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Nimble city slicker
Page 20
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Renault took the wraps off the Kangoo MPV at last month's Geneva motor show; the van debuts this week in Amsterdam. Andy Salter has driven the new model.
GLANCING AT THE company's sales literature we got the false impression that the latest incarnation of the Kangoo was simply a facelifted version of the outgoing model. How wrong we were. This is a new van offering improved comfort and better styling with enhanced volume and payload capability.
The new Kangoo is offered in two versions: the Ll, with an overall length of 4.21m and a choice of 650 or 800kg payload, depending on the tyres: and the short-wheelbase LO with an overall length of 3.83m which will take on the new Fiat Fiorino— also launched in Amsterdam this week (see page 16).
Now based on the Renault Scenic (the old version was derived from the Clio), the latest Kangoo benefits from a wider wheeltrack which improves its driveability as well as making room for a wider body.
The driveline remains virtually unaltered from the previous model, with a choice of petrol and diesel engines driving through a five or sixspeed box. The LI uses disc brakes front and rear,while the LO relies on rear drums.
Attention to detail is key with the Kangoo. For example, to address safety concerns all front body panels are made of plastic which deforms on impact. Not only should this reduce pedestrian injuries in the event of an accident — the panel should re-form after a slight impact which will cut the cost of minor repairs.
A recent visit to Renault's test track in northern France allowed us the opportunity to try the new Kangoo on a variety of road conditions and the results were impressive.
The wider wheeltrack significantly enhances the cornering capability of the new van,allowing us to hustle the Kangoo along with little chassis or body roll.The redesigned steering is positive without being twitchy, giving the driver the assurance to press on with a busy schedule.
This enhanced handling is supported by lively engines. We tried the 85hp engine with 650 and 800kg of payload and while the acceleration was a little slower with that extra 150kg on board, perforniance remained impressive.The engines also offer decent low-rev torque output which should allow the Kangoo to make progress in trafficwithout constant recourse to the gear lever.
The revamped interior features a central location for the gearstick and an array of other controls,making this central area rather wide. While the proximity of the accelerator pedal to this console won't be an issue for us in right-handdrive applications, it is too close for comfort in left-hookers and we found it a little uncomfortable. While we have Renault's ear, we'd like to see the steering wheel made adjustable for rake and reach (currently it's only for rake).
The handbrake lever is a cumbersome affair — Renault engineers explain that a conventional handbrake isn't robust enough for multi-drop applications where drivers routinely use the handbrake to lever themselves out of the van. It also means the handbrake isn't 'handed' as it is in some other products.
UK van buyers will be pleased to hear that right-hand-drive Kangoos have been fully designed for the UK application, with little design compromise made when shifting the steering wheel across the van.