Renault TRAFIC Review & Prices

The Renault Trafic is a mainstay of the medium van world. This particular model has been on sale since 2014, though it’s had many updates since then - the latest in 2022. It’s a solid proposition with plenty of loading space and some smart features - but it’s not as good to drive, nor as capacious in payload terms, as the latest Ford Transit Custom or the Stellantis vans such as the Citroen Dispatch.

The Trafic is a bit like Tom Jones - it’s getting old and a bit crusty, but it can still belt out a tune if you poke it. It’s not quite as unique as Tom Jones, though, because the Trafic is mechanically identical to the Nissan Primastar.

The Trafic doesn’t wear the brand’s latest corporate face, nor its new badging - but it’s still unmistakably a Renault, with a bold grille and huge diamond emblem dominating the front. It’s flanked by C-shaped LED daytime running lights, similar to those on the larger Master, while round the sides and back there are some swooping styling lines to add a bit of visual interest, and high-set vertical taillights for maximum visibility.

When it comes to choosing a Trafic, you can select from two body lengths, with a high roof available on the shorter van. You can also get a panel van, crew cab, the nine-seat Trafic Passenger minibus or the posher Trafic Spaceclass people-mover.

There are two trim levels, both quite generously equipped, and three diesel engines with either six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic gearboxes. There’s also an all-electric E-Trafic, an alternative to the E-Transit Custom and the Peugeot E-Expert.

The Trafic has a really large loading area - it’s the longest of any medium-sized van, shared with its Nissan sibling and aided by a standard load-through flap in the bulkhead. However, while you’ll be able to fit big items in, the payload is a couple of hundred kilos shy of the best vans in this class.

While the pre-facelift version of the Trafic was slammed by Euro NCAP for its lack of active safety equipment, the latest model scores four stars thanks to a substantial improvement in adding this tech.

Unfortunately the Trafic’s driving experience doesn’t feel quite so up-to-date - the engines are strong but sound quite coarse, the optional automatic gearbox isn’t as good as the alternatives and the steering feels quite heavy and unnatural.

It’s hard to criticise the cab, though - while storage could be better, it’s as simple as you like to use and all models come with a touchscreen infotainment system that runs Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The Trafic is a reasonable choice of medium-sized van if you don’t need the highest payload ratings. Consider the mechanically-identical Nissan Primastar if you want a longer warranty, though, or the Ford Transit Custom for a superior all-rounder with higher payloads.

You can buy a new or used Renault Trafic van right here on Carwow - and remember we can even help you to sell your old van, too.

The Trafic range starts at just under £30,000 ex.VAT, more expensive than the Stellantis range of medium vans but around £2,000 cheaper than a basic Ford Transit Custom or Mercedes Vito.

All models come with air-conditioning, remote locking, an alarm, and a 7.0-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. If you step up to the Extra model you get a much nicer 8.0-inch screen with built-in nav, a leather steering wheel, and 17-inch alloy wheels plus body coloured mouldings for a more automotive look.

Powerful engine range includes an optional automatic, but the Ford Transit’s engines are quieter

Quite nicely, the Trafic does without a totally gutless entry-level engine option - the base-spec model gets a useful 130hp 2.0-litre diesel, with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard.

Step up further and you can have a 150hp engine with either manual or auto gearboxes, or the range-topping auto-only 170hp unit.

All the engines feel suitably punchy, but they’re a little coarse and agricultural-feeling next to the smooth diesels you get in a Mercedes Vito or Ford Transit Custom. The manual gearbox isn’t the nicest, either - it has a notchy action. The auto, while responsive, isn’t as smooth or unobtrusive as the Transit Custom’s, either.

The Trafic’s steering is quite heavy, especially just around the dead-ahead. This makes it feel reassuringly sturdy on the motorway but can be quite tiring if you’re taking a lot of corners in the city. It handles bumps on the road nicely, though, especially in the long-wheelbase models.

Extra-long load area is great for big items, but alternatives offer more payload

The Trafic’s load area is ready for work. The van is available in two body lengths and, on the shorter model, two roof heights, and all models come with a single sliding door. A second sliding door is an option.

The bulkhead comes standard with a fold-down flap that allows you to load longer items underneath the front passenger seat. Bright LED lighting illuminates the load area, and there’s a choice of numerous racking solutions from Renault including a really neat internal roof rack.

Renault Trafic internal and external measurements

Exterior dimensions

Exterior length (L1/L2): 5,080/5,480mm
Exterior width without mirrors: 1,956mm
Exterior width with mirrors: 2,283mm
Exterior height (H1/H2): 1,971/2,495mm

Interior dimensions

Maximum load length (L1/L2): 2,537/2,937mm
Maximum load width: 1,662mm
Maximum load width between wheelarches: 1,268mm
Maximum load height: (H1/H2): 1,387/1989mm

Side door height/width

All versions: 1,284/1,030mm

Rear door height/width

H1: 1,320/1,391mm
H2: 1,820/1,391mm

Towing capacity

The Trafic range can tow up to a 2,500kg braked trailer, which is up there with the best panel vans of this size.

Payload

The latest variant of Trafic can carry up to 1,032kg in its best version, which is a good 300kg shy of the best Ford Transit Custom and even more of a gap from the Stellantis vans and their 1,400kg+ max payloads.

That reflects that this is a relatively old van which had great payloads when new but has since had to accommodate lots of new tech, particularly safety kit. Still, it has the Mercedes Vito beaten for payload, and if you carry bulky but lightweight items then the Trafic’s loading area will be very useful.

Well-built cab is easy to use, though doesn’t feel the most modern in places

The Trafic shares most of its switchgear with Renault and Dacia’s range of passenger cars, and there’s plenty of it. Not only do you get a full range of physical climate controls with easy-to-use dials, but you get a useful stalk to control the radio and some shortcut buttons. There’s a button to easily switch off the more annoying excesses of the safety equipment, which is a very pleasant addition.

The central touchscreen isn’t the best - it’s not very high-res and next to the massive 13.0-inch unit you get in a Ford Transit Custom it looks particularly small and old-fashioned. But it gets the basics right, with relatively easy-to-navigate menus. Plus, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included as standard, and some models even get a wireless phone charging pad.

Interior quality is pretty good, and the plastics feel hard-wearing rather than cheap. Some bits don’t quite feel as built-to-last as the rest of the cabin, though, such as the air vents.

And while there’s lots of interior storage, it’s not all very obvious. You only get cupholders on either end of the dash, so there’s nothing for a centre occupant, and there’s not much room for everybody’s feet either. But the wider-than-average cab does mean it’s more comfortable for three people’s shoulders than a Citroen Dispatch, for example.

According to official figures the Renault Trafic should return around 40mpg, and this should be achievable in a lightly loaded van on longer drives. The manual is likely to be the more efficient model, and if you’re travelling loaded up most of the time we’d recommend opting for the 150hp engine as it doesn’t need working quite as hard to get up to speed.

All vans have an ‘eco’ mode, but this just cuts the throttle response and assuming you still want to travel at largely the same speed, doesn’t really improve fuel consumption in any measurable way.

In its latest batch of van safety tests Euro NCAP gave the Renault Trafic four stars. This is based on its active and passive driver safety equipment rather than crash tests, as Euro NCAP doesn’t perform these on vans - however, when it tested the passenger-carrying version of the pre-update Trafic many years ago, it scored it three stars.

You should feel encouraged that all models get driver and passenger airbags as standard, and that the safety equipment fitted isn’t the most irritating so you’re more likely to leave it on. If you’d prefer to turn off systems such as the speed limit warning, you can set up a profile which can then be activated by two quick taps of the ‘My Safety’ button to the right of the steering wheel.

All Trafics get a Thatcham category 1 approved alarm as standard, which is rare for a medium van.

This version of the Trafic has been around in one form or another for a long time - its parts are shared with Renault’s other commercial vehicles and so there should be no issue with supply. Renault’s nationwide dealer network includes dedicated van centres called Pro+, which rank well in customer satisfaction - even though the reliability of the Trafic typically only ranks averagely.

Warranty cover is three years and 60,000 miles, unlimited in the first two years - the bare minimum, but nothing more. The mechanically identical Nissan Primastar has five years of coverage, while the Toyota Proace can get up to 10 providing it’s serviced with Toyota.

Service intervals, meanwhile, are set at a pretty standard two years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first.