The Renault Kangoo is the best small van

It might sound like the French misspelt Kangaroo when naming its small van, and took some inspiration from Skippy when designing its front-end, but Renault's small van is a smart urban runabout.
The Renault Kangoo has been around for a while now - yet still often overlooked? It has a lot going for it as a dependable, hard-worker with some thoughtful touches and practical elements that aren't available on its rivals.
What are the standout features?
What sets the Kangoo apart from its competitors here is its diesel engine and just how comfortable it is drive.
It might not have the largest payload capacity, but the grunty little motor helps it effortlessly overcome what cargo it is carrying, and the automatic transmission makes it easy to drive around town.
Elsewhere, there’s great vision through the expansive front windscreen and the cargo area has tie-down hooks in the floor and halfway up the walls, which keeps taller loads – like plants, if you’re a landscaper, for example – even more secure.
How comfortable and convenient is it?
As it is with most small vans of this type, the cabin is pretty basic with robust materials that are designed to handle a tough life on the road.
What it does have though is supportive front seats with plenty of adjustment to the driving position, making it a comfortable place to spend hours behind the wheel.
There’s a simple audio system with Bluetooth phone connectivity, air conditioning and power windows but there’s a lot of blank spaces in the dashboard that would be better used for smart small item storage.
The Maxi model we’re testing comes with rear parking sensors only, but a higher-grade infotainment system is available as an option with sat nav and a reverse camera.

How safe is it?

The Kangoo has the basics covered here with four airbags, anti-skid brakes and stability control and received a four-star ANCAP crash test rating when it was first tested back in 2011 with good occupant protection but marginal pedestrian protection.
Drivetrain and performance
The Kangoo is powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine that produces modest outputs of 81kW and 250Nm and drives the front wheels through a six-speed dual-clutch automatic.
In spite of its outputs, the engine feels strong on the road and revs smoothly with little in the way of turbo lag to reveal a strong mid-range punch that makes it feel spritely around town.
It also helps make carrying a load almost invisible, with our 500kg test weight barely interrupting its acceleration.
The automatic transmission also plays its part, smoothly shifting gears on the move and intuitively keeping the engine in its sweet spot.
It’s a cracking little powertrain combination that makes light work of its load, while being frugal and efficient.

Space, practicality and payload

The Kangoo is offered with a choice of three body styles - Compact, Maxi and Crew – to suit a variety of roles - you can view tthe available range, from Group 1 Renault, here.
The Maxi version we’re testing rides on a longer wheelbase to create a larger load area than the smaller Compact model, while the Crew is the same length but offers an extra row of rear seats.
In our test vehicle’s configuration, the Kangoo Maxi has four cubic metres of cargo space thanks to a space that measures 1862mm in length, is 1252mm high and 1252mm across the tailgate – wide enough to fit a standard Australian pallet.
It also comes with rear barn doors than open 180 degrees for easy loading and sliding doors down each side.
The Kangoo has a total payload of 850kg and can tow a maximum 1050kg with a braked trailer.

How does it drive?

You quickly forget the Kangoo is a work van when behind the wheel, as it drives much like a small hatchback in everyday situations.

As mentioned previously, the engine is powerful enough and ultra efficient and the automatic transmission is smooth and smart – two key elements that impressed the judging panel – but that’s not the only character traits where it was praised.
The steering is light and responsive and while it doesn’t have the tightest turning circle because of its longer wheelbase it is still is agile enough for getting in and out of tight urban areas.
And the suspension settings make for an easy machine to live with, whether you’re carting a load or not. It’s compliant over the bumps even without weight over its rear axle, and even moreso when there is without ever feeling crashy or compromised.

Verdict

The Kangoo still does what it has ultimately been created for well - being a hard-working, dependable small van that is comfortable, affordable and easy to live with.
Its diesel engine and automatic transmission set the benchmark in this category, while thoughtful touches like its extra tie-down points and double-sliding doors make it an easy choice for small business operators running around inner-city areas.
Article source: https://www.drive.com.au/new-car-reviews/best-small-van-winner-renault-kangoo-118354