Renault Master 2011 Review
2020 Renault Master SWB manual: Review
Renault is having a bit of a push into the van market with updated 2020 Trafic and Master models. We grabbed the entry-level Master SWB for a week, doing some runs around the city and a bit of urban delivery…
Renault has been a bit of a quiet achiever in the Australian LCV market since it launched in 2010 and the Renault Master frequently ranks in the top three in its segment.
Sales have steadily increased from 68 units in 2011 to close to 1600 units in 2019. At the time of writing, the April 2020 sales results had just been released and Renault was coming third in the light-duty van sector behind Mercedes-Benz and Ford.
With this upgrade the French manufacturer, which is the market leader in Europe, is hoping to capture a larger slice of the light van pie.
At the launch of the new Master in March, Renault Australia Managing Director, Anouk Poelmann said: "The renewed Master is designed to make the lives of its business and retail customers easier with class-leading design, technologies and services available, all supported by the heritage of the Renault brand.
"Starting from $44,490 RRP the new Renault Master, like every Renault vehicle, is designed for Australians who are confident in their decisions and are prepared to stand apart from those around them," Poelmann added.
What's in the update?
With the 2020 update, the Master gets a new-look front end that is more modern and brings it into line with other Renault products. Its new features include C-shaped daytime running lights, a more elevated bonnet line and a vertical grille with a new logo holder, a chrome-finish grid and strip.
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Renault Master Bus: Review
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2019 Trucksales best commercial van
It is a more appealing look and slightly more robust than the superseded version, which was looking a bit dated.
Inside, the Master has been given a full makeover. There's a new dashboard that's been redesigned with sleeker, more modern lines and larger storage compartments.
There are new chrome treatments to the air vents and steering wheel and a new 3.5-inch screen between the speedo and the tacho that gives information like fuel consumption, trip, temperature, and other vehicle systems status.
The seven-inch touchscreen in the centre of the dash now includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone replication as well as standard navigation and a digital radio.
There's plenty of storage in the cabin with generous door pockets that include drink bottle holders, overhead storage for books and documents, and ample storage under the seats as well. One gripe that Aussie drivers might have is a lack of drink holders in the dash. There is one in the centre of the dash but it's closer to the passenger than the driver…
There's seating for three with the centre seat foldable to reveal a work station and a bit more storage. The seats are comfortable and the driving position is upright with movement of the seat a tad restricted by the full bulkhead. An ISRI suspension seat is a box you can tick at purchase, but more on the options later.
Vision from the driver's perch is great with a deep windscreen and great peripheral vision. The mirrors are good too with large main mirrors and small convex mirrors underneath. Oh, and there's a standard reversing camera in the centre screen as well as rear proximity sensors.
The bulkhead is glazed so you get a bit of rear vision through there but it is hindered by the centre seat upright.
Prices and variants
The Master is available in four wheelbase lengths: short, medium, long and extra-long. There is also a 'Platform' variant which is used mainly for motorhomes.
Two gearboxes are available: a six-speed manual (which we had for our test) and a six-speed auto.
Most models are front-wheel drive but there are a few that are rear-wheel drive. The engine remains the same 2.3-litre turbo-diesel producing 120kW in manual form and 110kW in automatic guise, with a mix of single-turbo and twin-turbo variants on offer.
2020 Renault Master recommended retail pricing:
Master PRO SWB FWD MT 120kW twin-turbo: $44,490
Master PRO SWB FWD 110kW: $46,990
Master PRO MWB FWD MT 120kW twin-turbo: $47,490
Master PRO MWB FWD 110kW: $49,990
Master PRO LWB FWD MT 120kW twin-turbo: $49,490
Master PRO LWB FWD 110kW: $51,990
Master PRO LWB RWD MT 120kW twin-turbo: $51,990
Master PRO ELWB RWD MT 120kW twin-turbo: $54,990
Master PRO Bus MY20 PRO LWB FWD 110kW: $62,990
Master PRO LWB Platform FWD 110kW: $46,490
Service and warranty
All Masters come with a three-year unlimited-kilometre warranty and servicing is every 30,000 kilometres or 12 months, whichever comes first.
There's also three capped-price services, which equates to three years or 90,000 kilometres, and you can get up to four years of complimentary roadside assistance if the vehicle is serviced by a Renault dealer.
Options and packs
There are a number of options and packs that you get for the Renault Master, the first and probably the most practical being the Trade Pack. This consists of a wooden floor in the cargo area, full-height timber wall lining, a rear step on front-drive models (it's standard on rear-drive) and LED ceiling lights. This will set you back $1600.
Next there's the Business Pack comprising fog lights, hands-free key card and chrome interior and exterior trim for that added bit of bling. This one will set you back $1000.
Then there's the Convenience Pack for manual transmission models and this adds auto high/low beam on the headlights, lane departure warning, blind-spot warning and front parking sensors all for an extra $1000.
You can also opt for a right-hand-side sliding door for an extra $800, left and right glazed sliding doors for another $800, an ISRI suspension seat for a further $800 and even a diff lock for rear-drive models for a grand.
On the road
I have to say, I was very pleased that our test vehicle was a manual model. So many vehicles we drive these days are autos, so it's refreshing to jump into a manual from time to time.
And what a lovely manual it is! The slick, short-throw 'box is a delight to use. The six speeds are well spaced and get the Master up to speed effortlessly whether laden or not (although we didn't load it to capacity). I found that unladen it was easy to skip-shift occasionally and given that its maximum torque of 260Nm is made low at 1500 revs, it pulls solidly from just off idle.
It's a flexible engine with plenty of urge on hand right through the rev range. Maximum power is made at 3500rpm so it doesn't run out of puff too early.
I found that on the freeways it's got really long legs and cruising in sixth gear at 100km/h the engine is ticking over at just 2000rpm. Consequently fuel consumption is excellent. Over the week that I had the Master I averaged 7.2L/100km and at times on long freeway runs I had it down into the sixes.
The fuel tank is generous at 100 litres, meaning that driven sensibly you can get over 1300 kilometres between fills. And even driven poorly, you can expect over 1000 kilometres per tank.
And it's manoeuvrable too, as I found out when I went to get a load of boxes and furniture from a storage locker. With a turning circle quoted at 12 metres, it was easy to swing around in the tight confines of the storage centre.
Noise levels aren't bad for a van but a bit more insulation – maybe in the form of the Trade Pack – would help. The substantial steel bulkhead helps with the heating and cooling of the cab as well as being a great safety addition.
Handling is great and it's worth mentioning how far vans have come in a short period of time to make them as slick in the handling department as many of today's cars.
Brakes are excellent too with good feel and top-notch stopping power – as I found out when another motorist unexpectedly pulled out in front of me.
Once I got used to all the systems on the Master, I found it really easy to use and ergonomically sound.
I would mind a few more grab handles to help getting in and out, especially on the A pillar – it's a small gripe but if you're doing multiple deliveries during a work day, I'm sure it would help.
Overall I liked my time in the Master. It's comfortable, easy to drive, economical and certainly fit for purpose.
It's no wonder it has proven so popular in Europe.
Specifications:
Engine: 2.3-litre four-cylinder twin turbo diesel
Power: 130kW at 3500rpm
Torque: 360Nm at 1500rpm
Transmission: Six-speed manual (six-speed automated manual optional)
Fuel: 100 litres
Tare weight: 1823kg
GVM: 3510kg
Payload: 1687kg
Cargo bay volume: eight cubic metres
Turning circle (kerb to kerb): 12 metres
Warranty: Three years/unlimited kilometres
Source: https://www.trucksales.com.au/editorial/details/2020-renault-master-swb-manual-review-124169/
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