Renault Kangoo : BUDGET SPACE

Renault's Kangoo offers a lot of space and flexibility for the money, thinks June Neary

I must be honest and say that the `van with windows' formula has never been one that has much appealed to me. However, you have to say that it's a cut-price way of providing many of the benefits of one of those Scenic-like mini-MPVs without the prohibitive cost. Whilst a Renault Scenic costs from around £14,000, the latest generation Renault Kangoo featured here can be yours for at least a couple of thousand less - quite a difference if you're buying on a family budget.

One of the best features of the Kangoo are the sliding side doors. Anyone who has returned to their car parked in a supermaket carpark only to find that tell-tale dent in the side of their vehicle will appreciate the benefits of these doors in the hands of young children as opposed to conventionally opening ones. I know that I always feel more secure parking next to a Kangoo than I do next to a conventional mini-MPV. This Kangoo's chassis is based on that of the MK2 Renault Scenic, which means that it's wonderfully agile around town, with light quick power steering, short gearing and great visibility through those huge windows. Space is the Kangoo's big draw in comparison to conventional supermini-based MPVs which share its price range. 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 a gargantuan 2,866 litres if you specify your model with a collapsible front passenger seat. Renault also draws our attention to a full 77 litres of additional storage dotted around the cabin in the 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. It's also worth mentioning that a short wheelbase version of the Kangoo is available, christened the Be Bop. This model has less space and doesn't ride in such a composed manner but it looks cute and the price is right.

You don't buy a car like this expecting it to be fun to drive but being based on more modern underpinnings, this Kangoo is a lot better in this respect than its predecessor. Its petrol engines aren't the most efficient in the segment. The 90bhp option returns 36mpg on the combined cycle and emissions of 195g/km which is far from impressive and the 106bhp option is scarcely any better. The diesels are a different story. The 70bhp unit gets 54.3mpg and CO2 emissions of 138g/km and even the most powerful oil-burner returns 50mpg and 151g/km when equipped with the optional particulate filter.

Expect prices to be in the same £11,500-£13,500 bracket as obvious rivals like Citroen's Berlingo Multispace, Peugeot's Partner Tepee and Skoda's Roomster. Which means the Kangoo offers a whole lot of space for the money.

Yes. To be honest, I'd want to take a careful look at one of these kind of vehicles before investing so much in a mini-MPV like a Scenic or a Vauxhall Zafira. They make that much sense.