Renault unveils new entry-level Trafic

Renault has expanded its range of Trafic medium vans with the new Trafic Trader Life, a keenly priced short-wheelbase model aimed squarely at owner/drivers and owner/operators on a budget.

Serving as a new entry-level model for the Trafic light-commercial range, the Trafic Trader Life is on sale now for an introductory launch price of $29,990 drive away – its regular suggested manufacturer list price is $32,990 plus on-road costs.

The model is powered by the most basic engine available in the front-drive Trafic range, a 1.6-litre four-cylinder single-turbo diesel good for a claimed 66kW at 3500rpm and 260Nm at 1500rpm. The unit is mated to a six-speed manual transmission and boasts a Combined-cycle fuel economy of just 6.2L/100km.

The Trafic Trader Life is available in the one three-seater single-cab specification with a nearside sliding steel door and a rear top-hinge tailgate, and it's only available in Glacier White.

No factory options are offered with the model, but a wide range of accessories can be fitted by Renault dealers, and especially the brand's Pro+ network of LCV specialists.

While pitched as something of a bare-bones entry point to the Trafic range, the Trafic Trader Life isn't completely devoid of niceties, coming equipped with electronic cruise control with speed limiter, air-conditioning, and Bluetooth connectivity as standard.

On the safety front, the model has electronic stability control with rollover mitigation and comes with Hill Start Assist, daytime running lights and driver and front passenger airbags, among other safety features.

The newcomer boasts a payload of 1235 kilograms and a braked towing limit of 2000 kilograms. Renault says the model has an internal volume of 5.2 cubic metres.

The Renault Trafic Trader Life comes with a three-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and up to four years of complimentary roadside assistance when the vehicle is serviced through the Renault dealer network. Service intervals are pegged at every 12 months or 30,000 kilometres, whichever comes first, and the first three services are capped at $549 each.

The arrival of the Trader Life brings the Trafic family to a total of five models, spanning single- and twin-cab, short- and long-wheelbase, and single- and twin-turbo models.

Renault Trafic pricing:
SWB Trader Life 66kW Manual, $32,990*
SWB Single Turbo 85kW Manual, $35,490
SWB Twin Turbo 103kW Manual, $38,490
LWB Twin Turbo 103kW Manual, $39,990
LWB Crew 103kW Manual, $43,490

*Introductory launch price, $29,990 drive away

While Toyota's HiAce and Hyundai's iLoad dominate Australia's medium-van landscape, with market shares of 33.9 and 21.6 per cent respectively at the end of 2018 (FCAI VFACTs data), Renault's Trafic currently sits in third place, the 1922 new examples registered last year equating with a market share of 9.5 per cent.

The French brand will be hoping this sharply priced new Trafic variant will provided a significant sales boost for the nameplate, whose market share is currently only 0.2 per cent ahead of Ford's Transit Custom.

It certainly has pricing on its side; pricing for Toyota's HiAce starts from $34,470 (plus ORC), while Hyundai's iLoad starts from $38,790 (plus ORC) and Ford's Transit Custom from $39,690 (plus ORC).

Related reading:
Ford Transit Custom v Renault Trafic: Comparison Review
Renault Trafic Crew: Review
Renault announces 2018-spec Trafic Formula