HIA VEHICLES RENAULT TRAFIC SWB 103 Don’t go out and blindly buy any van in the car yard – add this French van to your consideration set. THE STOP-START SYSTEM IS EXCELLENT – BETTER THAN SOME EXPENSIVE LUXURY VEHICLES As tested, the Renault Trafic SWB 103 will set you back $37,990 PROS AND before on-road costs. The 103 1.6-litre twin-turbo engine. While a cheaperrefers to the kilowatt output of the CONS version is available, the more powerful Pros: variant is impressive and definitely worth the • engine and gearbox are both excellent, extra cost. along with stop/start The 1.6-litre diesel punches out 103kW • cabin has an enormous amount of useful at 3500rpm and 340Nm at 1500rpm, and storage space is mated to a really impressive six-speed • l oad area is flexible and LED lighting is manual transmission. The frugal 6.2L/100km fantastic. claim on the combined cycle is backed up Cons: by a real-world figure of 8.0L/100km. That • no automatic transmission available included laden and unladen running, two • tiny reverse camera in the rear-view mirror 200km+ highway runs, and plenty of stop-The rear barn doors are really clever.isn’t as good as it should be start driving around town. The system isThey open in two stages, first to a • visibility is compromised by solid sides, like excellent for stop-start driving – better than90-degree... then to a full 180-degreeit is with all vans. some expensive luxury vehicles. The Renault Trafic reviewed only hadratchet straps and tie-down hooks. CarAdvice rating a sliding door on one side, which is fineThe rear barn doors are really clever. They in standard trim, and in most cases youopen in two stages, first to a 90-degree don’t want to be standing out in traffic onangle with the load space, but then to a fullTo read more car news, reviews and comparisons visit the driver’s side trying to get things out of a180-degree opening, which makes loading www.caradvice.com.au van anyway. The LED lighting is excellent,wider objects a lot easier than it would be and it’s super bright at night, which makes otherwise. loading and unloading a cinch. There’s noBy Trent Nikolic, managing editor at messing around in the dark trying to find CarAdvice.com BUILDING NEWS ISSUE 3/2018P23