Solid, but not superb
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RENAULT KANGOO COMPACT
IPrice: £10,690 Engine: 1 5-litre, 86hp Payload: 500kg Mileage: 10,768 Expenses: None Faults: None Average mpg: L1 2 Dull and with styling pinched from the Postman Pat-school of design. Renault has, at least, managed to shake off one of its original tags following a major revamp in 2007
Yes, the Kangoo still lacks pizzazz, and after more than 10,000 miles clocked up by various members of the Road Transport Group, that isn't going to change.
Now in its 12th year, the Kangoo has been trumped by the competition at pretty much every turn. but it still has a practical streak you can't help but admire.
Our version is the Compact, which has a 2,300trun wheelbase, a 500kg payload, and a 2.3m load space. Compared with the normal Kangoo van, the Compact is 384rnm shorter; can carry 150kg less payload; has 0.7m" less internal load space; and is 158kg lighter.
The Euro-4 common-rail engine is an 86hp, 1.5-litre diesel, which delivers 200Nni torque from 1,750rpin through a five-speed manual transmission. Standard tyre size is 185/70R14. The van is fitted with disc brakes on the front axle and drums on the rear.
Renault says the Kangoo Compact is aimed at firms making deliveries and collections in the city, and it is hard to argue with that. Handling and road positioning is first class — you can swivel on a sixpence and the engine has the sort of response you need for close-quarter action.
Hut the further a driver ventures from the teeming metropolis, the more unsure the vehicle becomes. Coping with the tight arteries of the city is one thing, but dealing with quicker, faster traffic on A-roads, bypasses, dual carriageways and motorways is another.
Awkward toads
Faster and more dominant vehicles driven by power-hungry executives or 'hot rods' queue up to try to ease the Compact out of any overtaking lane it might find itself in. Tailgating, hogging the offside mirror and offside indicating are the favourite practices for drivers following the Compact.
You have to stick to your principles, regardless of the vehicle's size, and it helps that its seating area affords comfort that lasts longer than a hurried change of lanes.
Unlike a number of small vehicles, you don't get out after a long journey feeling as if you've been cooped up in a tin box with David Blaine the entire time.
For loads that are more awkward, you can open up the loadspace by sliding the rear section of the roof forward — ideal for delivering longer pieces of equipment. say. • Kevin Swallow
THE VERDICT The Kangoo has shaken off the Postman Pat comparisons, but it is still functional to the point of being Spartan. For a light CV, though, it's well-appointed, and has more then enough oomph for city jobs.
If you were buying one of these, you would have to be exact with its specification. Beyond same-day delivery or domestic appliance repair outfits, options are restricted by its lack of payload and loadspace.
As a vehicle in its own right, it more than delivers. The engine is lively with strong responsive acceleration, and the swift changes from the transmission always deliver.