Renault Kangoo Range Car Review

Facts At A Glance
Car: Renault Kangoo range
Prices: £11,200-£14,050 – on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 4-5
Emissions: 138-200g/km
Performance: [1.5 dCi 86] 0-60mph 16.0s / Max Speed 98mph
Fuel Consumption: [1.5dCi 86] (urban) 47.9mpg / (extra urban) 56.5mpg / (combined) 53.3mpg
Safety: Twin front airbags, ABS WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE: length/width/heightmm 4213/1829/1799

FAMILY BEFORE FASHION

Our Rating: 5.3 / 10

The Renault Kangoo uses tricks of the van trade to offer big practicality to family car customers. Jonathan Crouch reports

The car version of Renault’s van-based Kangoo offers MPV customers oodles of space and practicality in a durable and compact package. It’s perfect for the needs of modern families on a budget who don’t mind the van-like looks and prioritise sensible virtues and value above all else.

In an age when style so often takes precedence over substance, van-based mini-MPVs like Renault’s Kangoo offer a refreshing alternative, single-mindedly focusing on getting the job done with scant regard for the aesthetics. OK, so the cars in this sector are based in light commercial vehicles? What of it? After all, smaller vans these days are usually based on cars – this one for example, is based on the MK2 Renault Scenic.

At the end of the day, the needs of business people and parents aren’t that different: it’s about space, durability and cost and whether you’re running a fruit and veg stall or a modern household with 2.4 children and a Labrador, the basics you need from your vehicle are similar. That’s the genius of the Kangoo and its ilk.

You won’t be expecting an exhilarating driving experience – and you won’t get it. That said, basing this car on a chassis from a MK2 Renault Scenic rather than an ancient MK2 Clio makes a big difference to the driving experience, notably to the ride. A wide track and a long wheelbase help handling and ride quality, while a rear anti-roll bar addresses the problem of body roll that can afflict taller vehicles. You may feel motorway crosswinds a little more than in a convention family hatch however.

At the wheel of a Kangoo, you sit very upright and the huge glass area gives an excellent view ahead. On country toads, there’s actually a reasonable amount of grip, whilst in town, light power steering makes it easy to slot into tight spaces, although until you get used to the shape, judging the extremities of the car during parking manoeuvres can be slightly difficult as the bonnet slopes away from you.

Performance is leisurely, with even the fastest petrol and diesel models taking 13s to reach sixty from rest on the way to 106mph. At least with the diesel, there’s the compensation of prodigious torque – 240Nm of it if you go for the 106bhp version, compared with just 185Nm for the equivalent petrol unit. That means fewer gear changes for diesel drivers and a much more leisurely feel. Only the top diesel gets a 6-speed manual gearbox and only the top petrol model can be ordered in automatic form.

The supermini-MPVs that retail for around the same amount as this model may look more car-like but they’re nothing like as spacious. The Renault’s commercial vehicle shape affords masses of room for three rear seat passengers and a monster of a boot lurking just over their shoulders. The high ceiling creates an airy feel to the cabin and the 60:40 split rear seats fold down to create a flat load floor. This can boost the 660-litre boot capacity to an enormous 2,866 litres if you specify your model with a collapsible front passenger seat. There’s also 77 litres of additional storage dotted around the cabin in numerous cubbies and compartments. The various fixtures and fittings are sturdily built but the design does lack a little sparkle. The tough plastics of the otherwise impressive dash hint at the Kangoo’s working class roots but are sure to stand the test of time.

Renault has attempted to give the Kangoo’s exterior a personality beyond that of a compact commercial vehicle but its designers didn’t have a whole lot to work with. The look is chunky and distinctive but it’s clearly van-like. Still, there are positives to that. The sliding side doors for example, that open wide to give easy access to the rear seats. Renault has even engineered electric windows that disappear within these doors when lowered. At the rear, the slab like tailgate lifts to reveal a flat load floor and a very low loading height so that there’s not too far to hoist heavy items. The parcel shelf c