
Our last review of a 26-tonner was before the 2008/09 recession and, while most manufacturers have finally got around to providing some top-weight tractors for reviewing, none have got around to the bigger middleweight rigids.
The French side of the Volvo group brings you the Renault D 26 Wide Optifuel 6x2 R 320 E6, a distribution 26-tonner with the latest 320 engine and the wider of the two cabs on offer. The chassis has steel front suspension and air at the rear, while the third axle is a lifting and steering tag.
Cab variants
The Range D was launched in 2013 as part of Renault Truck's total product renewal and was designed to replace both the Midlum and Premium Distribution. To do this, it was given cabs with two widths, nominally 2.1m and 2.3m. This is where it begins to get complicated. The Day cab and the Global cab, which is 400mm longer with an occasional bunk that folds down from the rear wall, retain a useful amount of storage space behind the seats and come in both widths, while the ungainly-looking four-door, six-seat crew cab is only available in the narrow version. Another 200mm longer, and only available on the wide cab, there are two versions with full-time single bunks: the low-roof Night and Day, and the high-roof Sleeper, with 500mm of extra headroom.
Chassis, wheelbase and body
The Range D 26's chassis variants comprise 4x2s, as rigids or tractors, together with 6x2 rigids in conventional or rear-steer form. There’s also a 4x4 rigid for specialist applications. No less than 13 wheelbase options, from 3,250mm to 6,800mm, are available on the various models. Our review vehicle had the 5,800mm wheelbase, the second from longest for a 6-wheeler, giving an overall axle spread of 7,150mm.
The body fitted was a 28ft Lawrence David Traccess curtainsider, with Armoursheet Plus load-bearing curtains and a Dhollandia underslung tail-lift. Although the body had the Fuel Save roof, with its mild teardrop effect, the small cab roof spoiler did not offer much more than a token gesture to aerodynamic efficiency, worth bearing in mind when considering the fuel figures.
Renault DTi 8 engine
Such is the way that there is often only one realistic solution to any problem, the differences between the various European manufacturers’ engine offerings are getting harder to spot. The Renault DTi 8 provides no radical departure from the identikit formula. The 7.7-litre straight-6 features four valves per cylinder, driven by timing gears on the rear of the engine, all the better for doubling up with any PTO.
Fuel is injected by a high-pressure (2,000bar) common-rail system into an intake charge provided by a variable geometry turbo-charger. Emissions are reduced by a combination of exhaust gas recirculation and a post-treatment system including a diesel particulate filter and SCR injection. On this review, the AdBlue consumption was a relatively frugal 2.27% of diesel used.
Cab interior, comfort and trim
Three steps up to the relatively low cab floor in this 6x2 means that repeated access for multi-drop deliveries is no great hardship. However, once in the driving seat, the 500mm high engine hump makes for a cosy environment, although the wider cab option ensures it’s never unduly cramped.
We’ve never sat in a Renault, car or truck, of any age with an uncomfortable driving seat, and the Range D is no exception. Trimmed in a smart and business-like dark grey cloth, contrasting with the largely beige interior, the perch is fully adjustable, heated and features an armrest.
Driver display, instruments and controls
The central rev counter, with its large digital road speed display, dominates the instrument panel in our Range D 26 6x2, flanked by the minor gauges. The driver information display is slightly limited in its fuel use functions, with consumption in gallons per hour, and distance and mpg since reset, although the lack of a total fuel used figure is mainly only of concern to truck reviewers.
Switches are well laid-out, and the chunky heater knobs are easy to operate, even with gloves on. The steering wheel is a busy place, surrounded by no less than four stalks, and the cruise control buttons are on the wheel itself.
In-cab infotainment
The Renault D 26's dash includes 12V and 24V sockets and a USB charging point together with an auxiliary input to the comprehensive audio unit with CD/MP3 and Bluetooth functions. The various controls and displays for the audio are rather scattered around the dash. A DIN-sized blanking tray beneath has room for a phone and pair of specs. The optional phone mount at the left end of the instrument panel, ready to attach a dedicated handset holder from someone like Brodit, is a neat idea. The central dash top has a small tray, which would be better with a non-slip surface, while two small cup-holders are located near the driver’s left knee.
Mechanical parking brakes mounted well back on the engine hump are rapidly becoming a sign of a mature vehicle design, and the one in the Renault D 26 Wide isn’t among the easiest to reach. It shares a plinth with switches for central locking, roof vent and night heater.
The three drop-down sun visors could be better, with significant gaps, but the one above the driver’s side window is much better as it slides into the best position. The Renault cab has a glass roof vent with sun blind, but unlike its big Volvo cousins, you have to provide your own hammer to open it.
Cab storage
There are decent-sized longer-term storage bins under the ends of the bunk in the D 26 Wide, which lifts on gas struts, but no external access, so any wet and dirty kit will probably end up in the passenger’s footwell. In between them is a large shallow area, just the right size to store your pyjamas without getting them creased.
For this size of cab, the storage above the screen is relatively generous. Divided into three sections horizontally and two vertically, the lower level has the tachograph, three spare DIN positions and some minor switches on the right and a cutaway section on the left, with a black lockable storage bin in between. Two-thirds of the upper level is more lidded storage, with an open shelf on the left ideal for a microwave or coffee maker, complete with power supply.
Given that 6x2 trucks like this Renault D 26 are more likely to carry a two-person crew, it doesn’t deliver a great deal for the passenger. They have no cup-holders or dashboard tray, just a seat and a door pocket large enough for a small water bottle.
As in most small sleeper cabs, living accommodation is inevitably compromised in the D 26 Wide. With the engine cover level with the seat cushion, most drivers shouldn’t expect to stand up straight anywhere, except possibly in front of the passenger seat with difficulty. It’s not intended to provide any more than occasional overnight stays, and for that purpose it’s perfectly adequate, if you don’t mind making the journey from passenger seat to bunk on your hands and knees. With this in mind, some firmer foam backing under the moulded floor covering would prevent your knee encountering any bolt heads beneath.
Bunk and lighting
When you do get into the bunk area in this 6x2, you’ll find it has a thick but nicely firm mattress, two reading lights, a red night light, a storage net on the rear wall and a semi-hidden bin at the foot end. The greatest advantage of specifying the wide version of the cab is the more generous bunk length. The bunk area has a runner for a cross-cab curtain that isn’t there, but the black full-cab curtains are suitably opaque.
Optidriver transmission
Key to any truck’s dynamics these days is the transmission. This D 26's 12-speed automated transmission, Optidriver in Renault-speak, is relatively basic in its functionality, with crawler mode, manual override and neutral roll, but retains the underlying excellence of the Volvo I-Shift on which it is based. It is pretty rare for any situation to benefit from manual intervention, but if you do feel the need to take total control, it is only a finger flick away. Working closely with the transmission, the two-stage engine brake is surprisingly effective, with easily accessed downshift command.
Engine power and performance
Having 26 tonnes powered by a 320hp-rated engine gives a comfortable, if not extravagant, power-to-weight ratio, and the Renault D 26 6x2 is perfectly capable of maintaining the desired speed in most situations. The steady drag up the northbound A40 out of Monmouth has largely been outgrown by truck power, with top speed easily maintained by most. On the hill south out of Wantage, though, with its two distinct short, sharp climbs, the Renault romped up well ahead of par.
This was the first time CM has used this largely rural review route since the A-road speed limit was introduced. To be honest, the overall effect on journey times is negligible, as there are limited opportunities to drive safely at more than 40mph on country roads. What it does mean is that you no longer hold up traffic as much when it is safe to make more progress, and you no longer have to waste brain capacity on complying with an unrealistically low limit.
Steering system
The steering wheel in our 6x2 was annoyingly misaligned, but more fundamentally, the mechanism it was connected to was rather low-geared, enough to limit progress through tighter roundabouts. The steering rear axle is a mixed blessing. Overall, it’s a good thing, helping manoeuvrability in tight spaces, but you need to be aware of the increased swing-out, especially when other vehicles might try to sneak past while you’re turning.
Cab noise
The Renault D 26's cab interior is quiet, only let down by some wind noise from the external sun visor. The lane departure warning system sounds like static on the radio, which is confusing until you realise where the noise is coming from.
Ride and handling
The ride in this 6x2 manages to be firm yet resilient, providing reassuring handling. The brakes were quietly efficient, as is the norm these days. Stopping at the T-junction at the bottom of the descent from Hollybush on the A438 prompted reminiscences of how this arrival would often see the truck enveloped in a cloud of smoke from the brakes.
Review verdict 77%
The recession has a lot to answer for and the enforced lapse in Commercial Motor’s role as the journal of record is probably far from the most serious in the great scheme of things. However, it has meant that while we’ve slowly got back on track as regards long-haul tractors, there’s a big gap in our knowledge of the transition from Euro-4 to Euro-6 in the distribution sector. Even with some optimistic signs from some manufacturers, it will be a year or two before we can create any meaningful comparisons of contemporary delivery vehicles, especially as the sector comprises at least five discrete weight categories.
Fortunately, as our last 26-tonner reviewed before things went wrong was a Volvo of a very similar spec, we are able to provide some perspective.
Our review results with heavy tractors have shown just what a mechanical miracle Euro-6 is. Not only have the engineers reduced diesel exhaust emissions to as low a level as they are ever likely to reach, certainly until new methods of accurately measuring such tiny amounts in service are developed, but this hasn’t been at the expected cost of fuel economy. In fact, in most cases consumption has actually improved significantly.
Fuel consumption: Renault D 26 Wide 6x2 mpg performance
We’re pleased to report that although some parts of the route were driven at higher speeds, the Renault D 26’s overall fuel consumption is 0.3mpg better at 9.49mpg (29.7lit/100km), and on the motorway section driven at similar speeds, the improvement was 2.7mpg, a whopping 27% gain.
Fuel costs aside, this Renault D 26 proved to be a thoroughly competent all-round distribution truck. The styling is not to everyone’s taste, and the D 26's cab accommodation is a compromise that you’ll be well aware of before you sign the order form. The only area we’d really like to see improved is the steering ratio. After a full day of delivering around Milton Keynes, you’d be happy to get into the bunk in this Renault Range D, even if it is on your hands and knees.
Images: Tom Lee
For more on the Renault D 26 Optifuel Wide 6x2 R 320 E6 2019 review.
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