Verdict: Clever design features, car-like driving position and affordable running cost make Trafic the van to beat
Spot the difference – old and new Trafic models meet at the launch.
What’s hot?
As we always reckoned the old Trafic was just about the best van to drive, we were pretty impressed with the whole package here on our test routes in Copenhagen.
>In our view the only thing that spoiled the old van was that curious lump in the roof of the cab, which has now been consigned to the great parts bin in the sky. It doesn’t affect headroom either as the seats have been dropped to make the extra few centimetres that are needed.
> For anyone who needs to work while on the move the mobile office items are simply best in class bar none.
As can be seen from the pictures, it’s just about a complete mobile office and if you opt for Renault’s R&GO system, it opens up a whole new world of apps and technology in which the van can talk to a tablet of smartphone. Clever stuff.
>The rear end of the new Trafic doesn’t look a whole lot different from the old one – but it is. The whole van is 21cms longer, with 10cms added to the front and 11cms on the back. This might not sound much but it equates to an extra 0.2 cubic metres of loadspace in the rear on short wheelbase models. And it’s not just the extra space we admire. Open up the rear doors and a veritable cargo wonderland awaits. There are up to 18 load-lashing eyes dotted about on the floor and right up the sides and a flap which opens in the bottom of the bulkhead so that loads of up to 4.15 metres can be shoved inside on LWB models. There is also a natty hanging frame in the roof which can hold ladders and pipes etc, leaving the loadfloor free. The designers really have put a huge amount of effort into making this van as practical as possible. Note, though, that most of these items are paid-for extras.
> Engine technology means that nowadays more and more power is squeezed out of smaller engines, so that the Trafic is now rowed along by a single diminutive 1.6-litre unit, albeit assisted by the aforementioned single and twin turbos. We tried 115bhp and 140bhp models on our test routes in Denmark and both proved quiet, refined and powerful, even with half loads on board. The 115 was the sweeter of the two but the 140 doesn’t have to work as hard and requires less gearchanges to get the same performance. Although, we’d probably plump for the 115 if we were buying this van for business use.
> One of our gripes with the old vehicle was that Renault (and Vauxhall) charged extra for Electronic Stability Control (ESC) which helps alleviate sideways skids. It’s due to become a legal requirement on all cars and vans from October so Renault had wisely fitted it now as a standard equipment.
What’s not?
> Can this vehicle possibly be too car-like? The driving position is laid back like a car and will suit anyone using a van for the first time. I quite like the old sit-up-and-beg style and with a lack of real lumbar support on the Trafic I started to get a few back twinges after 50 miles or so. Having said that, this is a purely personal gripe. I asked the dozen or so other hacks on the trip if they agreed with me and none of them did, so maybe it’s just that, at a lanky 6ft 3in, I’m the odd one out.
> On the safety front we would like to have seen reversing sensors as a standard fitment. They will certainly save on rear-end damage and could even save a life.
One important thing that is not mentioned is that the fuel tank has been cut down from 100 to only 80 litres. While there is better fuel economy it will still mean more visits to the pumps which as an existing Vivaro driver I would find annoying. Another omission is that there is no Tech Shift option.