1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168 
Compact yet mighty
Page 18
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
The new Kangoo is aiming to improve on the success of the outgoing model., and with a smaller version promised, Renault is aiming to cover all. bases.
Words: Julian Milnes
SMALL VANS MAY not get the press coverage compared with their larger brethren, but the fact Renault has sold 1.4 million Kangoos in Europe since its launch in 1997 means that the new version has plenty riding on it.
Going on sale this September, it will go head to head not just with Citroen and Peugeot's new Berlingo and Partner, but established favourites like the Ford Connect. And there's more...
Following in the footsteps of the recent mini-Sevel sub-compact van, which was developed jointly between Citroen. Fiat and Peugeot, Renault has decided to offer a version of its own to take on this mighty triumvirate.
Called Compact. it's 380mm shorter than the standard Kangoo (4,210mm), and has a load volume of 2.3m' and a payload of 500kg (3.0m and 650-800kg for the larger model). Both versions can also accept a Euro Pallet.
The engine range relies on the 1.5dCi unit from the previous model, sporting 68hp and 86hp, along with a high power 106hp (with optional particulate filter), although the Compact only gets the first two outputs. For lottery winners, a 1.6-litre petrol version is also available, with either 86hp or 106hp.
Renault also claims that the Kangoo's braking performance is the best in class, thanks to standard ABS and EBA.
Our test run took in a variety of road types, with initial impressions being positive (the Kangoo is based on the same running gear as the Scenic — a model known for its sound drive).
On smaller roads, it felt nimble and poised. Its steering and impressive suspension combining well, while at higher speeds, it remained composed, feeling sturdier than its predecessor.
The interior has been uprated, but the engine on the larger version reverberated a bit too strongly for our liking at higher revs. This did spoil the general low-noise ambience gained from the under-floor acoustic work.
That said, the driving position was first rate, and forward visibility also got our thumbs-up thanks to the oversized windscreen and low-sided windows.
Replacing a successful LCV such as the Kangoo was never going to require less than a fully rounded effort. So its no surprise that this new version has been tweaked all-round. However, the validity, in commercial terms, to introduce a second, smaller model is still open to debate.
This little Renault boasts all the key attributes to mark it out for success.
Prices and equipment levels will be revealed in July and there are three trim levels expected. •