Renault renews camper van credentials with Trafic Esterela

Renault is renewing its camper range with the launch of the Trafic Esterela. The four berth van has a built-in kitchen, running water, gas hob and connectivity for an external power supply. It’s on sale now via Renault dealerships and selected motorhome retailers with prices starting from £44,000.

Based on the Trafic, the Esterela has been converted by Lunar Campers and combines comfortable living and sleeping quarters in the compact confines of a long wheelbase low roof panel van. All versions of the Esterela get a manually operated pop-up roof as standard, along with heating, lighting and water systems.

The front seats swivel round to create a living room, with the rear bench having space for up to three adults. The kitchen comes with a 25 litre fridge, sink, running cold water and hob, with the latter two supplied by van’s internal water tank and gas bottle. When the gas burners are not needed, the driver can disconnect the gas supply via a switch at the back of the van or remove the bottle to have it refilled.

There’s a fresh and waste water tank, portable toilet and 90 litres of storage space with cupboards and drawers. The rear bench can also be slid forwards and lowered to create a double bed in the evening, while a second berth is found in the pop-up roof compartment with space for two adults to sleep in comfort.

   

An electronic control panel should make it easy to operate the van’s heating, lighting and water systems. There is also an external connection for the electronic mains supply. The secondary battery can be topped up via the van's 100W solar panel.

Taking styling cues from Renault’s passenger car range, the camper is finished with metallic paint and alloy wheels. Under the bonnet the Euro6 twin-turbo four-cylinder diesel engine produces 145PS and is linked to six-speed manual gearbox. There are no details on fuel economy, although the standard Trafic panel van returns up to 46.3mpg according to the official figures.

Driving aids include hill start assist and Grip Xtend traction control, which should be particularly handy when navigating soggy campsites. Other features include DAB radio, cruise control, air conditioning and parking sensors.