New Renault Master: Innovative LCV
Commercial vehicles prioritize functionality over appearance. These vehicles are expected to carry more load, transport more people, have ample storage space, be user-friendly, reliable, and maintain low energy consumption. After all, being the livelihood for many, these vehicles tend to have a long sales lifespan. The common sentiment is, “What’s the point of increasing costs as long as it fulfills its function?” These models are produced with significant product variations, such as different heights, lengths, and door combinations, making the manufacturing process genuinely costly.
Our focus today is on the Renault Master, which, despite being on the market for 43 years, will introduce its 4th generation next year. The French commercial vehicle, having sold 3 million units during this period, was presented with features that set it apart from its competitors.
The massive front headlights on the Renault Master now resemble those found on concept vehicles, completely composed of LED units. The chrome strip beneath the headlights extends all the way to the retro Renault logo in the center. The grille where the logo is positioned consists of vertical and closely spaced inner strips. With prominent lines on the high hood, the vehicle indeed boasts an attention-grabbing front facade.
Featuring a tall and large front windshield, asymmetrically positioned antenna, enormous side mirrors, and signals integrated into these mirrors, the Master now has all body panels produced as a single piece to enhance durability.
Designed with a rear smaller than the front for increased aerodynamic efficiency, the Master features an iconic asymmetrical rear window design. Opting for LED tail lights, Renault has achieved a more modern look throughout the vehicle.
The Master, borrowing the steering wheel from passenger cars, comes with a fully digital instrument panel and a driver-oriented multimedia screen. In its automatic versions, the gear selector has been moved to the steering column, creating space in the center console. While the climate control buttons may initially seem distant, they are positioned away from the screen to ensure easy access in manual transmission versions where the gear lever is placed in the center console.
The New Master provides 135 liters of interior storage space and transforms into a workstation when the middle seat is folded. Renault has added USB-C sockets throughout the vehicle and didn’t forget to include options like suspension seats and swiveling seats. With the rear seat row accommodating 4 people, the Master offers one more seating position compared to its competitors with the same number of seat rows. With a loading capacity of up to 22 cubic meters, the model features contemporary safety technologies and additional functionalities such as online vehicle tracking and the ability to check whether the doors are open or closed via mobile phones.
The Master, now featuring wider loading entrances than its predecessor, offers diesel engines ranging from 105 to 170 horsepower, electric versions with ranges of 180 and 410 kilometers, and an option for a hydrogen fuel cell. The model will provide a 9-speed automatic transmission as an optional feature, and in terms of efficiency, the diesel engines boast 1.5 liters/100 km higher efficiency compared to the previous model. What are your thoughts on the New Renault Master?