2018 Renault Master Bus Interior Exterior
The 2017 Renault Master Bus is a box ticker. What do I mean by that? Simple. It ticks boxes for business buyers who need a bus on a budget.
Need something easy to drive to ferry people from A to B? Tick. Need 12 seats? Tick. How about a boot that’s big enough to store that many people’s luggage? Tick. Need it to be suitable for drivers with only a car licence? Tick. Want it to be diesel? Tick. How about automatic? Yep, tick.
And because we mentioned the budget - vital for business owners - it is worth noting you get everything you see here for just $59,990 drive-away. While ours was a boring, yet very easily re-sellable white, there are 10 colours available to choose from, three metallic (adds $1000) and seven solids to choose from.
We’ve been trying to get our hands on one of these buses through Renault Australia for some time, but to no avail, yet a friendly dealer - AMR Renault in Sydney - was more than happy to lend us the keys to one of their demo buses for a few days. So, thanks to Jeff and the crew for helping us out.
That $60K d/a price tag includes the aforementioned car-licence-friendly-12-seat capacity (11+ the driver), all the safety kit you need for commercial operators, like safety glass breakers, a fire extinguisher, and three-point seatbelts for all seats. There are no side or curtain airbags, but as a bus the Master is not alone in that respect.
There’s a rear-view camera and rear parking sensors, and the masses of glazing in the rear make over-shoulder glances while reversing a breeze, while the split side mirrors (with lower blind-spot sections) and auto-dimming rear-view mirror make for good vision from the driver’s seat.
Some buses have a higher-set pneumatic suspended driver’s seat to allow a little extra vision over those in the back, but that’s not the case here (you can option an air-suspended seat for $690). However, it’s not too much of a detriment to the vehicle, as there’s height adjustment if you need it, and the mirror vision is adequate through the cabin.
2018 Renault Master Bus Interior Exterior