 38mpg on test unladen

What's not?

There’s little to dislike about this competent newcomer
Unladen ride was a touch bouncy, especially over potholed roads
Radio was FM-only, so no 5Live or Talk Sport!
Why not go the whole hog and add digital wavebands?
Same van also available as a Vauxhall Movano; so shop best deals

What you need to Know

P11D Value:	£25,845
Monthly Rental: *	£n/a
What will it be worth: **	£n/a
GVW:	3,300kg
Payload:	1,415kg
Loadspace Volume:	10.8cu m
Basic Loadspace Dimensions:	3,083mm long x 1,765mm wide x 1,894mm high
Engine:	2.3-litre turbodiesel, 6spd gearbox
CO2 Emissions:	n/a
Power/torque:	125hp/310Nm
Economy:	38 mpg

** Trade value of van if purchased after three years and 60,000 miles.
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Business Van Manager Road Test Rating

The Master completes Renault’s van range refresh, and it’s a step up in comfort and ergonomics over the outgoing model. Rear-drive versions will open up new markets, but this front-drive version is likely to be the main seller, thanks to exceptional loadspace and fuel economy. We also liked the cab layout, with neat features such as the fold-away clipboard, seat-back laptop table and low-cost Carminat TomTom sat-nav system. The restyled van also has loads of road presence thanks to its bold grille and headlamps.