Renault re-enters motorhome market

Australian motorhome buyers now have a more affordable, rear-wheel drive base vehicle to choose from, with Renault Australia partnering with Melbourne-based RV specialist Sunliner to premiere a high-tech, limited-edition model dubbed the Sunliner 40.

Sunliner is the first major RV brand to adopt Renault's new rear-wheel-drive Master motorhome cab/chassis, which joined Renault's light commercial line-up earlier this year, and the Renault base will be available as an option on a number of Sunliner models including the Pinto, Vibe, and Holiday.

Renault hasn't been a player in the motorhome market in this country for around a decade, but speaking at the unveiling of the Sunliner 40 Renault Australia's Managing Director Justin Hocevar says after careful consideration the company feels "the time is right" to re-enter the fray.

Manufactured at Renault's French factory, the Master motorhome cab/chassis feature a raft of differences over the standard cab/chassis. ??

Headlining the changes are dual swivel seats and the open-backed cab; there's also protection over the 105-litre fuel tank, space on the dash for extra instruments and switches and additional wiring provisions, while the rear of the chassis is also different – there's no cross member, to allow it to better accommodate a motorhome body.

The rear-wheel-drive model comes with an optional Eaton mechanical differential lock in a dual-rear-wheel format, while low-rolling-resistance Continental tyres are standard.

The Master motorhome cab/chassis is powered by a 2.3-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, putting out a claimed 110kW and 350Nm, and mated to either a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automated manual transmission.

With a 4500kg GVM, the Master motorhome can still be driven on a standard car licence.

While the motorhome chassis has been available in Europe for around four years, Renault Australia's LCV Model Line Manager, Lyndon Healey, says it's something new for the Australian RV market.

"What the (motorhome) manufacturers have had available here hasn't changed much in the last 10 years," he says.

"In rear-wheel drive the Mercedes and the Iveco are quite popular but the Master will be significantly cheaper than those chassis. It's really a new product for this segment."

While Sunliner is the first major RV manufacturer to use the Renault motorhome cab/chassis, Healey says the model has been met with widespread interest.

"We've had discussions with several [motorhome manufacturers] and they're quite interested for a number of different reasons," he says.

"The chassis is quite unique because it's rear-wheel drive and yet it's still at what has traditionally been a front-wheel-drive price point, so I think it gives them an option they haven't had before. ??

“It's either been a choice of a comparatively cheap front-wheel-drive or an expensive rear drive – this one gives converters the best of both worlds, so I think we'll get plenty of interest."

While an official recommended retail price is yet to be announced, Healey says the Master motorhome cab/chassis (on its own) is available to private buyers for around $52,000 for the manual and around $55,000 for the AMT.

Like the rest of Renault's Master range, the motorhome cab/chassis benefits from a three-year/200,000km factory warranty with three years' roadside assistance, 30,000km (or annual) service intervals and a capped-price servicing program ($349 per annum for the first three years).