2016 Renault Master, Trafic, Kangoo:: prices increase with boosted safety, new features

Pricing has also increased for the new model year, however, with the giant Master now priced from $43,990 (up from $40,990), the Trafic from $34,490 (up from $33,490) and the Kangoo from $21,990 (up from $20,990). All prices exclude on-road costs.

2016 Renault Master

In the Master range, all commercial variants feature a driver’s side head and chest airbag as standard equipment from second quarter 2016. The passenger-hauling Motor Home variant misses out on this upgrade, however, due to it being fitted with swivel seats up front.

All Master variants now also feature a reversing camera as standard.

The various options packages are now also improved, gaining Lane Departure Warning, and high/low beam switching for the auto headlights. An upgraded $1990 Premium pack is also available, adding the Renault R-Link touchscreen multimedia system.

The $3000 increase at the entry level can also be attributed in part to the deletion of the 2015 range’s $40,990 100kW model. The line-up now opens with the more powerful 120kW variant introduced last year at $41,990 plus on-roads.

MORE: Master news, reviews, pricing and specs

2016 Renault Trafic

The smaller Trafic also gains side head and chest airbags as standard across the range - a handy upgrade which, with a $34,490 starting price, makes the 66kW entry point a good match to the likewise equipped, more expensive (but more powerful at 103kW) $36,990 Volkswagen Transporter.

The Trafic also picks up a $2390 Premium options package for the single-turbo entry model, featuring a wide view mirror, deadlocking system, anti-theft spare wheel holder, rear view Camera, auto headlights and auto front wipers, cornering front fog lights, tablet dock, leather steering wheel, glazed bulkhead, glazed barn doors with 180º opening, LED ceiling rack, left & right glazed sliding doors.

The twin-turbo diesel model’s Pro pack has been deleted, replaced by a new $2990 Lifestyle pack wide-view mirror, deadlocking, Media Nav, automatic climate control, hands-free entry and engine start/stop, heavy-duty battery, LED ceiling lights, premium dashboard, heated seats, body colour bumpers, mirror backs, rear light pillar and sliding door rail, 17-inch Cyclade alloy wheels, and a chrome grille with gloss black Renault diamond logo.

MORE: Trafic news, reviews, pricing and specs

2016 Renault Kangoo

Long-wheelbase versions of the 2016 model year Kangoo are now equipped with rear parking sensors, along with side head and chest airbags as standard. Sensors remain unavailable for short-wheelbase models, while the side head and chest airbags are available as an optional extra for $390.

A new $790 Pro pack is offered for petrol-powered short-wheelbase models, adding overhead storage and glazed barn and dual side sliding doors, and side head and chest airbags. A version of the Pro pack is also available at $1190 for long-wheelbase models, adding R-Link and front fog lights.

The petrol-powered short-wheelbase Kangoo models now come with a conventional tailgate as standard.

For the five-seat Kangoo Maxi Crew, a new $1490 Lifestyle pack is offered, adding R-Link multimedia, q leather steering wheel, rear seat area ventilation outlet, extra dark tinted windows and body coloured front and rear bumpers with gloss black door mirrors.

MORE: Kangoo news, reviews, pricing and specs

Sales for Renault’s LCV models were largely positive in 2015, with the Master growing to 1510 sales from 1086 in the year before. Kangoo likewise saw a significant improvement, up from 664 in 2014 to 1177 sales last year.

Trafic sales saw a downturn however, from 1643 in 2014 to 1070 last year. This can likely be attributed both to availability affected by the generational changeover, and - perhaps more likely - the absence of an automatic transmission.

Pricing (plus on-road costs):

KANGOO

SWB 1.6L Petrol Manual - $21,990
SWB 1.6L Petrol Automatic - $24,490
LWB 1.5L Diesel Manual - $26,990
LWB Crew 1.5L Diesel Manual - $29,490

TRAFIC

L1H1 SWB low roof 1.6L Diesel 66kW Manual - $34,490
L1H1 SWB low roof 1.6L Diesel 103kW Manual - $37,990
L2H1 LWB low roof 1.6L Diesel 103kW Manual - $39,490

MASTER

L1H1 SWB low roof FWD Diesel 2.3L 120kW Manual - $43,990
L1H1 SWB low roof FWD Diesel 2.3L 110kW Automatic - $45,490
L2H2 MWB mid roof FWD Diesel 2.3L 120kW Manual - $47,490
L2H2 MWB mid roof FWD Diesel 2.3L 110kW Automatic - $49,990
L3H2 LWB mid roof FWD Diesel 2.3L 120kW Manual - $48,990
L3H2 LWB mid roof FWD Diesel 2.3L 110kW Automatic - $51,490
L3H2 LWB mid roof RWD Diesel 2.3L 120kW Manual - $51,990
L3H2 LWB mid roof RWD Diesel 2.3L 110kW Automatic - $54,490
L4H3 ELWB high roof RWD Diesel 2.3L 120kW Manual - $53,990
L4H3 ELWB high roof RWD Diesel 2.3L 110kW Automatic - $56,490
L3H2 Window van LWB mid roof FWD Diesel 2.3L 110kW Automatic - $52,490
L3 Platform Cab Chassis FWD Diesel 2.3L 120kW Manual - $43,490
L3 Platform Cab Chassis FWD Diesel 2.3L 110kW Automatic - $45,990
L4 Single Cab Chassis RWD Diesel 2.3L 120kW Manual - $49,990
L4 Single Cab Chassis RWD Diesel 2.3L 110kW Automatic - $52,490
L4 Dual Cab Chassis RWD Diesel 2.3L 120kW Manual - $53,490
L4 Dual Cab Chassis RWD Diesel 2.3L 110kW Automatic - $55,990
L3H2 Bus LWB mid roof FWD Diesel 2.3L 110kW Automatic - $59,990