Renault Master E-Tech Review 2025

It was a long time in gestation but Renault's latest and largest electric model finally arrived in showrooms seven months after it was announced. Is it a match for the best that rivals such as the Mercedes eSprinter can offer? Read our comprehensive Renault Master E-Tech review to find out.

Built on a completely new platform that was designed from the outset to be powered by diesel engines, electricity and hydrogen fuel cells, the Renault Master E-Tech is the French firm's plug-in offering and the largest van in its electric range, which also comprises of the Kangoo E-Tech and Trafic E-Tech. 

It’s boldly styled with a distinctive front end matched by a high-tech cabin that embraces all of Renault’s latest touchscreen tech and EV modes.

As with the diesel Renault Master, there are multiple body options including chassis cabs and models aimed at converters, but the core of the range is the panel van, offered in three body sizes.

The Master E-Tech has a payload of up to 1,625kg (subject to the 4.25t derogation for electric vans), which is the best in its class alongside the Nissan Interstar-e, which is essentially the same van and is built alongside it on the same production line. Load volumes vary from 11.0 to 14.8 cubic metres. 

Fitted with an 87kWh battery pack the Renault Master E-Tech is claimed to deliver 255 miles of driving range on the WLTP Combined cycle if you opt for a model rated at 3.5t GVW or as much as 285 miles for the 4.0t-rated larger version which requires a DVLA 4.25t derogation for standard licence holders.

That longer 285-mile range is down to the lower speed limits applied to such models but if driven in the same manner, expect the range to be broadly similar. It all depends on the environment where the van is used, which is where WLTP doesn't necessarily give a realistic figure. 

Two trim levels of Renault Master E-Tech are offered — the entry-level Advance and the better-appointed Extra, which offers more technology and safety features. In truth the specification differences between the two is more of a gap than a gulf, plus the cabin is inviting and comfortable in both. 

Renault offers a three-year or 100,000-mile vehicle warranty for the Master E-Tech, which is competitive but not exceptional. The battery has a separate eight-year warranty. 

The Renault Master E-Tech was one of the key reasons why the Renault Master range won the 2025 International Van of the Year Award — along with its Nissan Interstar-e twin it's the best large electric van on the market other than, perhaps, the Mercedes eSprinter, but at a much more affordable price.

Overall the Renault Master E-Tech is a great electric van.

The Renault Master E-Tech has a 140PS electric motor coupled to an 87kWh battery pack, which the manufacturer claims is good for 255 miles between recharging stops for the smallest 3.5t L2 H2 panel van. That the 4.0t-rated larger versions have a longer 285-mile range is down to the lower speed limits applied to them and highlights a flaw in the WLTP testing cycle. On test in cold weather, we saw a projected range of 203 miles.

You can claw some power back by using regenerative braking with two modes that adjust the strength of that effect. The stronger B mode almost enables one-pedal driving — there’s less adjustment here than in models from Mercedes and Stellantis but Renault’s rationale is that very few drivers actually use the full range of functions anyway.

It drives well and feels very nippy off the mark, with a composed and relaxing quality to the ride even when unladen, along with speed-adjustable steering that weights-up nicely on the move yett is light and agile around town. That latter point is especially relevant for electric van users, many of whom spend most of their time in urban environments.

A further boon in towns and cities is the Master's 12.8-metre turning circle, which matches the best in class, while all-round visibility is excellent. An optional digital rear-view mirror offers clear, real-time imaging of what's happening behind, transmitted from a rear-mounted camera — and it’s better than similar systems offered by Stellantis and Maxus.

Unsurprisingly you’ll also find the usual plethora of safety assistance systems. There are 20 in total — including automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane-keeping assist, cruise control, blind-spot alert, cross-traffic alert, attention alert and intelligent speed assist.

Although obviously not designed to be thrown about through corners, the Renault Master E-Tech also responds well to sudden changes of direction and handles neatly on twistier roads adding to the feeling of composure. The extra weight of the batteries doesn't put it at any disadvantage over the diesel equivalents. It's quiet, comfortable and extremely pleasant to drive.

The headline figure with the Renault Master E-Tech is its payload — it'll carry up to 1,625kg, which puts it at the very top of the large van class along with its Nissan Interstar-e twin. The maximum payload applies to vans rated at 4.25t GVW for which you will need licence derogation from DVLA. 

There are three main panel van bodies available, as well as a range of approved conversions, which have long been a selling point for the Renault Master range. If you want a dropside, flatbed, tipper, platform cab or chassis cab then Renault will sell you one, though it is unable to quote range figures for aftermarket converter bodies. 

If you go for a panel van then the load bay itself is vast and practical. The huge cuboid will swallow between 11.0 cubic metres in its smallest format to 14.8 cubic metres in the biggest L3 H3 model, with long wheelbase and high-roof. The biggest Mercedes eSprinter will gobble up 17.0 cubic metres in its biggest incarnation, but the need for something so capacious is quite a specialist niche.

Load lengths are between 3,225mm and 3,855mm, again fractionally behind the Mercedes but to a negligible level, with twin barn-style rear doors that open to 270 degrees — but only the Extra model gets LED rear lighting. In addition, the Renault Master E-Tech’s 1,312mm-wide sliding side door is the biggest of any van. All versions are rated for braked trailer towing up to 2500kg, which is good going for an electric van and on a par with the best.

In the cab the Renault Master E-Tech is leagues ahead most of its rivals, but then it's also a generation more modern than many of them. The layout is smart and stylish with a 10.0-inch infotainment system dominant in the centre of the dash. It comes with Renault’s much-heralded built-in Google apps, integrated navigation and voice control, but should you prefer to use your own media with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, then such functionality is included on both trims.

Also worthy of note are the physical controls below the touchscreen to operate features such as the heating controls, locking and the column switch for speaker volume — simple, menu-free switchgear is essential in a van that’s likely to be driven by multiple users.

The seats are surprisingly soft and stylish for a van and they reflect the smart grey tweed-weave upholstery as seen in recent Renault retro cars, such as the new Renault 5 E-Tech. Whether they're built to last is a different matter, and one that only time will tell, but they’re extremely comfy and well-padded, which is great news for long-distance drivers.

There's a generous amount of cubbies and storage space — 135 litres in total — plus three USB charging ports, but we do have a couple of niggles. One is the storage tray on the lower dash, which is sloped in such a way that it ejects its contents if you accelerate quickly. The second is the way the dashboard intrudes into the cabin space around the driver’s left knee, although this is less noticeable on the Renault Master E-Tech than it is in manual diesel models.