2012 Renault Kangoo Reviews

There's probably a psychosis associated with being a van driver. It could well be their working environment. Let’s face it, how would you like sitting in a small moving box for up to 12 hours a day.  Not nice.VANNIESBut new vans out of Europe are making "vannies" lives a bit better with more multi-media connectivity, Bluetooth phones and even.... air conditioning and decent audio. They are becoming more like passenger cars in terms of features, drive feel, ergonomics and (little) luxuries.CUTIERenault's new Kangoo van - a real cutie to look at, benefits from obvious input by those in the know - the drivers. Renault must have lined up a platoon of drivers and pumped them for information about what they need in a vehicle.The result is Kangoo. It's a vannies delight that can make them some money, not cost them much money and keep them happy and safe. Gotta like that.ENGINEKangoo diesel manual, the one we are driving, is powered by a 1.5-litre, single cam turbo diesel four cylinder. It's good for a handy 63kW but more important, 200Nm from a low 1700rpm.What this means is strong acceleration pretty much from a standstill and strong mid range response for highway driving. The amount of kick from this engine surprises especially once you are on the move.LOADEDNo cringe factor at all. This of course translates easy load handling as the engine makes light work of lugging Kangoo's 800 kg payload.We haven’t been able to test it but have had half a tonne in there and it makes light of the load. It is ticking over the claimed 5.2-litres/100km fuel consumption with mixed driving meaning fill ups up around the 800-900km mark.Access to the load space is facilitated through the 180 degree rear barn doors and left side slider. Access to the passenger compartment is by two large doors that open right down to the bottom of the floor.COMFORT FACTORIt's comfortable for longish drives and the driving position is adjustable to suit. Renault has positioned some controls/switches in hard to find positions - to keep you on your toes. There's plenty of storage inside including an overhead shelf that will take up to about 50kg.All it needs is an auto transmission for city couriers - but that's only available with the petrol four...

It's handy having a light commercial vehicle at your disposal - there's always something to dispatch from here to there and all the better if it's a van - for security and safety.PRICEEven a small one like the Renault Kangoo has plenty of appeal and is extremely affordable at $24,490. Hugely popular in Europe. the diminutive cargo box with a cab is designed for work, has a cute disposition and quite a few competitors as well.TEMPTERSBut Renault offers a few tempters that are hard to ignore like a five year warranty, low interest finance (at 3.9 per cent spotted recently) and occasionally, free service for three years though that one hasn't been around for a while. Jag all three and you are looking at an extreme value van to buy and run that will take a surprisingly hefty 800kg payload.REPUTATIONAnd going on its reputation, you can't kill a Kangoo with a stick. They just keep on going. We snaffled a diesel Kangoo and immediately put it to work carting half a tonne of pavers and some tools from the landscape suppliers.ENGINEIt was like water off a ducks back to the Kangoo which runs a 1.5-litre, single cam, turbo diesel, four cylinder donk good for 63kW/200Nm. More importantly, fuel economy hovers around the 5.5-litres/100km mark with the combined cycle officially rated at 5.2. The diesel comes with a five- speed manual only. If you want an auto it has to be the 1.5-litre petrol. Why would you bother, the diesel is too good to pass-up.PERFORMANCEIt has decent performance, especially once you get into second cog. First is short and designed to get a heavily laden Kangoo cleanly off the mark.GOODIESKangoo weighs 1277kg and has plenty of work truck features. Central locking is a given, the rubber load area floor mat is handy as are tie down lugs in the floor and on the sides. The rear barn doors open 180 degrees and the left hand side slider further aids accessibility. You can option an additional right slider. It gets Bluetooth, cruise control and a/c, power windows, a trip computer and plenty of cabin storage. Not a bad working environment.