CarShowroom and other media outlets get excited about Renault’s red-hot Megane RS265 hot-hatch but the French giant is doing very well in the less-glamorous world of light commercial vehicles (LCV).
In fact for the last 15 years, Renault has been Europe’s LCV market leader and here one German importer must be looking at Renault Australia’s LCV sales growth (up by 70 per-cent this year) with considerable gnashing of teeth.
Well the news gets better with Renault introducing three new rear-wheel-drive versions of the 4.5-tonne Master cab chassis model in both single and dual-cab guise.
Priced from $45,490 (single cab) and $50,490 (dual cab) and affording a payload up to 2.5-tonnes and a towing capacity of 3.0-tonnes, the Renault Master comes in either manual or ‘Quickshift’ automatic. Dual-cab models come standard with an automatic differential lock (optional on Single Cab) – handy on the slippery surfaces typically found on construction site or rural properties.
As you’d expect from a European LCV, the Renault Master comes with abundant safety and driver-aide technology and is big on creature comforts such as standard air-conditioning and a chilled glovebox. Factory steel or alloy drop-side trays, satellite navigation and a rear-view camera are on the options list.
Power comes from an up-rated version of Renault’s familiar 2.3-litre, four-cylinder turbo-diesel – now good for 110kW/350Nm and 30,000kms service intervals.
The Renault Master Single Cab is available in two wheelbase lengths (3682mm or 4332mm) with the Dual Cab only in 4332mm. Impressively, the Dual Cab offers seating for seven with its ‘four-across’ rear bench seat.
Renault Australia supports its commercial vehicles with a three-year/200,000kms factory warranty, three years of Roadside Assistance and capped price servicing for the first 90,000kms or three years.
