couple of months (and will be standard with the electric Master), for now you get a manual handbrake – not so bad in itself, but this one is annoyingly placed, as you have to reach around the driver’s armrest to use it (or fold the armrest away, but that’s not a choice that should have to be made since it renders the armrest pointless). Speaking of annoyances, while Renault
is required by law to audibly alert the driver in cases of speeding, it has no one else to blame for the speed information this system uses being inaccurate – we found ourselves being bonged at several times during our test for ‘speeding’ when we clearly weren’t, until we turned the system off (though to comply with the law
it returns by default each time the van is switched on). While the electric Master is only
available with the Advance trim level, diesel buyers can choose between Advance and higher-spec Extra trim. Te latter, which Renault expects to mainly interest owner-drivers, is tested here. Among the additional features are built-in Google services – apparently left off the Advance due to some fleets’ GDPR concerns. Tese run on the same 10in touchscreen which all Masters get, which also has wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto connectivity. Te screen falls nicely to hand due to the middle of the dashboard angling towards the driver, and is usefully responsive. Te electric Master
also comes with a fully digital driver display, but the diesel version must make do with a more traditional instrument panel, with just a 3.5in TFT display in the middle – not that there’s too much wrong with this in terms of functionality. Te Master’s cabin also features much design cleverness based around the middle seat. Fold it down, and it becomes a useful table/desk (including a storage cubby with a strap to secure a laptop). Alternatively, lift the seat squab, and a commodious stowage area is accessible under the bench. Renault says up to 135 litres of storage is available around the cabin. As for the Master’s main load area,
the range includes three panel van sizes – medium wheelbase and roof (tested here); long wheelbase, medium roof; and long wheelbase, high roof. Load bay dimensions are the same for both diesel and electric Masters, however with our spec the diesel has a 284kg payload advantage at 3.5t (although the four tonne electric Master, taking advantage of the UK government’s electric van derogation, turns the tables on the diesel with a further 176kg of payload capacity). Extra trim includes LED load bay lighting. As well as impressing on the road,
the Master also looks good value for money, since, at £36,840, excluding VAT, the model tested here by far undercuts the Ford Transit, for which range prices start at over £40,000. It’s another factor in making the Master an impressive overall package.
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