New Renault Kangoo: In Depth

More practical and comfortable

Renault have today released the successor for the in 1997 launched Kangoo, the new Renault Kangoo. This 4.21 meter long LCV (light commercial vehicle), 18 cm longer than its predecessor, is available for businesses as well as families.

The new Kangoo comes with a choice of three engines, namely a 1.5 liter dCi (producing 70 hp, 85hp, 105hp or 105hp with DPF), a 90 hp 1.6 liter 8-valve engine and the 105 hp 1.6 liter 16-valve engine. Cargo space ranges from 660 liters to 2.8 cm3 with the seats folded down. The 1.5 liter dCi with 70 hp and 85 hp have been awared the Renault Eco2 badge.

The new Kangoo comes in three trim levels, Authentique, Expression and Privil�ge, where the Privilege trim has a foldable front passenger seat for even more storage space.

We can't really get excited about the new Kangoo here at WCF, but we must appreciate Renault's honesty, 'Reduced investment costs for optimal profitability' is how Renault titles the final pages of the press release.

Read on for further details.

Press Release

On its launch in 1997 Kangoo�s affable, expressive style revolutionised the leisure utility vehicle sector. Roomy and versatile Kangoo has been a success, selling over 2,300,000 units since it was launched. New Kangoo matches family expectations more closely. It draws on Kangoo fundamentals, turning them into an optimised blend of quality, comfort, and practicality.

By keeping engineering costs and reducing investment costs, New Kangoo is priced in a competitive bracket that is comparable to that of Kangoo. New Kangoo is produced in France, in the strongly modernised MCA Maubeuge factory. The first Kangoo was also manufactured on the same site, which is one of the most productive factories in Europe in the LCV segment.

At 4.21 m in length, New Kangoo�s resolutely contemporary, affable, cheery lines exert a strong appeal. Its short, chunky front end frees up space for the bright, airy passenger cabin, which is further enhanced by its steeply-raked MPV-style windscreen. Some versions have pop-open windows, and other others electric ones. All have large doors which open onto a comprehensively reworked interior.

New Kangoo emphasizes well-being and ride comfort. For improved ride pleasure, a number of features have been upgraded. With its outstanding roominess, New Kangoo has put the onus on space and the shared ride experience. It is 18 cm longer than its predecessor and that extra length has been lavished on the cabin, where more volume gives the five occupants more room and more comfort! Resolutely contemporary and featuring a more ergonomic design, the dashboard resembles an MPV�s, while the cabin has been refitted and finished with quality materials. New Kangoo boasts standards of thermal and acoustic comfort worthy of an MPV.

Some versions feature automatic climate control. Air is evenly distributed at both front and rear thanks to the design of the circuit, which has outlets at each passenger�s feet. To ensure acoustic comfort, engineers have used the same techniques as for the rest of the range.

New Kangoo takes an ingenious approach to modularity. With its practical design dedicated to the pursuit of leisure, it brings to the segment a novel touch of ergonomic design, roominess, and user-friendliness. Its 60:40 split-fold rear bench folds down easily in one fell swoop to form a flat load space. On some versions the front passenger seat can fold down in the same way, Payload can thus be boosted from 660 litres to 2.8 m3.

What�s more, in this configuration the vehicle can carry objects that are 2.5m long. New Kangoo�s interior boasts up to 77 litres of stowage space, with for example some handy aircraft-style stowage compartments for the rear passengers. It also debuts innovative longitudinal roof bars that convert into a luggage rack. No tools are needed and the rack can take loads of up to 80kg.

New Kangoo comes complete with a diverse and comprehensive range of reliable powertrain packages to meet the needs of all motorists: two petrol engines and one diesel, and three different outputs. This offering is firmly built on strong values like robustness, reliability, economy, and respect for the environment. The New Kangoo 1.5 dCi 105 (78kW) will offer consumers a diesel engine with particulate filter (76 kW) from launch-day-one. Both other 1.5 dCi powertrains (70hp/50 kW and 85/63kW) fulfil Renault�s eco2 signature, with CO2 emissions lower than 140g/km.

Developed from a C-segment platform that is acknowledged for its dynamic quality, comfort, and safety, New Kangoo offers features hitherto unprecedented in the leisure utility vehicle segment. Its 2.7 m wheelbase lends it sound, balanced, secure handling. Its active and passive safety equipment is identical to that of a family saloon. All versions are equipped with the latest-generation ABS and Emergency Brake Assist and engine torque overrun regulation functions. Some versions feature ESP with understeer control and ASR traction control.

For the safety of its occupants, New Kangoo benefits from state-of-the-art driver assistance systems, most of which originate in the segments above. They include cruise control/speed limiter, automatic headlamp actuation, and wipers with automatic rain sensors, none of which was available on the previous model. New Kangoo also has between two and six airbags, seat belts with pretensioners and load limiters, and anti-submarining humps in the front and back seats, as well as three seats with Isofix anchorage points (depending on the version).

1. Family resemblance

• Affable and robust, it runs in the family
• Ambience for all tastes

2. Well-being and comfort in every seat

• A very automotive world
• Thermal and acoustic comfort levels unprecedented in the segment

3. Unprecedented modularity

• A range of functional interior layouts
• Every object has its place

4. High-performance, fuel-efficient engines

• 1.5 dCi: 70 hp (50kW), 85hp (63kW), 105hp (78kW), and 105hp with particulate filter
• 105hp (78kW) 1.6 16v
• 90hp (66kW) 1.6 8v
• New Kangoo and the Renault eco2 label

5. Top-class safety and dynamic performance

• A dynamic ride
• Top-class active safety
• Comprehensive protection

6. Reduced investments costs for optimal profitability

• New Kangoo: more than a �passenger vehicle�
• The same demands were made of the conception, testing and production of New Kangoo as of New Laguna
• Development engineering costs and investments costs reduced by 25%
• A strongly modernised MCA factory
• New Kangoo is central to Renault Commitment 2009