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Renault Kangoo

Renault has updated its Kangoo van, incorporating the corporate grille with tapered headlights and a larger front bumper.  Also new are black textured front bumpers and black rear light extensions, while Kangoo ZE gets a blue finish to the Renault logo and the light surrounds.

 Kangoo comes with a 75hp 1.5-litre dCi diesel engine in Debut and Core models with a 90hp option in Core and Sport vans. Both can be ordered as ENERGY models, with Stop/Start and a deceleration energy recovery system. The vans also have an ECO button that cuts engine torque and can lead to a 10% fuel saving.

The ML19 75hp ENERGY model offers a combined fuel consumption of 65.7mpg, with CO2 output of 112g/km, against the standard van’s 61.4mpg and 119g/km. ENERGY models cost an additional £300, which should be easy to recoup in reduced fuel use. Renault quotes the same figures for the more powerful 90hp models.

Sport Kangoos are available with a 110hp version of the 1.5-litre engine and there will be a 105hp 1.6-litre petrol engine offered in the Core range with an automatic transmission.

The Kangoo Maxi Debut comes with the90hp engine. Service intervals have been set at 18,000 miles/two years for Debut vehicles and the petrol van, or 25,000 miles for all other diesel models.

All Kangoos have ABS with EBD electronic brake distribution. ESC electronic stability control remains a £350 option on Core and Sport models, or £200 on Maxi models. It is not available at all on the Debut entry-level vans.

ESC comes with Hill Start Assist and Renault’s Grip Xtend system, which is designed to improve traction on slippery surfaces. There is also a Site Pack available, with heavy duty wheels, raised suspension and under body protection for £150.

Debut models have a height adjustable steering wheel, a sliding side door, a tubular bulkhead and driver’s airbag. Core models add electric widows and mirrors, a trip computer and front and rear disc brakes, as Debut has rear drums on the shorter model. Sport comes with 15” alloy wheels, Bluetooth, a front bumper with silver insert, one-touch driver’s window, electric folding door mirrors, front fog lights, air conditioning and the R-Link multimedia system, with three months’ subscription to TomTom Live Services and access to Renault’s R-Link application store.

All Kangoo vans come with a four year/100,000 mile warranty and four years of roadside assistance. Kangoo Maxi will be offered in panel van or Crew van models. The Crew van has a folding mesh bulkhead that moves with the folding seats.

Kangoo can be ordered with a fold-flat passenger seat and a swivelling bulkhead, offering a load volume of 3.0m3 or 3.5m3 with the passenger seat folded. Kangoo Maxi offers 4.0m3 and 4.6m3 respectively. Kangoo has a payload of 650kg, though this can be raised to 800kg for an additional £150. Kangoo Maxi can carry up to 800kg, or 740kg as a Crew van.

Prices start at £9,400 for the Debut ML19 dCi 75 and rise to £17,000 for the Kangoo Maxi LL21 dCi 110 Crew van.

Verdict

Kangoo upgrades result in an improved driving  environment, with lower noise. It is disappointing though to still see ESP on the options list, when it is standard on Citan.

Specifications

MODEL Renault Kangoo Core ML19

ENERGY dCi90

BASIC PRICE £13,650

ENGINE 4-cyl/1,500cc

FUEL INJECTION Common-rail

POWER 90hp @ 4,000rpm

TORQUE 200Nm @ 1,750–3,000rpm

Weights

GVW 1,950kg

KERB WEIGHT 1,280kg

PAYLOAD 650kg

MAX TRAILER WEIGHT 1,050kg

Dimensions

LOAD SPACE LENGTH 1,476mm

LOAD SPACE WIDTH 1,218mm

LOAD SPACE HEIGHT 1,129mm

LOAD HEIGHT (unladen) 558mm

LOAD VOLUME 3.0m3

Cost considerations

FUEL TANK CAPACITY 60 litres

COMBINED MPG & CO2 65.7mpg/112g/km

OIL CHANGE 2 yr/25,000 miles

WARRANTY 4 yr/100,000 miles

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