It is hard not to be impressed when a member of Renault’s staff informs you that, since its launch in November 1997, the Kangoo has sold 2.3 million units worldwide, with over half of these being LCV versions. Add in the fact that in LCV form, it has topped the European small van charts for ten years! Not a bad record by anyone’s standards. But, still time for a change, especially considering the competition has caught up and is now pushing for there own slice of the action, even more so in the commercial sector. So, bearing this in mind, it is no surprise that the new Kangoo vans have come out before the car version, which will not appear until 2009.The new Renault Kangoo is very much a vehicle for the 21st century and it boasts modern, expressive styling, this being highlighted by a short ‘cobby’ front end. It comes in two versions, both sharing the same overall styling, but ‘Compact’ version being considerably smaller, which we will come onto in a minute. However, inside both this and the larger ‘Express’ have a capacious bright cockpit that is more in line with a car or MPV than a working vehicle. modern, expressive styling seem to have been the design key words as there is space to securely fit an A4 clip board on the dash, store two lap-top computers in the glove box, as well as an overhead shelf to swallow up whatever else you want to carry close to hand and out of sight.
Multimedia connectivity with Bluetooth capabilities helps make the driving and passenger area as good as any modern Health and Safety conscious office. Add in things like fully adjustable seats, adjustable steering wheel, cruise control, air con, parking sensors, automatic headlamp and wiper activation and driving is not going to get too stressful. Safety is high on the list with pretensioner belts and airbags all round if required. The cockpit forms a rigid non deformable survival cell to protect its occupants in the event of a crash and you have a choice of bulkheads or safety bars behind you. ABS, brake assist ASR traction control and ESC under-steer control, along with a load limiter make the specifications sound more like a top of the range family motor, rather than a working vehicle. For those times you need to increase the load capacity, providing you have no passenger, the front seat will collapse level with the rear floor to give extra length, if you do not opt for the fixed bulkhead.
The rear of the Express can now take loads between 3 and 3.60 cubic metres. The width between the rear wheel arches is 1.21 metres, which means that euro pallet will just slide in.
The smaller ‘Compact’ shares the width, but length is just 3.83 m long as opposed to 4.21m for the larger Express. The load capability is just 2.3 to 2.9 cubic metres, but the turning circle and ease of manoeuvrability is well worth opting for it if you do not have large loads to carry. Both have asymmetrical rear doors that have been beefed up and designed for constant use. A sliding side door (depending on specification) adds to usability and access. In other areas wings have been made of noryl, a supple composite material which absorb minor impacts without a trace. If it goes above that, the whole front end can be easily removed to cut down on labour costs!
Powering these new versions are three diesel engines, 70, 80 and 85bhp versions of the 1.5dCi unit. There are also two petrol engines, a 1.6 8V and 1.6V 105hp available. All are claimed to give low running costs. The list of options and extras also reads like those on a car brochure!
So what is it like to drive? Well the French launch had versions of both the Express and Compact with a route to ensure all aspects of the vehicle could be tested to the full. As result both were fully loaded to test the engines pulling capabilities in rural hilly areas as well as around town. The first thing that hits you is the interior space and general comfort, the dash mounted gear lever adding to this by keeping the floor area clear. There is also a reassuring clunk on the doors which gives a quality feel to things.
Built on the ‘Scenic’ chassis, it gives a level of handling not normally associated with a van of the genre. With a track 12cm wider at the front and back and a 10cm longer wheelbase compared to the existing version, the vehicle is very stable with little roll and pitch being noticeable even when loaded. (Obviously the Compact is shorter overall, although the track remains the same!). The electrically assisted power steering is also very useable and predictable at all speeds. On the Compact, its turning circle is superb and on the tight backstreets that formed part of our route, it put its sibling to shame, accomplishing several turns in one go that the larger model had to have a shunt on. As a city vehicle for light work, the Compact is a real city slicker without doubt!
Both test versions used the 85bhp motor and it showed itself to be more than up to the task. Even some steep climbs out in the French countryside were accomplished without the need to use the lowest gears. Wound up it had a fair turn of speed and will have no problem in the traffic light GP so beloved of cities the world over. At other times it cruised happily in an unstressed fashion and allowed normal conversation to take place without recourse to raised voices.
Gears seem well spaced and my only slight complaint is that the gear change is slightly notchy going through the five speed box, although you soon get used to it. Braking was fine thanks to the ventilated discs front and rear. Even fully loaded failed to give any heart stopping moments, despite some spirited driving at times. Really there is little to comment on, the new Kangoo is better in every way and Renault has managed to achieve a replacement that is still as recognisable as its predecessor.
Sure it is more modern. Certainly it is a spacious, roomy place of work that you can be sure is safe, as well as practical. However, it still maintains the main features that have made it number one for the last ten years. Renault once again seem to have set the standard and with the introduction of the ‘Compact’ to go with, upped the bar another notch. Quiet an achievement!
