The freight market is constantly evolving. Demand for commercial vehicles is growing. Particularly relevant are light-duty trucks with a lifting capacity of up to one and a half tons. These machines are ideal for daily delivery of goods and small luggage to addresses. For many, a light truck is associated with the Gazelle. But there are a number of analogs of foreign cars that are much better at this task. One of these is the Renault Master car. Reviews, specifications and photos - further in our article.
Description
"Master" - a whole family of small vehicles from the company "Renault". The car is also known in Europe under the name "Opel Movano." The car is available in different body styles. It can be a van, chassis, as well as passenger versions. But still, the most popular modification of the Renault Master is a cargo van. This version has a huge and roomy body.
Appearance
Design for commercial vehicles is not the first characteristic, but with the exterior of the "Master" everything is fine. The car looks worthy and can quite compete with such "flagships" as "Mercedes Sprinter" and "Volkswagen Crafter".
The front of the car has huge teardrop-shaped headlights that stretch along the entire front to the body pillar, as well as a huge grille. The bumper on all versions of the Renault Master is not painted in body color. This is not at all the goal of the manufacturer to save. All drivers know what loads the front bumper is subjected to during regular work on transportation. Stones fly to the bumper, it can easily be rubbed, parking at the place of unloading at the store and so on. Matte black plastic withstands all these loads.
What do the reviews say about Renault Master? The body in the car is very practical and high-quality painted. The machine is not afraid of salt and other road reagents in Russia, and chips are not rusty, since the metal has passed the preliminary galvanization procedure. The rear gate lasts a long time and does not dissipate after several years of regular use.
Cabin
Inside, the cargo and passenger Renault Master looks no less attractive than the outside. The car has a modern and ergonomic front panel. The steering wheel is a three-spoke one with a small set of buttons. The instrument panel is a pointer, with a digital odometer. On the center console there is a stand for freight waybills.
And on top - a roomy glove box. Another glove compartment is at the feet of the passenger. Also in the car there are a huge number of niches and hiding places in which you can hide various trifles. And under the double passenger seat there is a huge "chest" where you can hide all the necessary tools. The floor in the car is flat. The gearshift lever is located in the front panel, right at the driver’s hand. Landing - high, good visibility. The seats are comfortable with good lumbar support. Adjustment is both in length and in height (although in all versions it is mechanical). But there are also disadvantages. This is a hard cabin plastic and poor insulation. Mercedes Sprinter is slightly better in this regard, reviews say.
Carrying capacity
Depending on the modification and the length of the wheelbase, the car is able to take on board from 0.9 to 1.6 tons of cargo.
In this case, the maximum mass is from 2.8 to 4.5 tons. If you take into account the van, the body volume is from 7.8 to 15.8 cubic meters.
Specifications
Gasoline engines in the lineup are not provided. So, the machine is equipped with three power plants with in-line cylinders. These engines are a continuation of the power plant MR from Nissan. All power units are equipped with direct injection "Common Rail" and comply with environmental standards Euro-4.
The base for the Renault Master is a 2.3-liter engine with 100 horsepower. Unit torque - 248 Nm. Intermediate on the list is a 125-horsepower unit with the same volume. Its torque is 310 Nm. Well, the flagship in the line is a 150-horsepower turbodiesel engine. What is noteworthy, the French managed to develop such power without increasing the volume of the combustion chamber. So, the total engine capacity is still the same 2.3 liters. Torque also increased and is 350 Nm. Without exception, all units are equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox.
Reviews
What do the reviews say about engines and gearboxes at the Renault Master? The dynamics characteristics of these engines are excellent. Even with a 100-horsepower unit, you can feel confident in the stream among the passenger cars. Very pleased with the sixth gear. At an engine speed of 2 thousand, the car moves at a speed of 90 kilometers per hour and consumes a minimum of fuel. Another plus of Renault diesels is traction. No matter how much load the car carries, it easily climbs any hill. It is also easy to overtake on the "Master". By management, the car does not at all resemble a truck. This is the same car (although the landing is higher). On the "Master" you can easily overcome long distances. After management, there is no great feeling of fatigue.
The average fuel consumption on the highway is 8 liters. In the city, the car consumes from 11 to 13 liters. It starts well in winter; some models even have a pre-heater. But the most serious problem is the fuel one. If it starts to junk (it doesn’t matter if it is a high-pressure fuel pump or nozzles), you will have to fork out for repairs. In this regard, the "Gazelle" is more acceptable. Therefore, in order not to be a regular customer of car services, you should refuel with a high-quality diesel engine and change the filter on time.
Running
Renault Master has front-wheel drive and is equipped with independent front suspension. Behind - a beam with telescopic shock absorbers. The suspension behaves differently depending on the degree of load. An empty car is a little harsh, but as soon as 300 kg of cargo is in the back, the car becomes soft.
Finally
So, we found out what the Renault Master is. This is a good commercial vehicle, which, with proper maintenance, will please with its reliability and stable operation. Renault Master has a comfortable lounge and is easy to operate. However, in terms of service, this machine will not be cheaper at all than Sprinter and Crafter (rather, at the same level).