Renault Master Review 2022

The 2022 Renault Master is a very capable and affordable large van. Admittedly, it isn’t as refined or as flashy as its rivals from Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz or Ford, but the Master provides heavy-duty load moving capacity at a price that most people can afford.

The rear-wheel-drive version of the Master panel van offers up to 17 cubic metres of loadspace while the box van is popular with delivery drivers and removal firms, thanks to its carrying capacity of 19.3 cubic metres. Payloads range from 800kg to 2000kg, depending on which model you choose.

Renault’s latest 2.3-litre diesel engine is a strong performer and is available with a broad choice of power outputs. The Master is also offered with a manual or fully automatic gearbox. The Master Z.E is powered by pure electricity and will cover up to 75 miles on a full charge. 

Choosing the best 2022 Renault Master will depend on your professional needs. The Master is offered in a huge variety of bodystyles, which includes panel van, crew van, dropside, tipper, box van and Luton van. 

If you are a builder or delivery driver then you will want the Master panel van with Renault’s excellent 2.3-litre diesel engine, with 150PS for front-wheel drive models or 145PS for rear-wheel drive. This engine is offered with a six-speed manual gearbox, while the 150PS engine is available with a smooth-shifting six-speed automatic transmission.

If you seldom leave the city then you should consider the Master Z.E electric van with a maximum range of 75 miles. This version of the Master is easy to use and designed for short-drop delivery work. A full charge will take around six hours from home or work-placed electric wallbox. 

The Renault Master rivals some of the best large vans in the business, which includes the Ford Transit, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Volkswagen Crafter. You should also consider the Vauxhall Movano - it is based on the same mechanical platform as the Renault Master and is very similar to drive.

The Renault Master’s interior quality is strong but it can feel like a throwback to vans of yesteryear with lots of hard-wearing and scratchy plastics that are easy to clean but not all that pleasant to the touch. 

The quality of the Master's interior received a notable upgrade in 2019, as part of a comprehensive model update, with better quality materials and improved soundproofing, which means the latest models are the most comfortable on a long motorway journey.

The dashboard is easy to master with a clear layout and lots of large buttons and knobs for the heating and ventilation controls. The thick layers of plastics that cover the interior should also be resilient to light knocks and scuffs.

Most versions of the Master are fitted with a driver’s armrest. Newer versions also come with dashboard compartments with USB sockets, which are perfect for storing and charging mobile phones. 

Despite being an optional extra, most buyers add touchscreen navigation to the spec of their Renault Master. This means most used models will have sat-nav, which should prevent you from getting lost or trapped in a lengthy traffic jam. 

Like its range of cars, the Master uses Renault’s R-Link touchscreen navigation system that provides 3D maps, online traffic updates and Bluetooth connectivity for your mobile phone. Depending on which version of the Master you choose, the map screen will be located in the centre of the dashboard or housed within the rear-view mirror.

Since 2019, as part of a major model refresh, the Renault Master has been sold with the optional Media Nav Evolution system. The latest navigation system is by far the best found in any version of the Master, with a crystal clear seven-inch display and full Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity for your smartphone. 

The latest versions of the Master get a generous scattering of UBS and 12V power sockets, too, which means you can keep your phone and PC/tablet computer charged at all times. You also get DAB audio as standard. 

The Renault Master is one of the best large panel vans when it comes to space, practicality and payload. You get the choice of four body lengths and three load heights. Some versions of the Master will carry payloads weighing up to 2000kg.

It's important to note that your driving licence may restrict which version of the Master you can legally drive. However, even in the 3.5-tonne segment, the Master still packs a punch with max payloads tipping the scales at 1500kg. 

The rear-wheel-drive Master offers the best payload capacity at 2000kg while front-wheel-drive models will carry up to 1500kg and provide the lowest load height at 1627mm. When it comes to loadspace, you'll be looking at a 2500mm load length for the smallest version of the Master and 4300mm for the largest models.

Getting stuff in and out of the Master panel van is easy thanks to the huge side and rear doors. All vans get a single side sliding door as standard and the load width varies from 1050mm to 1270mm - depending on which body length you choose. 

All Renault Masters get rear doors that have 180-degree hinges, which means access to the rear of the van is simple. The load width of the rear doors is 1580mm and the entrance height ranges from 1650mm to 1820mm.

The electric version of the Master can’t match the 2.3-litre diesel model for payload. Weights for the Renault Master Z.E start at 900kg and peak at 1000kg. 

The Renault Master is offered with just one engine, a 2.3-litre diesel. Over the years the four-cylinder diesel has been updated and improved. Since 2019, rear-wheel-drive models are offered with 130PS or 145PS, while front-wheel-drive versions are available with 130PS, 150PS or 180PS. 

Unless you plan to tow heavy trailers or utilise the full loading capacity of the Master, either the 145PS or 150PS should suffice for most professional needs. Both provide good low-gear acceleration and provide sufficient acceleration to safely join a fast-flowing road or navigate a busy junction.

All diesel vans get a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, but the 150PS and 180PS models can also be specified with a six-speed automatic transmission. 

The Master is also offered as an all-electric van with a 57kW battery. The Renault Master Z.E is powered by an electric motor that develops 76PS with power delivered to the front wheels in smooth silence, but the top speed is limited to 62mph.

Renault claims the Master Z.E has a real-world driving range of 75 miles in the summer and 50 miles in winter. Of course, this will depend on driving style and payload, so expect less if you plan to drive a fully laden Master with a heavy right foot.

There is a strong argument to be made for van drivers not caring a jot for refinement, with many focusing on the Master’s carrying capacity, running costs and little else. 

However, if you plan to use your van on the motorway for long periods then the Master will rub at your senses with above-average levels of road, wind and engine noise. The Ford Transit, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Volkswagen Crafter are more refined in this aspect. 

That said, the Master is comfortable and the latest versions are much more refined and quieter than those sold when the van first went on sale in 2010. 

The Renault Master's safety tech has evolved over the past 10 years. Growing from the basic airbag, traction control, ABS and stability control set-up into something much more sophisticated.

All vans get a full-size bulkhead that separates the driver and passengers in the front from the load space in the back of the vehicle. This is important because it prevents serious injuries in the event of a crash or sudden stop.  

Since 2019, the Master is fitted with side wind assist as standard, which prevents the vehicle from swaying out of its motorway lane when hit by strong crosswinds. Automatic headlights and windscreen wipers are also standard across the range. 

If you raid the options list you can add parking sensors, reversing camera, automatic city emergency braking and lane guidance assist, which prevents the van from drifting out of its motorway lane.

Large vans tend to live hard lives, with their owners working their vehicles hard for up to 10 years before trading them in for a newer model. This means it is difficult to gauge reliability, with the vehicle's longevity very much depending on the van's service and maintenance record. 

That said, according to official MoT results at HonestJohn.co.uk, around 70% of five-year-old Renault Master vans will pass the MoT.

The Master is the largest and most expensive van in the Renault range, which is reflected in its insurance groups and costs. The Master sits in groups 11 - 18, which is significantly higher than the compact Kangoo van (2 - 9). 

Finding the cheapest insurance quote and getting the best deal might not necessarily be the same thing, however. That's why it's important to ensure your van, its contents and any tools it may be carrying are included in the cover. 

Road tax VED rates for the Renault Master are based on the year the van was first registered. For most vans, this is charged at a flat rate of £275 a year or £143 for six months. However, if you buy a Renault Master that was registered in 2010 then you will pay a lower rate of £140 a year or £77 for six months VED.

Since 2019, the Renault Master has been offered in two trim levels - Business and Business +.  All versions get three seats as standard, along with a full size bulkhead and spare wheel.

Business trim is the entry-level for the Master range, it gets automatic windscreen wipers and headlights as standard, along with height-adjustable driver's seats and overhead storage shelf. 

Touchscreen navigation is an optional extra, but you do get a DAB radio as standard and Bluetooth connectivity for your smartphone, along with a generous scattering of USB and charging sockets.

Business + models add air conditioning, a seatback table for the middle pew and an upgraded driver's seat with its own suspension for improved comfort. You also get rear parking sensors and a 12V charging socket for the load area.