Truck & Driver UK – July 2019

TRUCKERS’ TEST

(^66) July 2019 Truck & Driver
first truck ever to have a
completely flat cab floor,
immediately making it
spacious, comfortable and,
consequently, highly desirable.
Launched as the Renault AE
(for AErodynamic) in 1990,
straight away it was voted
International Truck of the Year

1991. In 1997, it was renamed
      Magnum – and, quite literally, it
      kept Renault alive. The Magnum
      never sold in huge quantities here
      in the UK but its originality,
      quirkiness and outright innovation
      made us all sit up and take notice.

Niche model

Crucially, it laid the foundations for

the launch of Renault’s hugely-

popular Premium range in 1996.

Such was the Premium’s

success that the high-roof version

took over the brand’s flagship

duties almost from launch,

leaving the Magnum to fade into

relative obscurity and become

almost a niche model for the few.

The Range T was designed to

do everything the Premium did

only better. Spacious, roomy and

comfortable, its design retained

the real originality of Magnum.

Nothing else looked anything like

it. A Range T High was available

in mainland Europe but for the

UK, the decision was taken to

run with just the standard Range

T line-up, mirroring the Premium,

with Day, Night & Day and

Sleeper cabs, Renault

commenting: “We don’t really sell

flat floors here in the UK.”

But never underestimate the

power of the driver. Soon a head

of steam built up that Renault

Trucks UK simply couldn’t ignore;

drivers wanted the extra space

and comfort and convenience of

the flat floor plus that presence

on the road, while rivals were

heading in the flat-floor direction

too. Enter the RHD Range T High.

Top-power T

So, is it as good as everyone

expected? To find out, we

borrowed Renault’s top-power

520hp Range T High

demonstrator – uniquely

registered T520 RHD – for a day!

As anticipated, we found it

smooth, easy to drive and with

a superb ride, even when

running solo as a tractor. We love

the seating position in particular

and the ease of being able to

dump the air out of the seat,

stand up and move around so

easily. But let’s seek the

reactions of drivers...

What

do you

think?

We demonstrated

‘our’ Range T High

520 to drivers to see

what they think of

the big Renault

MARK SCARAH

Mark has been

driving Daf XFs

for some time

and is a big fan.

“Loads of

space inside

and easy to live with,” he

reckons – so taking a look

inside the T was a new

experience for him.

“Some drivers love these,

some are very negative,” he

says, “but on first impressions

I like it. Space inside is really

important to us. We shift

caravans, so we’re always

running with a second man.

Space and storage are totally

at a premium, especially when

we’re out overnight, which we

are most of the time.”

As a result, he was an

immediate convert to the T’s

flat floor. “That would make it

so much easier for two people

to move around, even when

the engine hump is as low as

it is in the Daf. And storage in

here is superb.

‘That fridge is amazing –

more than big enough, not

least if you want to eat healthy

and cook something. The

interior colours are good too;

I hate a cab that’s too dark,

lighter colours make it easier

to see the dirt.

“I’m impressed. Yes, the

T High is a flagship but there’s

loads of practical design

in here that really make a

difference for the driver.”

GARY WALTERS

Driving a Daf CF,

Gary readily

admits to not

being a

Francophile, “and

I’ve never really

been a fan of French trucks. That

said, I’ve never had any

experience of one either, so I

guess it’s time I took a look...

Renault drivers appreciate the driving position...

... and like the space and comfy bunk

Great plate: 520hp is top T High rating