The new Renault Master E-Tech: ‘van of the year’? 

The long-awaited next generation of the Renault Master is now available from £37,500. Already picking up an impressive trophy haul — is it a worthy ‘van of the year’?  

In recent years, Renault has found increasing success in the van market, and its new diamond-branded star looks set to triumph in the long haul. 

The French manufacturer debuted an all-electric line-up earlier this year at the 2024 Commercial Vehicle Show, showing off vans including the Trafic E-Tech, and the award-winning Kangoo E-Tech. But despite this acclaimed company, all eyes were already being drawn to their largest LCV, the new fully-electric Renault Master E-Tech.

And now, despite only being available for a few months, the new Master has already stacked its cargo area with awards ranging from International Van of the Year, to Best Large Van, and Best Electric Van. So, does it live up to the hype?

A fresh coat of paint

The new Master sports a polished look which fits cohesively among its smaller companions, donning Renault’s new updated badge, boxy front end, and bow-shaped headlights. That doesn’t mean it simply blends in though: this heavy load-lugger is available in seven colours and an impressive 300 special hues — so there should be something to match almost any brand colours, and set the traditional van silhouette apart from the crowd.

However, that’s only the surface level, and the overhaul goes far further than skin-deep. Renault has designed the new Master E-Tech with the aim to “go further, carry more and cost less” — ambitious targets for any EV, but perhaps that’s what it takes to garner the acclaim this van has already achieved. 

Has the Renault Master gone further?

Let’s start with ‘go further’. Renault has tweaked the Master’s bonnet and windscreen to create a more aerodynamic design, while also reshaping the front bumper, intakes, and wingmirrors to let air slide right on by. This has enhanced efficiency by an impressive 20% over the previous edition — earning the futuristic title of 'aerovan'.

Combine this slippery exterior with a 105 kw motor and 87 kwh battery, and the E-Tech boasts a stellar range of up to 285 miles. That’s a handy 36 miles further than the Ford e-Transit’s range, and an exact match for that of Nissan’s new efficiency focused Interstar — so we’ll consider that a success.

Despite the extended range, charge times are nothing too painful. The 130 kw fast charger can add 142 miles of range in 30 minutes, while the 22 kw home charging setup can take you from 10-100% in four hours. This electrification also provides a functional socket in the rear loading bay which can give your tools up to 3.5 kw of power.

Fear not ICE fans, diesel powertrains are also available for the Master. That said, this van has clearly been built with a zero-emissions future in mind, and Renault have made far more noise about the upcoming H2-Tech Hydrogen Master, which we caught up with at the Paris Motor Show — a powertrain option available in the not-so-distant future.

Can the Renault Master carry more?

Next up, ‘carry more’. Out of the 20 body and wheelbase configurations available, the most load focussed has a best-in-class payload capacity of 1,625 kg. However, while the Master boasts a sizeable cargo area up to 14.8m³, this does falls whisker short of the 15.1m³ offered by its electric rival, the E-Transit. So, the E-Tech gets a tick in this box as well, but there is a little asterisk next to its overall capacity.

Ready to transport this cargo all year round, Renault opted to launch the new Master on Goodyear Vector 4Seasons tyres, suitable for all weather conditions — some good forward planning considering the miserable changeable UK weather of late.

Does the Renault Master cost less?

And the cost of getting hold of one? The Master E-Tech is available from £37,500 (after PiVG), which lands it in the same ballpark as the recently released Interstar-e, and likely a little cheaper if selecting equivalent variants and trimmings.

A cabin designed to last

Last up, some good news for anyone considering the new Master as their daily driver: the ‘comfortable cabin’ has been cited as a factor behind its award-winning success. No longer the basic offering from the previous model, the interior features a 10-inch touchscreen built into the wrap-around dashboard, giving access to Renault’s OpenR Link infotainment system as standard.

As well as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, which we have become accustomed to, Google features can also be added in for the first time in a Renault LCV — opening up options such as built in Maps navigation and a voice-activated assistant. Renault has kept one eye on future in here as well, with free over-the-air updates being offered for at least five years, bringing new functionality along with them. 

Hero image credit: Renault