2025 Renault Kangoo evaluation | CarExpert

With all of the noise round electrical vans, you might 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 non-obligatory extras to customize the van to your wants.

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

However if you’d like a couple of good options and driver-friendly prospers they arrive at an enormous value, so in relation to checking out the fitting spec of Kangoo, you really want to concentrate to the choice prices and determine in the event that they make sense on your funds.

This evaluation covers off the need-to-knows, and in addition the stuff that’ll provide help to determine 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 towards 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 finally 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 dearer than the diesel it replaces, however nonetheless so much 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 if you happen to’re bulk-buying for fleets, and ABN reductions might apply in some cases.

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

What’s the Renault Kangoo like on the within?

What a terrific cabin design the Kangoo has.

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

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

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 automobile, there was additionally a centre console with armrest and storage, and a wi-fi cellphone 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 recent – plus the trim feels fairly hard-wearing, so sturdiness needs to be good.

That’s a part of the purposeful 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 largely 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 usually a cinch to become familiar with.

There’s Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality, and FM, AM and DAB digital radio, too, however one odd factor saved occurring once I’d get again into the Kangoo – the amount reset itself to a far decrease stage than once I’d bought out. I might 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 conscious 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 will let you forklift in a load if want be.

Simply make sure that it’s not too heavy, because the payload is on the low aspect – except you possibility 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. 

Not less than 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 below the physique of the automobile, too.

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

What’s below 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’d like it, whereas the LWB variant comes with a dual-clutch computerized transmission as normal.

On take a look at, 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 may financial institution on comparable, or possibly a smidge larger if you happen to’re working at most payload in all cases.

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

How does the Renault Kangoo drive?

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

First, the negatives.

The twin-clutch computerized transmission isn’t pretty much as good as a few of its rivals within the section. It may be slurry at low speeds, and can – except 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 maintaining one foot on the brake, as a result of it doesn’t have an auto-hold perform to do the considering 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’ll 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. In truth, it hustles when you’re on the transfer, and at tempo the dual-clutch auto in all fairness 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 lovely predictability for parking.

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

In these cases, 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 break up behind the passenger seat, and the tailgate is the alternative, which means seeing out behind your automobile is absolutely tough. There’s an non-obligatory 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 provide you a greater outer-angle view. There’s blind-spot monitoring, but it surely’s non-obligatory – and it shouldn’t be, as a result of the imaginative and prescient is extra compromised on this automobile than in others.

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

What do you get?

The Kangoo’s normal gear record seems to be 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
• Fabric upholstery

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

Elective Tools

As talked about, you would possibly want to contemplate these extra value possibility 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 cellphone charger
• Additional tinted rear barn door glass

Commerce Pack ($1200) provides:

• Timber ground lining
• Full top wall lining
• Yard package 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
• Visitors signal recognition

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

Additional standalone choices embody:

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

You too can take away the driving force’s aspect sliding door for no further value.

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

Is the Renault Kangoo secure?

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

The passenger-ready people-mover variant offered in Europe scored 4 stars in 2021, in response to Euro NCAP testing. 

Commonplace security gear consists of:

• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
  • Pedestrian detection
  • Bike owner detection
  • Junction help
• Lane-keep help
• Reversing digital camera
• 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 visitors signal recognition. 

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

To see how the Renault Kangoo strains up towards 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 house owners 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 typical 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 towards 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 largely simple to drive nature.

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

If you will get a great fleet deal, it might be value a glance.

Keen on shopping for a Renault Kangoo? Get in contact with certainly one of CarExpert’s trusted sellers right here

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