Renault Kangoo review: our award winning Small Trades Van

Item: Renault Kangoo review: our award winning Small Trades Van
Author: Glynn Williams

We've just test driven two Renault Kangoo Maxi vans - one in the crew van version. Did they still justify the Awards we dished out at the end of last year?

Glynn Williams 18 March 2014

Renault_Kangoo_review — The Phase II Kangoo looks sharp, and it’s well protected from scuffs and scrapes too

What is it?

It’s Business Vans‘ winning choice for Best Small Trades Van in our 2014 Business Van of the Year Awards – which was all the more impressive as our judges said this sector was the most difficult to decide. Renault’s Kangoo, introduced in 2008, underwent a major upgrade – Phase II – last year with a series of styling, technical and equipment changes. Kangoo Phase II introduced new front-end styling, improvements in cab quality, new equipment, plus a revised engine line up. The dCi 110 engine is added to the range, in addition to Energy versions of the dCi 75 and dCi 90 units, with Stop&Start.

Two main versions

The Kangoo Van Compact has been deleted from the UK model range so there are two main versions – the Renault Kangoo Van, and the Kangoo Van Maxi which has a longer wheelbase and also comes as a crew van with seats in the back. The range is categorised in two gross vehicle weights: ML19 (650kg) for Kangoo Van; and LL 21 (800kg) for Kangoo Maxi. Kangoo Van’s payload capacity can be increased to 800kg as an option. There are seven versions of the Van, with two payload choices: 650kg (ML19) and 800kg (LL21). There are also six versions of Kangoo Van Maxi, powered by either the dCi 90 or new dCi 110 diesel engine. Load volume is 4cu m (up to 4.6cu m with optional folded passenger seat) with payload at 800kg. The five-seat Crew Van has a carrying capacity of up to 3.4cu m with a 740kg payload. Versatility is increased owing to a its multi-positional grille bulkhead and 0.2cu m extra loadspace.