Renault Trafic: An Overview

French marquee Renault launched Trafic in 1981 and ever since the very first generation it has differentiated itself from other vans on grounds of its superior design, drive and performance. Its arch rival Ford Transit is considered one of the most rugged vans, with dull design, but Trafic brings similar durability with a captivating curvy design and car like handling.Being the only good looking van in the market, Trafic has been applauded for its distinct design and its competitors consider its design the only reason for its success. In reality Trafic’s beauty is skin deep, where most van manufacturers focus only on performance and load capacity, Renault focused on all facets of Trafic and built an all-rounder. It is still one of the most durable vans with industry leading economical maintenance and yet it is also the best looking option currently available in van category.

Trafic is equally versatile in maneuverability, it acts and behaves like a car, so much so that drivers tend to get careless while driving and end up putting extra pressure on its mechanical components. It so well built that it remains silent on motorways, country roads and in city, with or without load. Even when it is loaded to its full capacity, 5 cubic meters for standard and 8 cubic meters for high roof variant, its handling remains far better than other vans. Trafic’s brakes soak up the pressure seamlessly, though brake paddle is somewhat long. Its height is kept lesser compared to other vans, which making loading and unloading an easy task.

Renault introduced Trafic in three engine capacities; 1.9. 2.0 and 2.5 litre diesel engines based on dCi technology. The biggest engine produced a whopping 140 bhp and the smallest one delivers a reasonable 80 bhp. Whatever the engine capacity, Renault Trafic engines are considered reliable and economical to maintain.

Though its been 10 years since the launch of first generation Trafic, it still remains the only van with captivating looks, which people can buy without having to worry about performance, as it doesn’t compromise on that either. Renault Trafic engines also stood the test of time and are considered one of the most reliable van engines. Its alluring design, reliable engine, economical parts and cost effective performance has made Renault Trafic the third best selling van in Europe, it’s a coveted rank as the competition in this category is no less than cut throat.