Renault Master review

Make and model: Renault Master
Description: Large-capacity diesel van
Price range: £33,500 to £39,250

Renault says: “The Renault Master’s success over 40-plus years and three generations has ranked it as a long-standing leader in its category in Europe.”
We say: Highly practical, well-built and easy to drive, it’s no surprise that the Master keeps clocking up awards success.

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Introduction

The Renault Master now boasts a history going back more than four decades, during which the French manufacturer’s largest van has consistently proven itself as a practical large-capacity option for a vast range of operators.

The latest, fourth generation, which first went on UK sale in mid 2024, is billed as an ‘all-new Master’ but is in reality an evolution of what has gone before, following the premise of if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.

Like the previous third-generation model the latest Master is available as a diesel van with three power options – the most frugal 130hp variant being tested here by The Van Expert – and as an electric vehicle (EV) with a range between charges of up to 285 miles.

Previous users of the Master will find themselves in familiar territory when using this vehicle, mostly telling it apart by the bold new visual look, especially on the front end framing Renault’s latest graphic design.

In fact the updates go far deeper, with a redesigned body that most notably shortens the bonnet and angles the front screen to improve the vehicle’s drag coefficient by some 20%. Improving CO₂ emissions by 37g/km on the diesel model, the changes also have a big effect on the EV, improving its energy efficiency by 20%.

Who is this van aimed at?

The Master panel van offers the specification to suit a wide range of users even before one starts to consider the possibilities offered by the also available cab variants – box van, crew van, tipper or chassis cab on which various specialist converters can do their thing.

Certainly delivery companies or any user requiring to carry large quantities of cargo over great distances will have the Master high on their shortlists.

Who won’t like it?

The Master offers enough practicality and options to ensure very few operators will dismiss it. Those companies determined or required to display green credentials have the option of the electric version which while carrying less than its diesel sibling due to the extra weight of its powertrain, still offers a competitive capacity and payload, along with a useful range.

One or two operators might question the non-availability of a right-side loading door, but these are likely to be few.

What do you get for your money?

Typical of the large van market the potential Master panel van purchaser is faced with a wide choice of basic vehicle before thinking about equipment – two wheelbases, two roof heights, three diesel engines…

There are just two trim levels, dubbed Advance and Extra, and the generous equipment levels of the Advance will likely be enough for most purchasers. Standard equipment includes the 10-inch touchscreen with smartphone integration, manual air conditioning, lots of adjustment on the driver’s seat, rear parking sensors and plenty of nice-to-haves such as a centre seat back that folds down to become an office table, and lighting in the load area.

Renault believes the upper Extra specification will mainly be chosen by those who own their own van and, in truth, the trim level does not add all that much of significance, perhaps the most obvious being the Google functions built into the touchscreen, available without needing the presence of a phone.

Other additions include front fog lights with a cornering function, one-touch control on the electric windows, LED lighting in the load area and additional 12-volt sockets in the cabin.

Common to all models is an impressive safety specification, centring on 20 driver assistance systems including lateral stability, automatic emergency braking and trailer stability assist systems. Intelligent Speed Assist is also included alerting the driver when speed limits are exceeded, and through the multimedia system this can be personalised or turned off for the duration of the journey.

Expert tips:

• Safety specification is impressive
• Ten-inch touchscreen from Renault car range easy to use
• Simple connection to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

What can you get in it?

Master choices range across a number of configurations as is expected in vans of this nature, including two wheelbases and two roof heights.

The van under test by The Van Expert has a 3.5-metre wheelbase and measures up at 5.6 metres long overall, producing a load bay length of 3.8 metres at floor level. There is also a 4.2-metre wheelbase model with an overall length of 6.3 metres and this version only can also be ordered with extra roof space, the van height measuring up at 2.78 metres compared to the standard 2.5 metres.

In terms of load volumes the shorter van starts at 10.8m³ ranging up to 14.8m³ in the longer version. Load lengths have been increased by 100mm over the previous generation while the new vans are easier to load too, the sliding side door now producing a 40mm wider opening – note however this door is only available on the left side.

Renault specifies a maximum payload for our test model of 1,921kg, the gross vehicle weight of 3,500kg equating to a gross train weight of 6,000kg.

Expert tips:

• Carefully analyse what you need to do before choosing length and height
• Ply-lining is a good option buy to protect load bay and van resale value
• Ensure there’s no reason why you might need a right-hand sliding door.

What’s the Renault Master like inside?

Renault is making much of the interior updates on the Master, insisting that the aim was to both provide the driver with an efficient mobile office environment and car-like surroundings when on the road.

This update even extends to seats developed directly from those fitted to Renault’s Austral passenger SUV, while the steering wheel is also taken from the car range – it’s more vertical than on the previous Master and offers both height and reach adjustment.

The controls also replicate what’s available in the Renault car line-up, from the audio controls on a small stalk behind the steering wheel to the central 10-inch touchscreen which comes with Renault’s OpenLink multimedia system. As well as wired and wireless integration for Apple and Android smartphones, it also offers various Google apps built in.

Our test van has the six-speed manual gearbox, the alternative (on all but our version) being a nine-speed auto which mounts its controls on the steering wheel. This might be more desirable if you regularly occupy all three of the seats, as the combination of the manual gear-lever and an old-style manual handbrake lever does leave centre-seat legroom in particular a little tight.

The centre seat back will fold down to offer a table for the driver to work at, while among other improvements are a 25% increase in cabin storage space.

Expert tips:

• Car-like interior is very efficient
• The passenger bench seats offer slightly restricted legroom – place your shortest occupant on the middle one
• A rear-view camera is highly helpful to aid judging length in tight situations – a shame it’s a £450 option

What’s under the bonnet?

Our test vehicle makes use of the lowest power 130hp version of the 2-litre diesel engine and returns official combined cycle fuel economy of just over 37mpg, with CO₂ emissions of 220g/km.

The Master’s diesel engine is new to the model and can also be specified with 150hp or 170hp, Renault promising significant improvements in efficiency. Torque figures range from 350Nm to 380Nm, and in truth, the least powerful variant will likely offer all that most operators will need.

Standard transmission on the Master is a six-speed manual gearbox. There is a nine-speed auto, but annoyingly, it’s only available with the two more powerful engines.

What’s the Renault Master like to drive?

Considering the size of the Master, it is a remarkably easy vehicle to handle behind the wheel. It’s easy to get comfortable thanks to the adjustability in seats and steering wheel, and the gear-shift falls easily to hand.

We organised significant drives with the vehicle both unladen and laden – the latter simply accomplished thanks to 180-degree opening rear doors and a reasonably low floor height – a rear step board is available as a £360 option.

The engine might only put 130hp to the road through the front wheels, but it does not seem starved for power, accelerating in a smooth and pleasingly swift manner. Even with an empty load bay the van feels planted on the road with not too many echoey crashes from behind as we run over less than perfect road surfaces.

The steering is light, but not over so, encouraging confidence on twistier road routes. Combiner this with a slightly shorter wheelbase that has produced the impressive turning circle of 12.8 metres between kerbs (13.4 between walls), and manoeuvring in such places as tight yards is an easy process.

Our test vehicle was fitted with rear parking sensors alongside the deep mirrors but a rear-view camera, available on the options list, would be a desirable as it can be difficult to judge the true length of the vehicle when reversing.

Overall, the Master is an excellent companion on the road, making even the longest journeys fatigue free. And with an 80-litre fuel tank on our model (enlarged to 105 litres on the largest L3 versions), we could conceivably clock up more than 600 miles before refuelling.

Expert tips:

• Van is very easy to drive, belying its size
• Big fuel tank means very impressive range
• Light steering aids turning in tight yards, but we miss that rear camera

Verdict

The new Master may be an evolution of its predecessor, but it’s a very good evolution that seems to hit the mark in all areas. Renault has not made the mistake of trying to do anything significantly different with the new model, just improving areas where for example technology allows, such as in the cabin and safety electronics.
Many, many van operators have long relied on the Renault Master, which is why it has such a strong reputation. When those operators come to update their vehicles, there is no reason why they shouldn’t say “same again please…”

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Key specifications

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