Renault Trafic

Very comfortable, and bags of space for three adults (plenty of cup holders too – very important)

What’s hot?

  • Vans just don’t come any more comfortable than this. There is plenty of space for three adults in the cab and with a nice light clutch action and a slick six-speed gearbox, you might just as well be driving a large MPV.
  • Another nice touch in the cab is that there’s a coffee cup holder just in the right place on either side. It may sound small beer but you’d be amazed how many vans don’t have this. As I tend to drink lots of coffee while driving, it’s an important point in my book.
  • You also get a big screen TomTom sat nav unit thrown in for the standard price, which is amazing seeing as some manufacturers charge around £900 for it. We reckon TomTom is about the best when it comes to sat navs, although this isn’t a touchscreen version – you have to scroll around the QWERTY keyboard with a cursor on the remote control unit, which can be a pain if you are in a hurry.
  • Also part of the price is air-con, always assuming we get any hot summer days.
  • 40mpg in real life driving – not many match that.

 

Renault Trafic

Minimal protection back here, so get it lined with resale values in mind

What’s not?

  • The big minus point in our eyes is that Renault has decided to keep Electronic Stability Control (ESC) on the options list, while it comes as standard on the rival Ford Transit Custom, Mercedes-Benz Vito and Volkswagen Transporter.
    ESC helps stop sideways skids and has been lauded as the best safety device since the invention of the seatbelt. It will be standard by law on all vans from October 2014, so it’s a shame Renault hasn’t grasped the safety nettle – as they have done so successfully on cars – and loaded it on as standard now.
  • Also, in the back you don’t get any flooring or side protection, so we’d recommend adding a wooden floor and ply-lining if you intend to carry anything heavy.
    Ply-lining costs around £200 to fit but auction house experts reckon a van with a pristine rear end will sell for up to £500 more than one with a scuffed back, so you could actually end up making a profit at selling time.

Got a spare 30 seconds?

 Help us to provide you with better market insight by completing a very short survey. It is anonymous and only takes 30 seconds. You will get free access to the quarterly results.

Thinking of the switch to electric?

Need help in finding the right electric vehicle for you? Compare driving range, battery capacity, charging time, price, and features to find the perfect EV for you.

logo