Renault Kangoo E-Tech Reviews

It might at first seem odd that a hard-working commercial vehicle such as the Renault Trafic van needs to look good, but it's not so hard to understand when it's realised that it also plays a role in promoting a business as well as carting its cargo.Rolling down the road, or parked in a suburban driveway, a van is a rolling billboard and good looks create a good impression with customers and those who might be thinking of doing business with you.Already a good looker, Renault recently revised the Trafic model range using the knowledge of what's sold well in the past couple of years and what hasn't sold so well. The result is that the range is now made up of two panel vans with a raft of options.The van choices consist of a short wheelbase 5m³ model and a long wheelbase 8m³ model like the one recently driven by Big Wheels.Both have the same low roof height for access to height-restricted sites, and the maximum payload is 1200kg.The Trafic recently underwent a makeover to freshen it for the new Euro 4 emission rules, and while the big changes were made to the engine, Renault also made some minor cosmetic changes to the interior, with a new dash, and exterior, with new headlights and tail lamps.Inside the Trafic's cabin is about as close as you'll get to a car. There isn't a huge step up into the cabin, and once you're aboard it feels much like a car with a comfortable driving position, stylish dash, neatly laid-out controls for the standard airconditioning and sound system including the CD player, soft-feel steering wheel, power windows and mirrors, and comfortable cloth-trimmed seats.There are also plenty of storage options spread about the cabin. Drivers have the protection of an airbag and a passenger airbag is an option.But it's under the bonnet where the significant changes have been made. A new 16-valve 2.0-litre common rail, four-cylinder, turbo diesel now provides the Trafic's get up and go.The new engine is Euro 4-compliant and puts out 85kW at 3500rpm and 290Nm at 1600rpm, which is processed through a six-speed manual gearbox as it makes it way to the front wheels.On the road the Trafic is a smooth performer rather than a tearaway. The combination of the 2.0-litre turbo diesel and six-speed manual gearbox is well balanced making the Trafic a pleasant van to drive.It has good flexibility through the mid-range with quite good pick-up when you need to go a little faster, but it won't pin your ears back at any time. In the time Big Wheels had the Trafic it consumed fuel at the rate of just 9.8 litres per 100km running around town.Smooth is a word that keeps coming back when describing the Trafic; it rides and drives smoothly, to the point it almost glides along the road.The steering is power-assisted and provides ample feedback, while being precise and responsive to driver input, and the turning circle is 13.17m.Braking is by discs with ABS, EBD brake force distribution and EBA brake assist standard. ESP stability control and traction control are both options.A one metre-wide glazed sliding door and rear barn doors that open to 180 degrees, provide access to the load zone, which measures 2800mm long by 1335mm high and 1268mm between the wheel arches.Inside it has eight anchorage points in the floor and four movable anchorages on each of the sidewalls.Wide bump strips and substantial front and rear bumpers protect the bodywork and lamps.The long wheelbase van is priced at $40,990, which includes a three-year/ 200,000km warranty and 24-hour roadside assistance.

As Australia's new car juggernaut rolls on towards the magic million sales mark, the number of available models continues to swell. Already recognised as one of the most diverse and competitive car markets in the world, Australian importers continue to add to the mix.With half the year nearly gone, buyers have taken almost 500,000 new vehicles into their garages with some of the traditional biggest selling months still to come.At least three new marques will arrive in Australian showrooms in the second half of  the year; Hummer, Mahindra and Skoda,  testament to the vibrancy of what is, in world terms, a minor market.However, it is the expanding model range within existing brands that will drive the Aussie market over the million mark for the first time.Over the next six months more than 50 new or revised models will arrive in Australian new car showrooms. Here's a look at what's coming soon:ASTON MARTINDip your lid in style in September with the V8 Roadster, a gorgeous extension of the Vantage. AUDI Audi starts its end-of-year program in September with the R8, the biggest, baddest Audi in the garage The Supercar looks with enough performance to keep most on their toes. Also on the cards for October is the A5, Audi's first coupe since the TT. An all-new platform which comes as a front-wheel-drive and quattro. In November the V8 4.2 TDi may answer some questions for the Q7, including on fuel economy. BMW You'll have to wait until October for the new M3, but the latest offering from the M garage has something special. It's the first V8 for an M3. CHRYSLER A Sebring convertible, topless cousin of the sedan launched in early 2007, arrives in December. DODGE The Nitro SUV joins the Caliber for Dodge next month and the US marque backs that up with its Avenger sedan in August. FIAT The baby Ritmo, sold as the Bravo in Europe, will be Fiat's second passenger offering in Australia when it lands in October. Expect petrol and diesel. FORD The rush to oil-burners continues with the Focus getting the honour of being Ford's first passenger diesel next month before the Focus CC, the drop-top concept that set hearts aflutter at Frankfurt two years ago lands in October. The other big news for Ford is the return in November of the Mondeo for a third tilt at Australia. HOLDEN The key second-half model from the General is the VE Ute, bringing all the developments in the VE sedan to the working man's Holden. HONDA The Civic Type-R is razor-sharp styling built around a high-revving fun package. Next month. HUMMER The iconic offroader from the land of the large truck opens its Aussie account in October, a couple of months later than anticipated as a result of production delays for the H3. Surprisingly agile with real offroad ability. HYUNDAI An important second-half for the Korean marque. It starts with the popular Santa Fe SUV finally getting the 3.3-litre V6 from the Sonata to give it some extra punch. In October, the new Elantra hatch joins the sedan in the Aussie line-up after a wait of almost 12 months. JAGUAR An October styling refresh for the marque's luxury sedan, the XJ, is all from the Big Cat this year before a big 2008. JEEP The second of Jeep's non-Rubicon Trail-rated soft-roaders arrives in August to join the Compass for duty around town. KIA The Carens compact people mover has never really taken off here. The new generation is a little bigger and more stylish. It will be powered by a four-cylinder petrol or diesel engine with five- or seven-seat capacity. On sale in October. LAND ROVERThe baby Freelander gets a complete makeover for this generational change. New engines and a new family look all go on show in July. MAHINDRAIndia's workhorse ute, the Pik-Up, starts to roll out to Australia in July. MAZDA A new generation and a new look for the little Mazda2. Sharper styling is the key to this one's October debut. At the same time Mazda will add a diesel option to its top-selling Mazda3 range. MERCEDES-BENZThe key model for Mercedes this year is the meat-and-potatoes C-Class. Bigger, brighter and ready to meet the masses it is available from July. Also on Mercedes' new-model list is an upgraded ML500 and R-Class in September, both getting the 285kW V8 engine. October is a big month for the three-pointed star with the crackingCL65 AMG (a bi-turbo V12 with 450kW and 1000Nm) and the more sociable S320 CDi, which marries diesel with uber-luxury. MITSUBISHI You have to love a fighter. Australia's “other” family car, the 380, wins a minor refresh with some interior updates from next month. In August the automatic turbo diesel, traditionally the model's top seller, completes the Triton range while in October the point guard for the red-hot Evo X (due late in the year), the new Lancer, promises look-at-me-styling and more punch than the current model. NISSANThe baby Micra finally gets the green light for Australia with an October date with sales. In November the X-Trail, a core model for Nissan and the compact SUV that set the benchmark for those who actually can go off-road, gets a full generational change. The Dualis arrives in December. A softer option to the X-Trail, it sits on a similar platform but is more plush. PEUGEOT It's all about size for the French manufacturer. In July the 207CC, the previous generation of which set the standard for accessorising small cars, is back and promising to reclaim the crown. Its far more focused and athletic sibling, the GTi arrives in August with its turbocharged 1.6-litre engine. The station wagon derivative of the base 207 goes on sale in October. PORSCHEThe 911 turbo cabriolet proves Porsche's belief that if you can go fast in a sedan you should be able to go just as fast in a cabriolet. In September you can prove it for yourself. RENAULT August sees the Megane diesel join the Renault fleet, while the Clio Sport returns in November in an all-new guise. SAAB The new 9-3 will highlight Saab's first all-wheel-drive system in a completely renewed model range. All models arrive in November. SKODA Launches into Australia with a two-pronged attack in October. The Octavia medium-sized hatch and the quaintly named Roomster compact MPV will carry the flag initially. SMARTIn September the next next-generation smart ForTwo arrives, a little bigger and a little smarter. SUBARU The new Impreza is one of the most polarising styling departures of the year. In basic and WRX fettle the hatch arrives in September. A cult car heads mainstream and the jury is out. SUZUKIIf it ain't broke ... A freshen-up for the car that put punch back in Suzuki's local range, the brilliant Swift is in showrooms in October with the sedan version of the SX4 “tall hatch” joining the stable in September. TOYOTA The first product from Toyota's new “hot shop”, the Aurion TRD, arrives in August with a 3.5-litre supercharged V6 with sports manners and a load of plastic kit. Also in August is the generational change for Kluger with the SUV getting a substantial facelift and the 3.5-litre V6 from the Aurion. November brings the Landcruiser 200 Series and a TRD version of the HiLux. VOLVO The highlight for the Swedes in the second half of the year is the all-new generation of the XC70 due in November. About the same time the C30 will get the in-line five-cylinder diesel. VW A hot version of the Passat, the R36, is heading Down Under in November. 

“It would be fair to assume that any new vehicle program so close to launch would be looking to finalise items such as climate-control calibrations and engine ventilation in extreme environments such

But the offer does come with conditions: GM Holden spokesman John Lindsay says the money-back guarantee must be taken up within 30 days or when the mileage hits 1500km, whichever comes first.

But how does it go on our streets where diesel costs about 12 more?With the launch here this year of the Phase II Laguna in a one-spec diesel model, Renault has become one of the last European companies to get on board the diesel road train in Australia.Europeans go nuts for diesel, which is not only cheaper, but also attracts all sorts of concessions and subsidies from their governments.No such luck here. We pay more for the cruder fuel type and get no help whatsoever from our governments.Still, with diesel power about 30 per cent more efficient then petrol, diesel passenger car sales are up about 140 per cent on last year, although it is only 3.6 per cent of the total passenger car market.Renault is therefore not chasing a big total market share with its Laguna, but the introduction of the car in diesel-only shows it is after its fair share of the growing oil-burner sector.When it was last sold here about 20 months ago, Laguna came in seven hatchback and wagon variants priced from $39,990 to $57,990.Since then, Renault has streamlined its product range for efficiency, so now you get the Laguna 2.2 dCi for $46,990. And that's it.Its design is sleeker and less geeky than when it was last here, but it is still no fashion leader.The exterior shape is more like the 1990s Honda and Subaru when those companies fell off the design bandwagon with a solid thump.It's probably not that bad, but certainly no design chiefs are benchmarking future product on it. Even its long rear hatchback design is one which has long been passed over.However, if you like a sedan look with the virtues and practicality of a hatch, this is one of the few around to choose from.The interior is another matter.The new dashboard, console, leather-wrap steering wheel and instruments are classy, modern and functional.The cloth and leather seats are also comfortable and supportive.It is a supremely pleasant environment for driver and passengers with just about every feature you can name.There are auto wipers, rear and rear-side sun blinds, stalk-mounted audio controls, cruise and speed limiter controls, and adjustable headlights. Safety features include a host of airbags (dual front, two side and curtain), anti-lock brakes, electronic brakeforce distribution, emergency brake assist and electronic stability control including anti-understeer.Two convenience features stand out.They are: an electronic handbrake which automatically engages when the vehicle is in park and switched off, then disengages when the accelerator is pressed; and a hands-free key card which unlocks/locks the doors without pressing any buttons.These are the sorts of features that usually come only in luxury German cars.It is powered by a 2.2-litre direct injection common-rail diesel engine producing 320Nm of torque, 10Nm less than a VE Commodore.The unit is a little lethargic to begin with. Stamp on the throttle and it pauses, then kicks into life.It is actually better to squeeze the juice slower and more smoothly for a better response.So long as you are a patient driver, it works fine.In the meat of the daily driving rev range there are ample portions of power. In fact, maximum torque runs from 1750-2500rpm.Then there is a top-end fizzle. It simply runs out of steam, er diesel.Economy is claimed to be 7.7litres per 100km, which is good for a medium-size desel car, but not great.For those concerned about the environment, it is Euro 4 compliant and is fitted with a particulate filter to cut emissions.Across cobblestone Paris streets the Laguna would be a dream with its lush suspension.Yet that does not translate into a wallowing barge on our roads.Renault has struck a great compromise between handling and ride with a flat cornering attitude and a smooth feel over potholes.Steering feels heavy and vague, with slow turn-in.Cabin noise is exceptionally low for a diesel. You would have to wind the window down at traffic lights to identify it as a diesel.The biggest letdown in this otherwise value package is the transmission which is slow, unresponsive and unpredictable.This hopeless box hunts around for gears, sometimes selects the wrong ones and flares on engagement.However, if you don't challenge it with awkward snap decisions, it works just fine.This car is one for patient, considerate, economical and environmental drivers.

Michael Schumacher retired with seven world championships, but 007 is up to 21 movies — with six different macho men in the role — and still going hard.During the past quarter-century and in 21 official films, Bond has been the target of more bad guys on wheels than anyone else in cinema history, yet he has always managed to escape without a scratch.And he has often pulled a nifty U-turn on the opposition with some sort of car trickery, from concealed machine guns on a 1960s Aston Martin to an '80s Lotus Esprit that morphed into a submarine — and even a remote-controlled BMW 7 Series in the '90s.Now he's back for the noughties, and doing it again in the remake of Casino Royale, which opened in cinemas just before Christmas. And he's back in an Aston Martin, just like the early days.The hype for the new 007 movie got me thinking not only about Bond's wheelwork in the latest British supercar, but also the dream car of my childhood: a scale model of the Aston Martin DB5 Bond drove in the 1960s.It came with all the Bond gear — revolving number plates, concealed machine guns, tyre-slashers, a bulletproof rear shield and even an ejector seat.In 1965, Corgi released its scale model of the gadget-laden DB5, and by 1968 nearly four million copies had been sold.It remains Corgi's best-known model, and I couldn't afford it.The release of the 21st-century Casino Royale has triggered a lot of talk about 007 and cars and movies.The model-making machine is already rolling again, with scaled-down copies of the DBS and even re-done — but de-gadgeted — replicas of the original DB5. And this time, there was a tiny Aston in my Christmas stocking.It's worth looking at what Bond cameos have done for car companies.BMW experienced plenty of benefit when it signed a multi-movie deal that began with its baby Z3 convertible. The world saw the car first when it was driven on the big screen by Bond. That deal continued with the Z8 convertible and the controversially styled 7, and even a BMW motorcycle.But then Britain bounced back for the last of Pierce Brosnan's appearances as Bond, when he slid back into an Aston and the baddies strapped into a rocket-equipped Jaguar.This time around, Agent 007 is driving a gorgeous new DBS, and there's even a special appearance by an original DB5.A poll has been conducted for the television series Top Gear on the most popular car chase in Bond movie history. And the winner is ... no, not the Aston. Not a Jaguar, nor the Lotus, nor even one of the BMWs.First choice was a crazy little Citroen 2CV that suffered all sorts of punishment — including being cut in half — when it was driven by Roger Moore in the 1981 film For Your Eyes Only. The four-wheeled co-stars:Dr No (1962): Sunbeam Alpine, Chevrolet Bel AirconvertibleFrom Russia With Love (1963): Bentley Mark IVGoldfinger (1964): Aston Martin DB5, Rolls-Royce, Mercedes 190SL, Lincoln Continental, Ford Mustang convertible, Rolls-Royce Phantom IIIThunderball (1965): Aston Martin DB5, Ford Mustang convertible, BSA Lightning motorcycle, gyrocopter1967 You Only Live Twice: Toyota 2000 GT, BMW CSOn Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969): Aston Martin DBS, Mercury Cougar, Bentley S2 Continental, Rolls-Royce CornicheDiamonds Are Forever (1971): Ford Mustang Mach 1, Triumph Stag, moon buggyLive And Let Die (1973): double-decker London bus, Chevrolet Impala convertible, MiniMokeThe Man With The Golden Gun (1974): AMC Hornet and Matador, Rolls-Royce Silver ShadowThe Spy Who Loved Me (1977): Lotus Esprit, Wetbike concept, Ford Cortina Ghia, Mini MokeMoonraker (1979): Bentley Mark IV, Rolls-Royce SilverWraithFor Your Eyes Only (1981): Citroen 2CV, Lotus Esprit Turbo, Rolls-Royce Silver WraithOctopussy (1983): Mercedes-Benz 250 SE, BMW 5 Series, Alfa Romeo GTVA View To A Kill (1985): Renault taxi, Ford LTD, Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II, Chevrolet Corvette C4The Living Daylights (1987): Aston Martin DBS and V8 Vantage, Audi 200 QuattroLicence To Kill (1989): Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, Kenworth petrol tankerGoldenEye (1995): BMW Z3, Aston Martin DB5, Russian tank, Ferrari 355Tomorrow Never Dies (1997): Aston Martin DB5, BMW 750iL, BMW R1200C motorcycleThe World Is Not Enough (1999): BMW Z8, Rolls-Royce Silver ShadowDie Another Day (2002): Aston Martin Vanquish, Jaguar XKR, Ford Thunderbird convertibleCasino Royale (2006): Aston Martin DBS and DB5, Jaguar E-type roadster, Fiat Panda 4x4, Ford Transit, Ford Mondeo

There's a pile of letters in Renault Australia's Melbourne office that has been growing since the company returned here in 2001. They are from people who have driven its diesel cars in Europe, often as part of Renault's own Eurodrive leasing program. "Why can't we buy one here?" they ask.The new Laguna dCi means Renault can start replying — with good news.Renault's medium car now comes in just one model, but it's a diesel. A restyled version of the modest but well engineered mid-size sedan spearheads a diesel campaign that expands next year with oil-burning versions of the Megane hatchback and Scenic people-mover due by April. All will have automatic transmissions available in an acknowledgement by Renault headquarters that Australian driving preferences are different from Europe, where manuals rule.Matching an automatic to the Laguna's 2.2-litre common rail diesel engine was one reason the car took so long to reach Australia, says Renault product planning director Christophe di-Perna.By the time an automatic was available, the previous model Laguna was running out and it made more sense to launch the new engine in a new version of the car, he said.The new Laguna adopts the sharper front styling of the Megane but bodywork is little changed. The budget has gone into interior changes with a revised dash. The previous model's key card is now a keyless starter — you can keep it in your pocket and just press a button — and there's an automatic electronic parking brake.Replacing the previous six models with one, the phase II Laguna is a fresh start for a marque that hasn't set the Australian market on fire. It's taken Renault six years to sell just under 19,000 cars — about what Volkswagen will sell this year.But Renault sees redemption in diesel. The urbane Mr di-Perna expects diesels will form about 25 per cent of Megane and Scenic sales, and contribute to growth of 20 per cent next year.After 200km in a Laguna dCi, Mr di-Perna's optimism seems reasonable. The 2.2-litre four-cylinder common-rail engine puts out 102kW and 320Nm, making it a respectable powerplant by the rapidly improving standards of European diesels. But it stands out, even in their company, for very impressive refinement.The characteristic diesel rattle at idle — the London taxi sound — is absent, and ride is plush in a way all French cars used to be but some have lost. Fuel consumption of 7.7 litres per 100km is like a small-car figure.Safety is well addressed with six airbags, electronic stability control, a five-star crash test rating and a licence-saving switchable speed limiter.A five-speed automatic is the only transmission available on the Laguna 2.2dCi in Australia, It can be manually shifted, but we didn't bother. Even with clean kickdowns in automatic mode it became clear the Laguna dCi is no rocket. Standing-start acceleration is mild but like most diesels it feels stronger under way. Renault's diesel comeback is under way now with the Laguna dCi on sale now for $46,990.

A CarsGuide investigation of ACCC and manufacturer recall records revealed significant national recalls

Yet despite the fuel crisis, you had to look hard.Of the many flashy reveals at the 2006 Australian Motor Show – with the exception of a painted, half-naked female flasher on the Peugeot 207 stand – the bling on display was largely, well, large.It's difficult to fathom given the recent surge in the light and small car segment, with sales up from last year by a mammoth 22 per cent, but large cars and SUVs were the big news from the likes of Holden and Ford, Mitsubishi, Land Rover, even the Japanese imports of Subaru and Mazda. Then a bloody Volvo drove into the spotlight.The C30 four-seat small car from Volvo was all the rage at the recent Paris Motor Show, though from the pictures it was a little hard to see what all the fuss was about.In the metal, however, the car is a superb execution of modern design, and is a fresh turn for both Volvo and for the small car sector.Powered by a beefy 162kW turbocharged five-cylinder that would usually push a much heavier load, the C30 promises rapid performance from its heart to its dual-tone alloys that match the aggressive styling.It is still quintessential Volvo, with overt rear haunches and that unmistakable Swedish nose, while borrowing from the past with a bit of retro fabrics and trims on the inside.Another emerging trend in the market was highlighted in the C30s interior – only four dedicated seats.Volvo claimed that the middle seat is barely ever utilised, as the cars in this segment typically carry one, maybe two passengers.It allows the C30 to be more flexible both in seating and real legroom, and with the rear seats folding virtually flat, and a high bumper and entry point for the split boot, making life easy for heavy shoppers (which should be the majority of this car’s clientele – though it seems the C30 is equally appealing to both sexes).The C30 will fight for its slice of the little car pie with the likes of the new Peugeot 207 and the Renault Clio – though the latter was conspicuously absent from the show.Peugeot will bring in the redesigned 207 with both turbodiesel and turbo petrol engines, and the twin-scroll turbo topping the range with an estimated early-thirties price tag should prove a popular flagship for Peugeot’s biggest little seller.A similar sub-$40K price tag is stickered to the new Colt Cabrio, which will steal sales from the Peugeot 207 CC as it takes its time to get to Oz later in 2007.In the nearer future, Holden will expand with a handy five-door version of its Astra SRi coupe, while Volkswagen have pared back the Golf GTI into a sexy three-door.Originally brought in to fill the remaining back-order of GTI variants that at one point had built up to a nine-month wait list in Oz, the appealing $38,490 price tag should see more sales for the already popular model.But while the market is flooded with buyers looking for the latest in small fuel misers, you had to strain to see them at the 2006Motor Show. The manufacturers would have you believe that bigger is better…

Keeping in step with the dramatic increase in popularity of diesel-powered passenger cars in Australia this year, Renault has rushed two new diesels into its model line-up.The bustle-backed Megane II range will be boosted to include a 1.9-litre turbo-diesel, while the Laguna gains a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel.Both engines are Renault's latest dCi designs, are Euro-IV emissions level compliant and use common-rail technology pressurised to 1350 bar, ensuring fuel is injected into the cylinders in minute droplets for more complete combustion.Advanced "multi-vane" turbocharger technology means the engine responds quickly to the throttle at low speeds but when the pace picks up, it behaves like a larger turbo with plenty of urge for highway overtaking.Did someone say frugal? European tests have yielded a micro-car sized appetite of just 4.6 litres/100 kms during highway running from the manual Megane 1.9dCi.The first car in the world to be awarded the maximum five-star safety rating by the Euro-NCAP testers, the Laguna has seen some minor interior and exterior revisions to enhance its appeal.The Megane II has received a more extensive visual makeover and now comes with the latest-generation 8.0 Bosch ABS, complete with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Emergency Brake Assist which ensure that maximum use is made of the car's braking power when you need it most.