2025 Renault Kangoo assessment | CarExpert

With all of the noise round electrical vans, you’ll have missed the information that Renault has reintroduced the petrol model of its small Kangoo supply van.

Having launched the electrical Kangoo E-Tech earlier in 2024, the ICE model is now obtainable in a few completely different variants with decrease pricing, in addition to a number of optionally available extras to customize the van to your wants.

That’s an enormous win for small companies, which frequently want particular configurations in a compact industrial van like this to swimsuit their fleet fitouts.

However if you need a number of good options and driver-friendly prospers they arrive at an enormous value, so on the subject of checking out the correct spec of Kangoo, you actually need to concentrate to the choice prices and determine in the event that they make sense in your price range.

This assessment covers off the need-to-knows, and likewise the stuff that’ll show you how to resolve whether or not the Kangoo goes to be best for you.

How does the Renault Kangoo examine?

View an in depth breakdown of the Renault Kangoo in opposition to equally sized autos.

Renault

Kangoo

How a lot does the Renault Kangoo value?

The present-generation petrol-powered Kangoo was late to Australia, having initially been slated to reach in 2022, then 2023, earlier than ultimately touching down right here in 2024.

And through that point, there’ve been some unprecedented pressures available in the market, so pricing has elevated considerably in comparison with the previous-gen combustion-powered model, which was priced from as little as $32,990 drive-away for the long-wheelbase diesel auto!

With a beginning value of $38,990 plus on-road prices, the brand new petrol mannequin is considerably costlier than the diesel it replaces, however nonetheless quite a bit cheaper than the battery-electric model (priced from $61,990 earlier than on-roads).

There are a number of petrol-powered variants within the new Kangoo petrol vary, together with short- and long-wheelbase variations, and even a guide gearbox!

You might discover higher offers than that in case you’re bulk-buying for fleets, and ABN reductions could apply in some situations.

To see how the Renault Kangoo strains up in opposition to the competitors, take a look at our comparability device

What’s the Renault Kangoo like on the within?

What an awesome cabin design the Kangoo has.

Don’t go pondering that you just’ll be within the lap of luxurious right here, however you’ll have an abundance of loose-item storage, which is arguably much more vital for just a little van like this.

The smarts embrace overhead folder holders, a dash-top storage space massive sufficient for a clipboard, and a coated bin above the instrument binnacle that features USB and 12-volt charging, which will probably be very best to run a dash-cam from, with out a mess of cables in all places.

There are additionally bottle holders and storage ports within the doorways, to not point out a centre storage tray under the shifter. Within the examined car, there was additionally a centre console with armrest and storage, and a wi-fi telephone charger – each of which aren’t normal.

The seats are comfy and supply an honest quantity of adjustment, and after hours behind the wheel I nonetheless felt contemporary – plus the trim feels fairly hard-wearing, so sturdiness must be good.

That’s a part of the useful theme inside – the cabin doesn’t have any soft-plasticky bits, because it’s all designed to be hardy and straightforward to wipe down, and fortunately the controls are principally easy to get your head round. Principally, I say, as a result of there’s a unusual stalk off the steering column to regulate the amount and another media controls. 

However fortunately there are dials and buttons for the local weather system (dual-zone as a part of the choice pack fitted right here), and the media display screen is generally a cinch to familiarize yourself with.

There’s Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality, and FM, AM and DAB digital radio, too, however one odd factor stored taking place once I’d get again into the Kangoo – the amount reset itself to a far decrease degree than once I’d received out. I may need missed one thing within the settings menu, but it surely was a bit annoying.

Now, the cargo space.

You’ve gotta love that it has twin sliding aspect doorways, barn rear doorways, and a bulkhead all as normal. That’s terrific – however simply be aware of how far again that bulkhead sits in comparison with the ground size, as taller, longer objects mightn’t match within the SWB mannequin.

There are a number of tie-down factors for securing a load in place, too, and the cargo zone dimensions and the usual door configuration assist you to forklift in a load if want be.

Simply be certain that it’s not too heavy, because the payload is on the low aspect – until you choice the elevated payload…

There’s no included cargo mat or flooring – you’ll need to pay extra for that – and the perimeters of the cargo space are uncovered steel, too. 

At the least you get lighting within the again, and the low experience top means low load-in top, too, making it a bit extra manageable on the store, depot or warehouse.

Moreover, and in contrast to the EV mannequin, there’s a full-size spare wheel underneath the physique of the car, too.

To see how the Renault Kangoo strains up in opposition to the competitors, take a look at our comparability device

What’s underneath the bonnet?

All fashions within the ICE Kangoo line-up have turbo-petrol engines, however as proven above you will get the short-wheelbase with a six-speed guide if you need it, whereas the LWB variant comes with a dual-clutch automated transmission as normal.

On check, with a mixture of laden and unladen driving, I noticed real-world consumption of seven.9L/100km, with city, freeway, freeway and stop-start driving all included. So you can financial institution on related, or possibly a smidge larger in case you’re operating at most payload in all situations.

To see how the Renault Kangoo strains up in opposition to the competitors, take a look at our comparability device

How does the Renault Kangoo drive?

There are good and dangerous issues about the best way the Kangoo drives.

First, the negatives.

The twin-clutch automated transmission isn’t nearly as good as a few of its rivals within the phase. It may be slurry at low speeds, and can – until you drive the van very intentionally – roll forwards when in reverse, and backwards when in drive.

By very intentionally, I imply ensuring that you just come to a full halt, typically by retaining one foot on the brake, as a result of it doesn’t have an auto-hold operate to do the pondering for you.

That’s the largest quibble, as a result of mixed with the engine’s idle cease/begin tech and notable turbo lag, you could find that it takes a bit longer than you’d hope to get issues transferring.

As soon as above 10km/h it will get alongside nicely, although, and there’s definitely sufficient pulling energy within the mid-range. The truth is, it hustles when you’re on the transfer, and at tempo the dual-clutch auto within reason snappy and nicely thought-about in its shifts.

Like most different little vans, it’s fairly enjoyable to drive. The steering is direct and responsive for faster-speed strikes, and at decrease tempo there’s a delightful predictability for parking.

Likewise, the experience is absolutely comfortable, regardless of being arrange for a load. It handles small and huge bumps nicely, and it by no means feels too clunky or sharp. You may really feel a bit extra of the street floor by means of the physique of the car, together with the nobbles of coarse-chip roads.

In these situations, there’s some noticeable street noise intrusion, particularly at freeway tempo.

One other concern is the visibility, which is compromised by the bulkhead and barn-doors, which weirdly are mismatched – the bulkhead is cut up behind the passenger seat, and the tailgate is the other, that means seeing out behind your car is absolutely tough. There’s an optionally available digital rear-view mirror, which will surely assist.

The aspect mirrors are respectable, and there’s an outer part of the glass that’s barely extra convex to present you a greater outer-angle view. There’s blind-spot monitoring, but it surely’s optionally available – and it shouldn’t be, as a result of the imaginative and prescient is extra compromised on this car than in others.

To see how the Renault Kangoo strains up in opposition to the competitors, take a look at our comparability device

What do you get?

The Kangoo’s normal gear record appears fairly beneficiant till you see the choices record.

Renault Kangoo highlights:

• Computerized halogen headlights
• Rain-sensing wipers
• 16-inch metal wheels
• Full-sized spare wheel
• Twin sliding doorways (unglazed)
• Rear 180-degree opening barn doorways (glazed)
• Stable bulkhead (glazed)
• Cargo tie-down anchors
• Cargo space mild
• Rear windscreen wiper
• Cruise management
• Distant keyless entry
• 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• 4.2-inch instrument cluster display screen
• 6-way manually adjustable driver’s seat
• 4-way manually adjustable passenger seat
• Leather-based-wrapped steering wheel
• Tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment
• Material upholstery

To see how the Renault Kangoo strains up in opposition to the competitors, take a look at our comparability device

Elective Tools

As talked about, you may want to think about these extra value choice packages when deciding in your Kangoo.

Enterprise Pack ($3200) provides:

• LED headlights
• Entrance fog lights
• Physique-coloured door handles
• Tyre stress monitoring
• Proximity entry with push-button begin
• Local weather management
• Adaptive cruise management
• Centre console with armrest and storage
• Wi-fi telephone charger
• Further tinted rear barn door glass

Commerce Pack ($1200) provides:

• Timber ground lining
• Full top wall lining
• Yard equipment underbody safety
• Cargo space LED lighting

Peace of Thoughts Pack ($1500) provides:

• Blind-spot monitoring
• Entrance, rear and aspect parking sensors
• Driver consideration alert
• Computerized high-beam
• Satellite tv for pc navigation
• Site visitors signal recognition

The car examined right here is the short-wheelbase auto with the Enterprise Pack and Peace of Thoughts Pack, bringing its as-tested whole to $46,690 earlier than on-roads – numerous money for just a little petrol van.

Additional standalone choices embrace:

• Extra 200kg payload (SWB solely; $600)
• Digital rear-view mirror ($800)
• Glazed aspect sliding doorways ($400)

You may as well take away the driving force’s aspect sliding door for no further value.

To see how the Renault Kangoo strains up in opposition to the competitors, take a look at our comparability device

Is the Renault Kangoo protected?

ANCAP continues to state that the present Renault Kangoo is ‘Unrated’, however the industrial van mannequin achieved a Gold Score in Euro NCAP van testing, which is the second-best obtainable rating behind Platinum. 

The passenger-ready people-mover variant bought in Europe scored 4 stars in 2021, in line with Euro NCAP testing. 

Commonplace security gear consists of:

• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
  • Pedestrian detection
  • Bicycle owner detection
  • Junction help
• Lane-keep help
• Reversing digicam
• Rear parking sensors
• Entrance and front-side airbags

Nevertheless, as famous above, you should pay extra to get useable and fascinating issues like adaptive cruise management, driver consideration alert and site visitors signal recognition. 

What’s ruder is that it’s essential additionally pay extra for blind-spot monitoring, in addition to entrance and aspect parking sensors – which must be normal in a vision-compromised urban-focused van like this.

To see how the Renault Kangoo strains up in opposition to the competitors, take a look at our comparability device

How a lot does the Renault Kangoo value to run?

The Renault Kangoo is backed by a five-year, 200,000km guarantee, which ought to set the minds of enterprise homeowners comfortable.

There’s additionally a five-year servicing plan, with 12-month/15,000km intervals between visits to the workshop. 

For the petrol Kangoo, the common value per service is $473 over the five-year/75,000km upkeep plan, and it additionally consists of most consumables included like filters, fluids and spark plugs.

You get 5 years of roadside help too.

To see how the Renault Kangoo strains up in opposition to the competitors, take a look at our comparability device

CarExpert’s Tackle the Renault Kangoo

In some methods the Renault Kangoo is a winner. It’s a nicely designed factor, with sensible cabin useability and a principally straightforward to drive nature.

However the dual-clutch auto will be annoying, and the formidable asking value and array of optionally available extras make it much less interesting than it might in any other case be.

If you will get a great fleet deal, it could possibly be price a glance.

Enthusiastic about shopping for a Renault Kangoo? Get in contact with one in every of CarExpert’s trusted sellers right here

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