Renault Trafic (2001 – 2014) Review

Renault Trafic (2001 – 2014) At A Glance

3/5

+Good quality and comfortable medium sized van, makes a very useful nine seater minibus, now has Renault 2.0 chain cam diesel, robotised manual option.

-Only two stars in Euro NCAP crash tests, fuel injectors can fail due to water ingress, common gear linkage problems.

The Trafic is the sister van to the Vauxhall Vivaro and Nissan Primastar but it's the Renault version which has proved the most popular. Despite being on sale since 2001 it still sells well and there have been various improvements and facelifts in its lifetime so that now there are more than 100 versions.

In 2010 the third version of this Trafic went on sale with three basic bodystyles - panel can, crew van and a minibus variant. There is also a long wheelbase platform cab for customised coachbuilding, together with a specialist refrigerated van and an off-the-shelf ‘double deck’ dropside model.

The popular panel van is available with short or long wheelbase and low or high roof heights, giving load volumes up to 8m3. The double Cab Crew Vans seat up to six, while retaining a generous cargo space in both short and long wheelbase forms. A folding rear bench seat allows longer loads to be carried when fewer passengers are on board.

The engine range includes the strong 2.0-litre dCi unit with either 90PS or 115PS, which were revised for 2010 to deliver improved fuel economy. Also available is a development of the 2.5-litre dCi engine with 150PS. A six-speed manual gearbox is standard on all engines, with the option of Renault’s robotised Quickshift6 semi-automatic transmission.

While it may be a classic of our times, Renault has not stood still with the Trafic and the cab has been developed to make it ever more comfortable and practical. There are also plenty of body configurations with the Trafic, so it keeps itself bang up to date.

 

Used Buying Guide - Renault Trafic 2001-2014

The Trafic still has plenty of life left in it as a used purchase. Seek out a well-looked after example and keep on top of the servicing and it should be relatively hassle-free as an ownership proposition.

Read the buying guide here >>

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Ask Honest John

Does my Renault Trafic van have a cam belt or a chain?

"Does my 58 plate Renault Trafic panel van have a belt or chain? "
The 2.0 dCi uses a chain. Initially, it was designed to last the life of the van, but they’re prone to stretching, a replacement typically required around the 100,000-130,000 mile mark and will cost £500 excluding VAT.
Answered by Dan Powell

Does the 2010 Renault Trafic have a timing belt or a timing chain?

"I have a 2010 Renault Trafic van 115 dci, could you please tell me if it has a timing belt or chain? "
The 2.0-litre diesel uses a timing chain. It was originally designed to last the life of the van. But they’re prone to stretching and a replacement is usually required around the 100,000-130,000 mile mark, costing around £500 before VAT.
Answered by Dan Powell

Is 164,000 miles too high on a used van I'm interested in?

"I'm looking at a Renault Trafic van. It's a 2011 model with 164,000 miles on the clock. It was previously owned by an engineering company and has a full service history, very clean. Asking £3800. Is this worth it or is the mileage too high? It's a 600-mile round trip to pick it up."
At 10-years-old and 164k, it will be heavily worn and in need of imminent attention and money to keep it on the road. What's more, you'll need to take it back to the dealer (300 miles away) to fix or address any faults that may develop. For our Renault Trafic review and used buying guide, see: https://vans.honestjohn.co.uk/van-reviews/renault/trafic-2001
Answered by Dan Powell

How much would a timing belt replacement on a 2004 Renault Trafic cost?

"The timing belt snapped on my 2004 Renault Trafic, it's only done 56,000 miles. How much might it cost to fix?"
If the engine is destroyed, then the cost of a new engine. If it is merely damaged then impossible to assess by email without knowing the extent of the damage. The belt was well overdue for a change on age grounds.
Answered by Honest John
More Questions

What does a Renault Trafic (2001 – 2014) cost?