Skip advert
Advertisement
In-depth reviews

Renault Master E-TECH performance, top speed & motor

The Renault Master E-TECH has modest performance, but it can cope with reasonable loads

Renault Master E-TECH
Overall rating

3.0 out of 5

Performance, motor & drive rating

3.0 out of 5

Some electric cars make a show of their searing acceleration. And while most electric vehicles are rapid off the line, the sheer size and bulk of the Renault Master E-TECH means it’s not one of them. The Master has a 75bhp electric motor, but the addition of the 52kWh battery to the large Master body bumps up its kerbweight, so performance is blunted.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Still, the Master E-TECH is fast enough to keep up with traffic, as long as you don’t press the Eco button. This limits top speed to 50mph, which is good for energy saving, but throttle response is also dulled, making the van seem slow off the line. You feel like you need to push the throttle harder to compensate for the poor response, thereby cancelling out the positive effect the Eco button is supposed to have.

Renault Master E-TECH electric motor, 0-62mph and acceleration

The 75bhp electric motor is sourced from the ZOE electric supermini, so it’s only a modest performer – in comparison, the Ford E-Transit has a 181bhp electric motor, so can easily outsprint the Master E-TECH There’s no official 0-62mph time for the Renault, but the same electric motor in the old Kangoo E-TECH compact van returned a 0-62mph time of 14 seconds, so the Master’s not going to be any quicker than that.

Handling

The Master E-TECH is arguably an easier van to drive than the diesel version. It’s automatic as standard, so there’s no gearbox to deal with, while the silent running of the electric motor means it's pretty quiet and refined. The weight of the batteries makes the Master relatively stable and unruffled by bumps, while the only noise really comes from the tyres, wing mirrors and the sound of bumps shuddering through the big body.

Renault fits the same noise generator in the Master E-TECH as found in the rest of the range. This emits a futuristic whirring hum at speeds up to around 20mph, so other road users know of its presence. Go faster than that, and the van’s general tyre and wind noise is louder than the sound generator.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Where can I buy hydrogen and where is my nearest hydrogen filling station?
hydrogen filling station
Your questions answered

Where can I buy hydrogen and where is my nearest hydrogen filling station?

A guide to where you can find hydrogen fuel stations in the UK
30 Sep 2024
Top 10 best plug-in hybrid SUVs 2024
Best Plug-in Hybrid SUV
Best cars

Top 10 best plug-in hybrid SUVs 2024

Not ready to go electric but want low running costs? These plug-in hybrid SUVs offer the best of both worlds
26 Sep 2024
Best seven-seater electric and hybrid cars 2024
Best seven-seater electric and hybrid cars
Best cars

Best seven-seater electric and hybrid cars 2024

If the regular electrified SUVs don’t provide enough practicality for you, then take a look at the best electric and hybrid seven-seaters on the marke…
11 Oct 2024