THE new Renault Trafic has been voted van of the year at the 2001 What Van? Awards alongside its sister model from Vauxhall, the Vivaro. The groundbreaking Trafic also claimed the best small panel van top prize, beating its rivals from Mercedes-Benz, Citroen, Fiat and Peugeot.

In addition, Renault topped the small van category for the second year running with the Clio Van and also won the silver award for Kangoo Van in the light van category.

Notching up a gold award in the small panel van category, Trafic beat the Mercedes-Benz Vito into second place and the Citroen Dispatch/Fiat Scudo/Peugeot Expert into third place.

The highly competitive light van category saw another award go to Renault in the shape of a silver prize for the Kangoo Van Ð again for the second year in a row.

The What Van? jury judged it worthy of retaining silver following the addition of the frugal 1.9 dTi engine, which averaged 47mpg when tested by the magazine, as well as its option of one or two side sliding doors.