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LOOK HUE'S TALKING
Page 62
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CM takes a first look at the Renault Master, while the Nissan
Navara proves it can handle whatever our test team asks of it.
Renault's Master is a victory for modern-day, cross-manufacturer engineering projects. And, thanks in part to its colour, this one stands out from the crowd.
When you first clap eyes on it there's a fair chance the colour alone might put you off wanting to drive such a vehicle anywhere. It's not to everyone's tastes. So you could spend time writing letters of complaint to Renault, or you could choose to ignore the bright hue of the gift horse's mouth, get in and get on with the job.
The Master is a badge-engineered van — the result of manufacturers collaborating on platforms, resulting in each selling their own version of the same model. In this case, Nissan got the Interstar,Vauxhall the Movano and Renault the Master.11ie key to having the most successful, however, is to get the whole package right. Price, options, marketing and aftersales backup are all considerations, but topping CM's customer satisfaction list is a vehicle that is easy to get on with.
Under the bonnet is a 120hp 2.5-litre fourcylinder direct-injection, common-rail diesel engine developing 300Nm of torque. Power reaches the wheels through a six-speed, frontwheel-drive manual transmission, operated by a dash-mounted shifter. In the cabin, there are three seats, sat-nay, cruise control with speed limiter and a confusing CD player, while access to the ply-lined loadspace is provided by two sliding side doors and rear barn doors.
Storage in the cab is pretty good,comprising two narrow shelves above the driver's head, a space in each front door, two angled drink holders, a cubbv in the centre of the dash at knee level, a small recess next to the stereo and volumes of space under the seats.There's no upright cup-holder,though.Visibility is decent, thanks to powered mirrors plus excellent front and side views.
We've driven 3,000 miles in the Master, during which time fuel returns have been variable. On local trips, we've achieved anything from 24.4 to 33.1mpg, while on motorways the gauge has read from 27.1 to 31.9mpg, depending on conditions,weather and the driver's right foot. However, the handling has been near-flawless.There was only one moment of concern, when there was a touch of aquaplaning on a flooded motorway in the middle of nowhere at 11.30pm.The driveline seems to suit the van's size but, until we assess it on our Kent route, it's too early for definitive conclusions.
Thumbs up so far, but the French haven't quite got it all spot-ow Initial dislikes include the sat-nay screen's position. in the middle running parallel to bulkhead.'rhe time is displayed on the top right of the screen, so you may have to duck down to see it, which is a bit unnerving. It might be better placed on the dash fascia,along with the mileage, speedometer and warning lights. And if you are driving towards a sunny horizon, the visor blocks it successfully —along with three quarters of the road. Oh, and the spare wheel fell off the interior wall, for no apparent reason, while the van was travelling at 70mph on the motorway You can only imagine the industrial language used on hearing the noise.
THE LOWDOWN There are no major gripes here. Consistent to a fault, superb handling and a comfortable drive have already set high standards, so maybe the only way is down. With only one or two design niggles, it's clear the overall quality is, for now, highly impressive.