Renault Master review: a diesel van bought by fleets, not enthusiasts
3.4/5MotorsSouq Editorial Team
Buy the Master if the requirement is genuine van payload and rear-wheel-drive stability under load rather than a car-based compromise like the smaller Dokker, and if the business can support a diesel service schedule. The 2.3-litre turbo-diesel's 360 Nm makes it noticeably more capable fully loaded than the petrol light-van alternatives, and Renault's fleet-service relationships in the Gulf mean parts and scheduled maintenance are less of a gamble than the badge's passenger-car reputation might suggest.
Pros
- Rear-wheel drive and 360 Nm stay composed under a genuinely full load
- Wide range of wheelbase and roof-height configurations for different trade needs
- Regional fleet-service agreements suit businesses running multiple vans
- More capable loaded than car-based light vans like the Dokker
Cons
- Utilitarian cabin with minimal comfort for full working days
- Firm, commercial-vehicle ride unladen
- Thinner independent-workshop support in Bahrain than Toyota or Hyundai van equivalents
- Diesel service schedule requires planning that a casual buyer will not have
The Master is built for one job: hauling genuine payload reliably, in whatever wheelbase and roof-height combination a fleet or trade business needs. Rear-wheel drive and the 2.3-litre turbo-diesel's 360 Nm keep it composed under a full load in a way a front-drive, car-based van cannot match, which matters on Bahrain's causeway runs to Saudi Arabia as much as on local delivery routes.
Running one commercially
Diesel running costs and a 6-speed manual keep fuel consumption reasonable for the payload on offer, and Renault's regional fleet-service agreements mean scheduled maintenance is set up for businesses running multiple vans rather than a single private owner. That fleet orientation is the honest reason to consider one over a similarly sized Japanese or Korean van.
What to weigh against it
This is not a comfortable or refined vehicle to spend a full working day in — the cabin is utilitarian and the unladen ride is firm — and Renault's independent-workshop support in Bahrain is thinner than for a Hiace or an equivalent Hyundai van. Businesses without an existing Renault service relationship should factor that into total cost of ownership before committing to a fleet purchase.