Item: Renault Master ZE
Rating: 3
Author: What Car? Team

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Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

The upfront cost for a Renault Master ZE isn’t cheap&nbsp;(indeed,&nbsp;it's more than twice the price of a diesel Master), but&nbsp;it could still represent a decent return on investment if the total cost of ownership and your usage fits the bill.

For those looking to travel into congestion or emissions&nbsp;charging zones that exempt electric vehicles, there’s an obvious immediate advantage. However, the true cost of ownership will very much depend on the price of your electricity. Roughly speaking, though, if it costs you 15p per kW, a full charge will cost you £4.95 and take you at least 74&nbsp;miles in real-world conditions.&nbsp;That's cheaper than a gallon of diesel, with&nbsp;which a regular Master will take you only around 35 miles.

The Master ZE is based on the Business specification of the regular Master. That means it comes with a DAB radio, Bluetooth, a fully adjustable driver’s seat and a preheating function to warm the interior&nbsp;before unplugging,&nbsp;which helps to maintain range.

It's also worth mentioning Renault’s EasyConnect system, which&nbsp;transmits secure data on the state of the van, allowing either Renault’s fleet management software or third-party systems to provide reports. This enables drivers, or more likely fleet managers, to check on location, range and nearby charging points for their vans, as well as any technical issues.

For all the latest van reviews, news, advice, and videos visit our dedicated van section&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/class/vans">here</a>

A large van with just 76bhp available to it&nbsp;doesn't sound like the most thrilling or even rapid of vehicles to drive, and the Master ZE is indeed&nbsp;neither of those things. The motor is, however, strong enough to get the job done, and that's really all you can ask of large electric vans for now; the careful balancing act between payload, range and price makes anything more a lot harder to justify.&nbsp;

The Master ZE's 33kWh pack&nbsp;will take a full charge from a 32-amp&nbsp;power supply in six hours, but rapid-charging isn't available at the moment.&nbsp;Speed is limited to a maximum of 62mph,&nbsp;but the Master ZE can extend its range in Eco mode by limiting performance with slower acceleration and a maximum speed of&nbsp;50mph.

The lower centre of gravity and heavier kerb weight of the ZE make it both better to drive and smoother-riding than a diesel-engined Master. The gentle surge of power and torque you get from the moment you hit the accelerator is very well suited to urban use.

There is&nbsp;excessive noise coming from the road, though;&nbsp;a little more sound-deadening would improve the experience. That said,&nbsp;it’s still a much more tranquil place to be than a diesel Master.

The Renault Master ZE is the missing piece in Renault's electric vehicle puzzle. While the French manufacturer can claim 25% of&nbsp;electric vehicle sales worldwide and already has a&nbsp;small electric van, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/kangoo/van/review/n18460">Kangoo ZE</a>,&nbsp;it hasn't had a large zero-emissions van until now.

The Master ZE is equipped with a 76bhp motor&nbsp;that takes its energy from a 33kWh battery located under the loadspace floor, and&nbsp;has an official range of 124 miles. In real-world conditions, that number is said to be closer to 74 miles, but that&nbsp;still puts it at the forefront of the electric big van market and ahead of its main rival,&nbsp;the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/e-crafter/van/review/n20142">Volkswagen e-Crafter</a>.

Payload for the Master ZE is a still-respectable at 1100kg at its maximum, but load volumes remain completely unchanged compared with the standard Renault Master. That means buyers can still choose from a range of vehicles offering 8m3-13m3 of carrying capacity. As well as panel vans, there are two platform cab versions of different lengths, with a maximum payload of 1370kg, that are suitable for high-capacity body conversion to transport up to 19m3.

There's very little to separate the Renault Master ZE from a diesel Master on the inside, except for some different dials and a few hints of&nbsp;ZE branding. The interior is characterised by its ample storage, with massive door pockets, a big glovebox and plenty of other small compartments.&nbsp;

Perhaps the best alternation made for the ZE, however, is the extensive information&nbsp;available on energy consumption located in a small screen where the rear-view mirror would normally be. This, along with the trip computer, should keep you well within reach of a charging point.

Hatchbacks, SUVs, fast cars, electric cars: Renault makes them all, in a variety of shapes and sizes, so it has a line-up designed to tempt pretty much everyone.

From the roadside, the standout feature of them all is the design, with its cars now having a distinctive look that has won the firm a legion of fans for its flair and charm.

To drive and to own, the line-up is typically decent rather than outstanding. Best of the cars when they are rated against rivals are the Kadjar SUV, the fast RS models and the electric Zoe.

With new and used pricing also keen – and Target Price discounts through our New Car Buying marketplace usually more generous than most – there is the opportunity to negotiate an appealing price.

RENAULT

Master ZE

The Renault Master ZE is a large electric van with a decent real-world range and a&nbsp;respectable payload.

Like the regular Renault Master, the Master ZE is a pretty adaptable van. There are&nbsp;six versions in total, with four panel van choices and two platform cab options. Standard-length L1 panel vans are available with&nbsp;either a standard or high roof, while the long-bodied L2 and extra-long L3 only come with a high roof. Platform cabs are available as long or extra-long vehicles.

Carrying capacity in the panel vans ranges from 8m3-13m3, while payloads are between 975kg and 1128kg. The Master also compares favourably with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/e-crafter/van/review/n20142">Volkswagen e-Crafter</a>, which is available only in one size and has a 10.7m3 capacity with a 970kg payload for a 3.5-tonne van.

Dimensions inside the load area and for the vehicle as a whole remain unchanged, so the Master ZE can move load lengths from between 2583mm and 3733mm.

The Renault Master ZE is a large electric van with a decent real-world range and a respectable payload. It costs more than a regular Master, but could represent a decent return on investment if you mainly drive in the city.

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Renault Master ZE review

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Read review covering Renault Master ZE boot space, size and dimensions, front and rear seat comfort by the expert What Car? test team.

Like the regular Renault Master, the Master ZE is a pretty adaptable van. There are six versions in total, with four panel van choices and two platform cab options. Standard-length L1 panel vans are available with either a standard or high roof, while the long-bodied L2 and extra-long L3 only come with a high roof. Platform cabs are available as long or extra-long vehicles.,Carrying capacity in the panel vans ranges from 8m3-13m3, while payloads are between 975kg and 1128kg. The Master also compares favourably with the Volkswagen e-Crafter, which is available only in one size and has a 10.7m3 capacity with a 970kg payload for a 3.5-tonne van.,Dimensions inside the load area and for the vehicle as a whole remain unchanged, so the Master ZE can move load lengths from between 2583mm and 3733mm.

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