What Van? Britain's biggest and best van buyers' guide

Renault is enjoying a renaissance in the UK market and its light commercial vehicles are leading the way.

In 2015 sales were up 39.6% in the full year to 25,371 units, according to the SMMT, consolidating strong growth in the previous two years, and in December volumes rocketed by 80% to 4140, ensuring the brand enjoyed a happy festive period. Renault’s UK sales director, Darren Payne called it “a cracking year”.

Another strong showing at the What Van? Awards will have further improved the manufacturer’s sense that the pieces are falling into place.

The Trafic, alongside the Vauxhall-badged version of the Renault-designed van, the Vivara, retained the Medium Van prize in the face of strong competition from the new Mercedes Vito and Volkswagen Transporter, while the Commercial version of the Duster – from Renault’s budget brand Dacia, swept to the top of the 4x4 category in its first year on the market.

Payne, is particularly pleased with the continuing success of the Trafic.

“The Trafic is our core van with 54% of sales,” he points out.

Winning the Medium Van Award again “reinforces the reputation of the product in the market”, he says – particularly in terms of its quality and reliability.

“To have an independent [title] crown the product for a second year gives customers confidence,” Payne claims.

As for the Duster, a modestly priced but reasonably refined car-derived LCV, Payne reckons the recognition from What Van? will “increase awareness of a unique product” for which the volume aspirations will always be modest but that nevertheless meets the requirements of a small band of customers who need to take tools or deliveries to locations that may prove tricky for regular 2WD vans.

Renault operates the budget brand Dacia as a separate franchise but under the same dealership roof as the parent company.

“Dacia has enabled us to reposition Renault,” says Payne but admits there are no plans to bring more Dacia LCV models to the UK.

Instead the manufacturer is building up its Pro-Plus business retail network (launched in 2010) to support expansion in its Renault LCV division.

“This is our focus,” Payne says.

Last year it grew the number of sites from 36 to 40 and by the end of 2017 it plans to have 79 up and running.

While every dealership in Renault’s 165-strong UK network can sell and service vans the Pro-Plus centres have dedicated LCV staff, offer bespoke out of hours servicing and house heavier and higher ramps to accommodate large vans.

“They must deliver the standards customers require,” stresses Payne, “the commitments must work.”

Electric blues

In the current market climate, with the anti-diesel lobby becoming more vociferous and every likelihood that more cities will follow London’s lead by introducing low-emission zones, Renault is well-placed to take advantage of any shift towards electric vans, with its Kangoo ZE being, arguably the most well-established plug-in LCV available.

But Payne is frustrated that demand remains minimal. He argues that while the market for electric cars is taking off there is still very little awareness of the availability of electric vans, despite there being a strong business case for their use in towns and cities.

“We could do with better promotion,” he says and suggests the market will not expand until a greater mass of electric vans, from more manufacturers, becomes available.

“We have the product – the best way to have low emissions is to have none,” says Payne.

He points out that the Kangoo ZE has sufficient range to cope with the set urban routes most delivery vans take and adds that payload is not an issue as, at 650kg, it matches that of diesel versions.

Payne is more confident Renault can have a major impact on the well-established pick-up sector when it enters the market with the production version of its Alaskan concept. He says the truck, which is based on Nissan’s Navara, will be unveiled this year before going on sale early in 2017.