It’s been 35 years since the first Renault Trafic made an appearance on UK roads. Introduced in 1981, the Trafic I shows just how much has changed in the van sector over the last three and half decades.
The Trafic was one of the first of the modern generation of panel vans. It’s fair to say that it helped to define a shape and form factor that has remained the norm ever since.
How it started…
The Trafic I was available at launch with a payload of up to 1200kg. Driver comfort was given increased focus with improved seating, soundproofing and ventilation compared to the previous Renault Estafette model.
A choice of rear and side doors made loading and unloading easier, while corrosion resistance was improved with additional bodywork treatment. Safety was improved thanks to better visibility and assisted braking with ventilated discs at the front.
The original Trafic might seem dated today, but it was a huge leap forwards compared to its predecessor, the Renault Estafette.
In total, 80,442 first-generation Trafics were sold in the UK.
New century, new model
It’s fair to say that by 2000, even the facelifted 1995 model of the Trafic was looking and feeling pretty outdated. Renault rose to the occasion, introducing an all-new design for the Trafic II which was once more at the leading edge of panel van design.
Launched in 2000 and brought to the UK in 2001, the Trafic II also had the added attraction of being manufactured in the UK, at General Motor’s Vauxhall plant in Luton.
The Trafic II offered a refrigerated glove box, radio with CD player and central locking as standard, while options at launch included mobile ‘phone connectivity, air conditioning and a full-glazed bulkhead. Always targeting small-business customers, the Trafic was much more likely to be seen in a colour other than white than vans such as the Transit and Sprinter.
To help encourage such personal touches, the Trafic II was available in a a range of twelve colours such as Desert Yellow, Laser Red and Storm Blue. Between 2001 and 2014, 102,486 Trafic II were sold in the UK.
The third generation
Renault didn’t need to do anything too drastic with the Trafic III. The Trafic II was still a good van and simply needed a comprehensive update and more modern engines.
Launched in 2014, the Trafic III is available with four turbodiesel engines with combined cycle fuel consumption as low as 50.4mpg.
The current model is available in more variants than ever before — according to Renault, 70 variants are available in the UK. These include two different heights, two lengths, panel van, crew van, platform cab and people carrier models, as well as a range of conversions.
So far, 18,189 of the latest third generation Trafics have been sold since launch in late 2014.