Vans

The Toyota Tarago was loved by Aussie families, but is its replacement up to the job? We family tested the Granvia VX six-seater van to find out.

Renault has detailed its updated Master large van, which will hit showrooms in March with a fresh face, new standard equipment and a significantly refreshed interior.Entry to the range has been raised by $500 to $44,490 plus on-road costs for the manual S

My 2010 Suzuki APV starts but cannot accelerate. What could be the problem?

I have a 2016 LDV G10. Is my motor a timing chain or belt?

Is there a conversion kit available to put a Commodore V6 or something similar into my 2009 Hyundai iLoad? The current diesel motor has lost oil pressure and my mechanic has said it is beyond repair.

Renault Australia’s Trafic mid-size van is now available with a limited-run Formula Edition variant.The F1-inspired grade has returned for 2019, based on the 103kW/340Nm 1.6-litre turbo-diesel Trafic, and once again boasting unique exterior styling and a strong list of standard equipment.Available in both short- and long-wheelbase guise, the Trafic Formula Edition can be had from $41,490 plus on-road costs and $43,490, respectively, which translates to a $3000 and $3500 premium compared to the vehicles upon which they are based.The Formula Edition is equipped exclusively with a six-speed manual gearbox.For the extra bags of sand, the Formula Edition features dark cloth upholstery, a heated driver’s seat, unique floor mats, climate control, a wide-view reversing mirror, LED interior lighting, a dashboard storage compartment and a start/stop button.The interior also gains chrome touches on the instrument panel surround, gear knob, and speaker panels, and gloss black surrounds are added to the air vents.Renault will also include a high-security dead-locking system, a stainless-steel bumper lip to make the load bay more secure and a dealer-fitted timber cargo floor.The flooring is made from nine-millimetre hardwood with a hard-wearing, non-slip surface.Distinguishing the Formula Edition is a red exterior decal kit, which is included with both the White and Storm Grey paint options, black 17-inch alloys and body-coloured bumpers.According to Renault Australia LCV product manager Lyndon Healey, the brand is confident that the Formula Edition will help drive light-commercial sales.“Over the past few years the exclusive Formula Edition has brought many new customers to Renault LCV,” he said.“In addition to referencing Renault Sport’s involvement in Formula 1, the feature-rich list of extra equipment and the stand out design elements really appeal to SME (Small to Medium Enterprise) and tradie buyers,” he said.“More importantly for keen Trafic drivers, the manual six-speed gearbox is the same as that used in the high-performance Renault Sport Megane hot-hatch, so there’s a little bit of Renault Sport magic in every Trafic,”Only a “small number” of Formula Edition vans will be available in 2019, however, it is unclear exactly how many units are allocated.“With only a small number of Formula Edition vans available in 2019, fans of sporty Trafics are encouraged to race into their local Renault dealer before they sell out.” 

Need to get something delivered somewhere slippery? Volkswagen is here to help.

This is not your father’s daggy Toyota Tarago.

I went to the Ford website to do a build and price of the Ford Custom Sport but to no avail. Ford Customer service advised this model is not available in Australia. Do you have any more news on this?

Renault has launched updates for its Master large van and Trafic medium van, which will be updated in late 2019. Upgrades are focused mostly on drivetrains, the most important news being the Trafic is now available with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. It is currently only available with a six-speed manual. Drivetrains on the Trafic and Master have been updated. The Trafic is now only available with a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine in 89kW, 108kW and 126kW power forms.The 2.0L replaced the former 1.6-litre unit, while the Master features an upgraded 2.3-litre turbo-diesel engine. Both models have received attention in their cabins with the Master picking up a new dashboard design, and the Trafic new materials and new multimedia screens with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring. Both models have also received light styling changes with new bumpers, revised headlights with LED lighting, and new wheel designs. Safety kit has been upgraded with AEB now an option on the Trafic, and features like blind-spot monitoring will be available on the Master. Renault has also launched the Master ZE (zero emissions), which uses the 33kWh battery pack and 57kW electric motor from the Zoe EV. Aimed at city van drivers, it has an electronically-limited top speed of 100km/h and a real world range of 120km. It can be recharged in around six hours. Renault Australia has confirmed the Master and Trafic will be launched locally in the fourth quarter of 2019, with local pricing and specifications to be confirmed before then.