Introducing the new Renault Trafic
The Renault Trafic has been a fixture of British working life since 1980, and the latest version builds on that reputation more convincingly than ever. Whether you're a plumber hauling kit between jobs, a catering business doing the breakfast run across town or a parcel courier covering dozens of drops before lunchtime, the Trafic is built with your working day front of mind. Practical, dependable and surprisingly refined, it stands toe-to-toe with well-known rivals — often at a sharper price.
A contemporary redesign gives the Trafic a bolder presence on the road, with full LED headlights, a structured grille and clean body lines. Inside, the cabin has been modernised to include the Renault passenger car-style dashboard, making it feel less like a workhorse and more like an office on wheels.
Available across two lengths (L1 and L2), two heights (H1 and H2), a Crew Van and a Platform Cab for specialist conversions, the Trafic offers a wide range of configurations — which means whatever your trade, there is almost certainly a Trafic that fits.
Payload and Capacity
For most working people, a van lives or dies by what it can carry, and the Trafic more than holds its own. The entry-level L1H1 — the go-to choice for couriers, mobile engineers and white-van tradespeople — provides a load volume of 5.8 cubic metres, with a maximum payload of up to 1,222kg. That's enough to handle a full set of plumbing tools and materials, several boxes of catering supplies or a day's worth of parcel deliveries with room to spare.
Step up to the L2H1 — the long-wheelbase, low-roof variant favoured by builders and utility contractors — and load volume jumps to 7.8 cubic metres. A trap door in the bulkhead allows load lengths of up to 4.15 metres, one of the longest in the segment, making it ideal for carrying lengths of pipe, conduit, timber or worktops that simply wouldn't fit in a shorter van.
The L2H2 takes things even further, offering 8.9 cubic metres of load space — practical standing room inside the cargo area — with payloads of up to 1,145 kg depending on specification.
For trades that need something a little bit different, the Platform Cab opens the Trafic up to a wide range of aftermarket conversions, from dropside flatbeds and box vans to refrigerated units and welfare vehicles.
Technology and Safety
The dashboard features a colour touchscreen infotainment system with dial controls, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, USB ports, Bluetooth audio and a mounting cradle for a phone or tablet. For the many drivers who live in their van during working hours, these are not optional extras — they're essentials.
The Trafic holds a Gold medal from Euro NCAP for commercial van safety, and its ADAS suite backs that up. Every variant comes with Electronic Stability Control, Hill Start Assist, Active Emergency Braking (which detects vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians from 9mph) and Lane Departure Warning as standard. Higher trim levels add Adaptive Cruise Control, Traffic Sign Recognition with overspeed alert, Blind Spot Warning and front, rear and side parking sensors. For drivers working long hours, all that adds up to a far less stressful day.
Security has been taken seriously too: the Trafic includes a volumetric alarm as standard across the range — one of the few vans in its class to do so — and an Enhanced Security Lock is available through Renault Pro+ dealers, such as Evans Halshaw.
Economy and Performance
The Trafic's engine range includes four Blue dCi diesel units, all 2.0-litre, all meeting Euro 6d-Full standards, and all fitted with Stop & Start technology as standard.
The Blue dCi 150 is the big seller and sweet spot of the range — 150bhp, and up to 258lb ft of torque gives it the grunt to handle a fully loaded van on a motorway without fuss, while returning fuel economy of more than 40mpg on a WLTP combined cycle. At the top of the range, the Blue dCi 170 Auto pairs 170bhp and 280lb ft of torque with Renault's EDC dual-clutch automatic gearbox — the natural choice for high-mileage fleet operators or those who spend too much time in heavy stop-start traffic.
All four engines meet Euro 6d-Full standards, which means the Trafic passes through every current UK Clean Air Zone without surcharge — an increasingly important detail for operators with city-centre customers. AdBlue technology keeps emissions in check without a heavy penalty on fuel economy, and the EDC automatic is one of the smoother dual-clutch boxes in the commercial vehicle sector.
For those wanting ultimate efficiency, there's also the recently-announced, all-electric Renault Trafic Van E-Tech.
Trafic Models
Advance
Key features include:
- 8-inch touchscreen with DAB radio, Bluetooth and USB ports
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Manual air conditioning
- Mobile Office — folding central seat with document holder and laptop storage
- Active Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Warning and Intelligent Speed Assist
- Rear parking sensors and rear parking camera
- Volumetric alarm
- 16-inch wheel trims
Extra
Key features, in addition to Advance, include:
- Built-in navigation with three years of connected services
- Automatic headlights and rain-sensitive wipers
- Interior LED cabin lighting
- Premium dashboard with chrome styling and faux leather steering wheel
- Electric folding door mirrors
- Body-coloured bumpers, mirrors and side mouldings
- 17-inch Avens alloy wheels
Extra Sport
Key features in addition to Extra, include:
- Climate control (replacing manual air conditioning)
- 360-degree parking sensors — front, rear and sides
- 17-inch Avens diamond-cut alloy wheels (replacing standard alloys)
- Hands-free keycard with keyless entry and start
Experience the Renault Trafic with Evans Halshaw
With its combination of carrying capacity, real-world economy, modern technology and proven safety credentials, the Renault Trafic is a strong all-round choice for any business. Unlike rivals that offer a single 'fleet-friendly' spec, the Trafic's extensive range of configurations means a sole trader and a national fleet manager can both find a version that precisely meets their needs.
If you're interested in test driving a Renault Trafic, please get in touch with your nearest Evans Halshaw Renault retailer and our team will arrange an appointment at a date and time that suits.
