Review Renault Trafic 2024 | Car expert

Van drivers spend more time than most people on the road.

Whether they are small business owners delivering precious goods or mailmen delivering Amazon orders, they are a vital part of the economy that for too long has been undervalued, missed Significant safety equipment standard on even some of Australia’s cheapest cars.

However, times are changing. Bestseller Toyota HiAce was overhauled in 2020 with a full suite of active safety features across the range, and its rivals have fallen in line since then – including Renault Traffic.

It’s been facelifted for 2022, bringing a new look, updated interior and a broader suite of active safety features on some models.

Renault also says the Trafic remains a car-like driving choice, with a powerful turbo-diesel engine and refined handling on pock-marked city roads.

How does it shape up in 2024?

How Renault Traffic compare?

See detailed analysis on Renault Traffic against vehicles of similar size.

Renault

traffic

How much does Renault Trafic cost?

Prices for the Renault Trafic have increased by $800 for 2023 – our Pro Van SWB car is at the bottom of the range.

Renault Trafic 2024 car price

• Renault Trafic Pro Van SWB 2024 User Manual: 49,000 USD
• Car Renault Trafic Pro Van SWB 2024: 51,000 USD
• Renault Trafic Pro Van LWB 2024 Owner’s Manual: 51,000 USD
• Renault Trafic Pro Van LWB 2024: 53,000 USD
• Renault Trafic Premium Van SWB 2024: 54,000 USD
• Car Renault Trafic Premium Van LWB 2024: 56,000 USD
• Renault Trafic Crew Pro LWB 2024 car: 58,000 USD
• Car Renault Trafic Crew Lifestyle LWB 2024: 63,000 USD

Price does not include on-road costs

To see how Trafic stacks up against its competitors, take a look comparison tool.

What’s inside the Renault Trafic?

The Trafic’s cabin offers few surprises. You sit high up, looking down at the chunky bonnet, clock and center screen shared with many other Renault models.

As was the case before, the driving position is generally good, with enough space for tall drivers to comfortably sit behind the wheel and plenty of support for long journeys and key contact points as well surprisingly good.

The leather-wrapped steering wheel is upgraded from the high-end versions arrest, such as clicky climate controls and soft-touch control panels. There’s a lot of hard plastic and fabric around, but there are some cool details for crafters who like the finer things in life.

Renault’s internal 8.0-inch touchscreen sits on a stand high above the dashboard, and is fully functional and fully featured. Along with available satellite navigation on some models (not our Pro), it also features wireless (new for 2024) and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto that let you mirror your smartphone.

While it’s clear and fast enough, the screen looks quite distorted – as if it hasn’t been adjusted correctly for the aspect ratio or it’s been converted from an old-fashioned analog TV to a widescreen one. We bet most owners won’t care, but it’s a bit strange.

The simple trip computer and analog dials are perfectly in line with what’s on offer elsewhere in the segment, and the digital speedometer makes it easy to stay below the legal limit if you late for work.

Our tester had a three-seat front bench, with a foldable center seat. The thick backrest has plenty of space for documents and cups, but it’s a pretty inconvenient armrest if that’s how you really want to use it.

The hard padded memory panel that slots into the center armrest and tilts toward the driver is a neat touch and demonstrates the real-world user focus here. Likewise, the 54L storage compartment under the passenger seat is a great place to hide valuables if you frequently get in and out of the car.

There are countless places to store bottles, snacks, documents, and sundries, plus there are both USB-A and USB-C points to keep your devices powered up on the go.

The rear loading space in the new Trafic is unchanged from the previous version.

It has a class-leading load length of up to 4.15 meters use load-bearing bulkhead doors in passenger seat footwells in LWB, or 3.35 meters in SWB versions.

The total load capacity in SWB is 5.8 cubic meterswhile LWB extends that to 6.7 cubic meters and maximum load up to 1280 kg.

Night work is accommodated by LED lighting in the loading area, while there are 16 connection points there for a variety of goods.

What’s under the bonnet?

Only one engine is offered on the Trafic, mated to a 6-speed manual or 6-speed dual-clutch transmission.

To see how Trafic stacks up against its competitors, take a look comparison tool.

How does the Renault Trafic drive?

The idea of ​​a dual-clutch transmission in a van might not seem very intuitive, as they are often used in high-performance cars or city cars with the goal of saving fuel… but the Trafic is very reasonable.

The 1.6-litre engine offered on the Trafic is finally gone, leaving only the more powerful 2.0-litre engine on offer here. Maximum torque is available from just 1500rpm and the transmission is smart enough to keep you within that peak torque band when you need to get around town in a hurry.

There is virtually no hesitation when shifting, and shifts between first and second gear are handled smoothly even when the throttle is light or uneven. Even low-speed climbing, where a smooth ride is required, is handled with aplomb.

However, sometimes it can be a bit slow to connect after starting/stopping. Gear changes are quick, both up and down, making the option of shifting manually using the lever somewhat redundant.

The refinement is also quite impressive. Typically, turbo-diesel engines in trucks feel pretty rough and ready, but you won’t get too much engine noise or vibration on the move here.

The baffle in our tester helps insulate you from reverberations, those annoying noises that tend to echo around the cargo compartment in most trucks, improving the feeling of refinement.

Ride quality is excellent when unloaded. The rear axle doesn’t bounce awkwardly over potholes and speed bumps, instead settling quickly and you don’t get noticeable jolts or vibrations through the frame when hitting hard bumps.

Having ridden a loaded Trafic before, adding 200kg to the load compartment would have helped settle things down a bit. Disc brakes at all four corners are capable of keeping things under control and the 2.0-litre engine doesn’t feel strained with the extra weight on board.

The bulk of this upgrade focuses on the active safety equipment that is now standard on the mid-range Trafic Premium… but not on the base Pro.

It’s a shame that this is part of an options package, given how much time van drivers spend on the road.

Why do we care? Blind-spot monitoring makes it much easier to confidently change lanes around town in a small car with tight windows, let alone a cube van without side windows and a view out. later is limited.

It’s worth noting that even with the extra safety kit, you still don’t get adaptive cruise or a proper lane-keeping assist system, instead the Renault gives you standard cruise and warning The lane departure warning chirps when you stray toward the white line.

The Toyota HiAce There’s been both adaptive cruise and lane-keeping since 2020, and it offers them across the entire range. While the fact the Trafic is an older car explains their absence, it doesn’t make sense for it to happen in 2024.

What do you get?

There are several different configurations that Trafic is available in. On test here is the mid-range Trafic Pro Van SWB.

Trafic Pro is equipped with the following standard equipment:

• 16-inch steel wheels (wrapped on Crew Van)
• Automatic LED headlights
• 8.0-inch touch screen infotainment system
• Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
• 8-way manual driver’s seat with armrest
• Electric windows
• Steering wheel wrapped in imitation leather

The Peace of Mind Package (Pro, $1500) adds:

• Blind spot monitoring
• Traffic sign recognition
• Automatic high beam
• Front and side parking sensors
• Electric folding exterior mirrors

The Convenience Package (Pro, $1000) adds:

• Front fog lights
• Tire pressure warning
• Rain sensor wipers
• Hands-free key card
• Wide view mirror
• Rearview mirror automatically anti-glare

Is Renault Trafic safe?

The Renault Trafic has not yet been rated by ANCAP, although Euro NCAP has given a three-star rating since 2015 to the people-mover variant not sold here.

Previously, ANCAP tested Mitsubishi Expressa rebadged Trafic, for 2021 and didn’t give it zero stars, although it’s worth noting that it doesn’t come standard with active safety technology – something that no longer applies to the Trafic.

Standard safety equipment includes:

• Automatic emergency braking
• Lane departure warning
• Driver and passenger, front and side curtain airbags

Premium and Lifestyle models also receive:

• Adaptive cruise control
• Front and side parking sensors
• Blind spot monitoring
• Traffic sign recognition

How much does it cost to run a Renault Trafic?

Renault Trafic is powered by a 5 year, 200,000 km warranty with five years of roadside assistance.

Maintenance required every 12 months or 30,000km, whichever comes first. The first year of service is limited to $649 each.

CarExpert comments on Renault Trafic

Trafic has not lost its core strength in 2024.

It still offers a polished ride and a real ride quality that stands out from the crowd even without a load on board. There’s also a refined feel that feels more like a car than a truck.

Renault also still offers color and trim options, something that rivals are gradually phasing out. However, there are some shortcomings that are increasingly difficult to ignore.

While the recent addition of automatic emergency braking is a win for enthusiasts who spend more time than most on the open road, the lack of adaptive cruise and lane-keeping assist The line stands out especially with HiAce.

That’s especially notable since you’ll pay similar amounts for either one.

Click on the image for the full gallery

THAN: Buy a Renault Trafic
THAN: Everything Renault Trafic