Renault KANGOO DIESEL RANGE
Renault Are Rapidly Establishing Themselves As One Of The Most Innovative Car Manufacturers Around. Their Kangoo Diesel Models Show That They Can Do Practicality Superbly Too. Andy Enright Reports
To put it bluntly, a van with windows doesnt seem the most obvious place for a car manufacturer to showcase its cleverness, but the Kangoo range brings far more to the party than an extra bench and glazing. These models open up new possibilities for the cash-strapped family motorist looking for something reliable and tough until the kids are old enough not to ruin the upholstery. Who knows, the Kangoo is such fun you may well have grown attached to it by then.
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For most readers, the concept of a diesel MPV is one that leaves them struggling to re-ignite the will to live. Its hardly the most charismatic of market sectors and to add insult to injury, most manufacturers want to charge you through the nose for the privilege. Youd need to budget well over £13,000 for the cheapest
Renault Scenic-sized
mini-MPV with a diesel engine and over £18,000 for something shaped more like an Espace. When there are bills to pay and kids going through clothes, shoes and Cow and Gate products at a prodigious rate, a big direct debit for a new car often isnt even a realistic proposition.
Painfully aware of this but unwilling to reduce their prices, the major makers came up with a rather obvious solution. Why not take one of the new generation of car-like vans and add some extra windows and seats, plus a smattering of extra equipment? You'd have easy room for five, plus plenty of luggage capacity, all for a rock-bottom price. The idea took off big-time in Europe, particularly in France, causing market leaders
Peugeot/
Citroen and Renault to refine the idea still further. The British have been a bit more resistant to the idea of a builders van with extra fenestration smeared around the back of it, but theyre catching on. The first result was Citroen's Berlingo Multispace, introduced to Britain in 1998 and now facing stiff competition from the rival featured here, Renault's five-door Kangoo dCi.
"Running a Kangoo diesel is one part of your life thats not going to give your credit card a sound thrashing "
Since the Berlingo Multispace was reduced in price and offered here in five-door form, theres not been much to choose between the two rivals, though the Citroen has had an advantage in the form of its huge retractable panoramic sliding sunroof. Renault werent about to let that last for long of course, and quickly added one to the options list. The £9,995 65bhp dCi engine is the entry-level point but those seeking more power can opt for the 80bhp version of the same unit form £10,495. The Kangoos chassis is based on that of the latest model Clio, which means that it's wonderfully agile around town, with light quick power steering, short gearing and great visibility through those huge windows. It isn't quite as confident as its supermini stablemate on the open road however - for many of the same reasons. The short gearing means you have to swap cogs regularly and the tall, thin, glassy profile can make it a little susceptible to crosswinds. Two trim levels are available for 2-wheel drive Kangoo diesel buyers, Authentique and Expression. Authentique gives you a 60/40 split-fold for the rear
seat and a roof-mounted stowage rack inside the cabin.
You also get a centre three-point rear seatbelt, ABS brakes, a passenger airbag, electric front windows, remote control central locking, electric mirrors and an upgraded stereo. Expression adds 14" alloy wheels, body-coloured bumpers and mirrors, front fog lamps and a selection of additional storage solutions. The 4WD Kangoo Trekka dCi offers all this plus an all-wheel drive system sourced from
Nissan and a larger common-rail diesel engine. The suspension is based on the normal Kangoo setup only significantly beefed up and hitched up a few inches. With impressively stubby approach and departure angles, a 400mm fording depth and 28-degree hill-climbing ability, the Trekka can certainly hold its own off-road.
The Kangoo Trekka dCi gets a 1.9-litre common-rail turbodiesel. This engines power has been capped at 80bhp although the big torque figure of 133lb/ft means that this is a car that will turn itself inside out with sheer twisting force should you depart with the handbrake on. Okay, so that was a slight exaggeration, but it illustrates the point.
It will also return over 38mpg on the combined cycle. It's fairly utilitarian inside - though that's intentional: you can clean the interior with a hose if you really want to. If necessary, the rear bench pivots forward to convert the Kangoo from people carrier to a 2,500-litre estate. Moreover, thanks to those sliding side doors, it's a lot easier to access the space. Versatility is helped by the airline-style overhead bins and side bins with a total volume of 60-litres plus theres the usual exterior plastic protection that makes a sideswipe of a farmers gate that little bit more insurance-friendly. Renault have played the Kangoo diesel card with guile. Here we get a pair of sophisticated engines, one for the Kangoo, the other for the Trekka, a model which makes some sort of lifestyle statement.
Were not quite sure what that statement is, but those clever chaps at Renault seem to have the future mapped out. Createurs dautomobile? Well have whatever theyre having
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Renault Kangoo diesel range
PRICE: £9,995 - £13,595 on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 4-5
CO2 EMISSIONS: 146-196g/km
PERFORMANCE: [dCi 80bhp] 0-60mph 12.5s / Max Speed 96mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [dCi 80bhp] (average) 42mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags, ABS WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE: length/width/heightmm 3995/1663/1894
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