Renault previews the first images and details of the restyle applied to the Trafic Combi and SpaceClass

The Renault Trafic has earned its place as a successful commercial vehicle over three generations and is about to celebrate no less than 40 years on the market, a period in which the French brand has managed to sell more than two million units across 50 countries. To maintain these figures and keep its competitors at bay, the Trafic must stay up to date, something that will happen next year and that Renault is already previewing.

The restyle the Renault Trafic will receive will logically affect all of its variants, including the Van versions aimed at professionals who want to use it for cargo, but for now Renault has given us a first look at the Trafic Combi, aimed at transporting people and large families, and the Trafic SpaceClass, also for passenger transport but targeting greater exclusivity. As proof of this, the SpaceClass version comes with the Signature trim that the diamond brand reserves for its most exclusive models, although there will also be a version called Escapade for those who want to enjoy their time and nature with the Trafic.

The aesthetic changes the Renault Trafic receives focus on its front end, where it retains its voluminous presence but with a more subtle and refined design that gives it a greater sense of modernity. Thus, it receives a new bonnet with more pronounced lines, while just below it appears the new front grille, now more elegant thanks to the horizontal chrome lines that cross it, which also serve as a link to the new LED lighting unit that now includes the characteristic “C”-shaped light signature of Renault. Just below the headlights is the new bumper, not as bulging outward and with more horizontal lines, as can be seen in the one below the grille at the central air intake.

Renault says that both the new Trafic Combi and the new Trafic SpaceClass will come standard with electrically foldable mirrors, as well as 17-inch alloy wheels, which will have a diamond-cut finish on the Trafic SpaceClass version. In addition, there will be a palette of seven body colours available, including the new Carmine Red, which lends a distinctive and eye-catching touch compared with the rest of the MPVs.

Changes have also been made to the interior of the new Renault Trafic, focused especially on the dashboard area, which keeps a straightforward design that now undoubtedly improves its look. We can see that the steering wheel features a new design that gives it an aesthetic upgrade; just behind it sits the new instrument cluster, which appears to be analogue with a digital display in the centre providing more information, while the centre console benefits from a new layout to fit the Easy Link infotainment system with 8-inch screen, compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a charger for smartphones. This also means the climate control controls have been modified, which now add a chrome trim.

If there is one thing these types of vehicles stand out for, it is their storage capacity, something the Renault Trafic boasts with 86 litres of storage in the cabin alone, of which 6 litres correspond to the new Easy Life drawer, though spread throughout the cabin there will be new storage compartments with easy access for up to its 9 passengers. On top of all this, future customers will benefit from new materials and colours, providing greater personalisation options, and the Trafic SpaceClass will be able to feature the exclusive Meteor Grey dashboard of this version.

In terms of safety, the new Renault Trafic will be able to fit the latest generation of safety and driver assistance systems, benefiting from adaptive cruise control, active emergency braking for interurban driving that can brake automatically if it detects a collision risk, lane departure warning and blind spot alert. In addition, the front seats will benefit from a new front airbag adapted for two passengers.

Mechanically, the Renault Trafic Combi and SpaceClass will benefit from three diesel engines: first, the updated 150 CV dCi engine, which gains 5 CV of power and can be paired with a six-speed manual or EDC automatic transmission; second, the 110 CV dCi, also updated, which is only available with the manual gearbox; and finally, the 170 CV dCi engine, only available with the EDC automatic gearbox. All of them feature Stop & Start technology and comply with the Euro 6D FULL standard.

Early next year Renault will offer more specific details about the new Trafic Combi and SpaceClass, as their sales launch is scheduled to begin at the end of March.