Call Technical Advice on 1300 655 443 for additional information on this vehicle, and for other automotive advice. or visit www.mynrma.com.auLIKES DISLIKES Split external mirrors Non slip cabin floor Body protection along van sides Slow fuel fill No locking fuel cap Flexing of panels around securing hooks The Renault range of light commercials has always enjoyed sales success in Europe and since 1998, has won the top slot in the European light commercial market with a range of excellent product. The Renault Trafic, new to the Australian market has been one of the vehicles in the Renault range, others being the Kangoo and Master series that has built that success in Europe. The Renault Trafic is available in three body configurations, a short wheelbase low roof van, a long wheelbase low roof van and a long wheelbase high roof van. The base price for the short wheelbase low roof van is $33,490, the long wheelbase low roof van is $35,490 and the long wheelbase high roof van is $37,490. The Trafic range is powered by a 1.9 litre turbo diesel engine and has a six speed manual transmission. There are three other specification variants, “Air”, “Comfort” and “Integral” available. As the name suggests “Air” includes air conditioning and a glove box cooler. This option adds a further $2,800 to the base versions. The next version “Comfort” adds power windows, power external mirrors and remote central locking. The comfort option is an additional $1100 on top of the Air option. The Integral option adds ABS brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and a passenger side airbag. A fully optioned low roof short wheelbase van rounds out to $39,960, long wheelbase low roof is $41,690 and the long wheelbase high roof van rounds out at $43,690. Payload for the three versions is 1200 kg, the short wheelbase low roof has five cubic metres of load space available, the long wheelbase low roof, 5.8 cubic metres and the long wheelbase high roof has 8.36 cubic metres of useable load space. STANDARD FEATURES. Standard equipment in the Trafic include driver front airbag, power steering, height adjustable drivers seat, CD player, a heat reflecting front screen and side tinted glass. WARRANTYThree years /100, 00 km with Renault 24 hour roadside assistance. DESIGN AND FUNCTION ErgonomicsEntry into the cabin is easy thanks to the large opening front doors, although a grab handle on the driver’s side would make access even easier. The steering wheel position is adjustable for reach only and after it was adjusted to suit the driver, the steering wheel obscured the oil warning and battery warning lights. The column mounted radio controls are a great idea, as the dash mounted radio controls are a bit of a stretch when seated. The dash design is wide enough to allow folders and note books to be stored there, three ribs moulded into the dash stop them from sliding around whilst driving. ComfortThe driver seat has fore and aft adjustment. The soft supportive seat base holds the driver in place well, especially during cornering, the seat backrest is slightly firmer. Safety Driver’s airbag is standard. ABS and passenger side airbag is available in the “Integral” option. Four wheel disc brakes are standard. Space and practicality The cabin is large and spacious and the driving position is more car like than some vans on the market with the driver sitting well away from the dash. The side door pockets are generously sized and comfortably fit 1.5 litre drink bottles and various sized folders. The cargo area has no internal panelling, on the sides or roof, the exposed skeleton ribs and braces whilst painted, looked unfinished. Surprisingly, measured noise levels were lower than some other vans recently tested. Rear doors open to 90º, neat handles in the rear doors opens up the catches through to 180º allowing the loading of a standard size pallet by forklift. ON THE ROAD The Trafic was tested with a payload of 500 kilograms of ballast, placed on a standard pallet. The pallet was loaded through the rear door; (the side door opening size of 1 metre was too narrow). The pallet was secured using the securing hooks provided. The hooks were strong enough but when the load was tightened some flexing of the surrounding panelling was noticed. Powering the Trafic is a 1.9 litre turbocharged common rail direct injection diesel engine. It develops 74kW at 3,500 rpm and 240Nm of torque at 2,000 rpm, with 200Nm of torque available from 1,500 rpm. The engine is mated to a six speed manual transmission. The gear ratios are well spaced and allows the engine to operate within its maximum torque curve. Gear shifting is simple, the lever falls to hand easily and the lever has a nicely weighted short throw gate. Acceleration from 50 kms to 80 kms and 60 km to 100 km with 500 kilograms on board was respectable. The Trafic stood up to the rigours of stop start city driving with ease. Highway driving was similarly unfussed the turbocharged diesel proving to be a willing Test vehicle supplied by Renault Australia Renault Trafic SWB Van August 2004 Report No.720, by NRMA Motoring Information Services TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE Type..........................4 cylinder inline diesel Capacit y in litre s ............................. 1.9 litres Induction.................................Turbocharged Fuel recommendation ........................ .Diesel Claime d max. power...... 74kW at 3,500 rpm Claimed max. torque.... 240Nm at 2,000 rpm TRANSMISSION Type........... .......................Six speed manual Drivi ng wheels..... ................................ Front Speed per 1000 rp m in top gear ......45.7kmh WHEELS .................... ...................... ... Steel Tyres........... ............................... Contine ntal Spare............................................... Full size STEERING Type.............Power assisted rack and pinion Turns lock to lock ....................................3.2 Turning circle.........................................12.3 DIMENSIONS Mass............. ........................ ............. 1745kg Length.............................................4872mm Width (incl. mirrors mm) ............... 2020mm Height .............................................1959mm Ground clearance (measured) ...........179mm Seating capacit y .......................................... 2 Fuel tank capacit y .....................................90 TOWING Max. towed mass (trailer plus load).. 2000 kg. towball download (laden trailer)..................N/S NRMA THEFT RATING Points on 0-110 scale (high scor e best) .......N/S WARRANTY ................ 3 years/100,00 k ms MANUFACTURED IN ............................... TEST RESULTS ACCELERATION 50 - 80 km/h (in third gear)................ 8.6sec 60 -100 km/h (in third gear )............14.3 sec 0 -80 km/h........................................15.8 sec 0 - 400 metres .................................. 23.1 sec FUEL CONSUMPTION (litres/100 km) Best recorded during testing ....................7.5 Worst recorded during testing..................9.3 Averag e on test ........................................8.4 BRAKING Dista nce to stop from 80 km/h... 33.4 metres NOISE Interi or at constant 80 km/h ............ 74.8 dba
