Renault Kangoo Reviews

June 30 is D-Day. The end of the financial year is the best time to buy a new car because there are always special deals in showrooms. As carmakers and dealers aim to clear their outdated stock, Toyota uses a June push to cement its showroom leadership. Some of the special deals are on cars that have done demonstrator duty, or were built in 2012, or are just not selling as well as expected. So they're not the tastiest fruit in the bowl.But there is great buying across the board as demand for new cars fuels one of the longest growth periods in motoring. The bottom line is that you can save money -- and lots of it. So here's a look at the June sales, with Carsguide's assessment of the best deals on wheels.CITROENThe new importer is pushing hard so the Aircross SUV starts at $31,990 drive-away front-wheel drive or $33,990 with AWD, a saving of $3800. There's $5000 off the C4 Seduction turbo diesel auto hatch at $25,990. Carsguide says: The Aircross isn't great, but the C4 discount is tasty.FORDThe death notice for the Falcon and Territory has not helped buyer confidence but a 2.9 per cent finance push on Fiesta and Focus still looks good. The superseded Kuga SUV from $31,990 drive-away is a $10,000 saving. You can save about $3000 on a 2012 Escape SUV from $27,990 drive-away.The Territory gets a $6500 tickle, the TX seven-seater at $38,490 drive-away (third-row seat usually costs $2500). The impressive Mondeo liftback starts at $29,990. Good buying on Falcons, thanks to the arrival of the VF Commodore, from $33,990 and better if you haggle.HOLDENAs the VF Commodore creates queues, the outgoing Z-Series starts at $34,990 with five years' warranty and roadside assist. That also applies to the SV6 at $35,990 and the Cruze SRi and SRi-V at $23,490 and $26,990. Last year's Barina CD hatches are $15,990 drive-away with a sunroof. The Colorado is $39,990. Hard to see past the excellent Cruze SRi.HONDAClipped prices and free on-roads. The City VTi sedan is $17,990 and the (slightly) more lavish VTi-L automatic version starts at $21,990. The bigger Civic sedan is being cleared from $21,990. Free auto on the Jazz VTi at $19,990. The Civic is worth a look at $2500 off.KIAFree on-roads, discounts and $1000 gift vouchers on many models. A five-door Rio S is about $3K off at $15,990 drive-away with a $500 gift card; the three-door Rio is $14,990 and the five-door Si is $18,990. Runout Cerato TD sedans start at $17,990 for the S, saving about $5000, the Si sedan is $23,990 and hatch at $17,990. All get a $1000 gift card. Cerato SLi and SLS have drive-away pricing but miss the gift card. All Optimas have free on-roads. A 2012-build Optima Platinum is $37,990, saving about $4000 with a $1000 gift card. Most Sportage SUVs include on-roads and a $1000 gift card. Carnival and superseded Rondo pricing is drive-away. The Sportage diesel and Optima are top-notch.MITSUBISHIThe manual Lancer gets an old-school value pack on the Special Action Model for $19,990 drive-away. The Mirage is $12,990 drive-away for the ES manual, with a $500 cash-back that also applies to the auto.Driveaway prices also for the compact ASX at $24,990 for the 2WD manual, the Outlander LS 2WD auto at $29,990, Pajero GLX-R auto at $54,990 or $59,990 for VRX. Both come plus $3000 cash-back, saving about $6000.The Triton ute is now tackling Great Wall from China at $19,990 drive-away for a GL single-cab 2WD with alloy tray, or add luxury for a GLX dual-cab 4WD diesel at $31,990 drive-away with $2000 cash-back, saving about $14,000. The utes look good at those prices.NISSANA 2.9 per cent finance package, with agreed value after three years, makes the Pulsar ST sedan look good at $49 a week or $19,990 drive-away. The X-Trail ST 2WD petrol manual cops a $4000 reduction to $25,990 drive-away, while the Navara RX 4WD dual-cab manual is cheaper than ever with a $9500 cut to $30,990 drive-away. The Pulsar sedan deal is attractive.OPELThere are drive-away deals across the range. The basic Corsa is down by about $2500 to $16,990 drive-away, the Astra is from $22,990 drive-away for the 1.4-litre turbo petrol hatch with three years of free servicing, saving about $5500. The top-line Insignia sedan is from $39,990 drive-away with heated leather seats. The Astra is easily best of this breed.PEUGEOTFree on-roads at Peugeot on most models but not the cool new 208. The 4008 SUV cops a $1500 saving from $29,990 drive-away and there are deals on the outgoing 4007. Nothing to see here.RENAULTA Koleos from $26,990 drive-away looks even better with interest-free finance. The Megane hatch is from $22,990 drive-away with finance pegged at 1.9 per cent. The slow-selling Fluence and Latitude sedans are available with 2.9 per cent finance. The Megane CC convertible goes from $43,990 including on-roads. The sporty Clio RS is from $34,990 drive-away and the hotrod Megane RS has 2.9 per cent finance.Commercial deals start with the short-wheelbase Kangoo petrol manual with dual sliding doors from $20,990 drive-away, moving up to the Trafic short-wheelbase manual for $29,990 and the long-wheelbase manual for $32,990, while the Master large van starts from $46,990 drive-away. There's a five-year/200,000km warranty on all light commercials ordered in June. Hard to argue against a $3000 bonus on the Koleos but stocks are tight.SUBARUDrive-away pricing -- for savings of $3000 to $4000 -- is the bait, with Impreza pricing from $23,990 (excluding the WRX, of course). The Tribeca from $54,990 now includes on-roads but you need to visit a dealer to get the full story. Nothing outstanding.SUZUKIThe front-drive SX4 gets a Navigator pack with voice-controlled 6.6-inch satnav with Bluetooth for $19,990 drive-away for the manual and $21,990 auto. That also applies to the 2WD auto Grand Vitara at $29,990 drive-away, including reversing camera and satnav with Bluetooth. The Alto GL manual also gets satnav for $11,990 drive-away for the manual, with the Swift GL manual at $17,490 drive-away including cruise control and Bluetooth. The Grand Vitara is a polished piece.TOYOTAThere's 2.9 per cent finance on Aurion and Camry with the Camry Altise looking best at $29,990 drive-away. Other drive-away deals include $15,990 for the Yaris YR five-door, $21,490 for the Corolla Ascent automatic, $39,990 for the Kluger KX-R 2WD five-seater, $60,990 for the Prado GXL turbo diesel auto and $39,990 for the HiLux SR 4WD dual-cab ute. The right time for the cabbies' new favourite, the frugal hybrid Camry.VOLKSWAGENDrive-away pricing on passenger cars and zero finance on commercials. The Polo is $16,990 on-road, the Jetta is down to $25,990 and the Passat $36,690. The Polo is Carsguide's 2010 COTY.VOLVOFuel and servicing for three years or 60,000km plus roadside assistance. There are conditions -- with a pre-paid BP card based on 15,000km a year and $1.50 a-litre pricing -- and the latest V40 hatch is excluded. Clever twist on bargaining but a pity it doesn't apply to the V40.Paul Gover's 10 COMMANDMENTSYou must still do your homework. You must still check the fine print. You must still be prepared to haggle and compromise.But do it right, crunching the numbers and running right to the dealer's deadline, and you can drive away in something special at a special price.The starting point is all the deals, from sticker specials to cheap finance and steak knife-style free extras, being offered by most of the 60-plus brands in showrooms today.If something you want is on special, go for it. But check that the car was built in 2013, and is not a geriatric old-timer from 2012, and ensure your target is exactly what you want - not a stripped-out stocker, perhaps missing an automatic gearbox - that will cost thousands to get the way you want it.Once you lock down a target, don't think the advertised special is the end of the deal. You also need to negotiate for a better price on delivery and on-road costs, and avoid the trap of buying over-priced extras such as paint and upholstery protection, window tinting and extra-long warranties.No-one can expect to go into the ring with a showroom professional and expect to win, because buyers only get a new car occasionally and sales staff are dealing every day. But, by concentrating on the real bottom line - the changeover price - and being prepared to compromise, you can come out ahead.The best tips are the simplest. Run as close as you can to June 30 to sign the deal and get the car, because dealers are all aiming for targets that can mean tens of thousands in bonus money from headquarters. Also be prepared to take a car they have in stock, even if it's not your favourite colour, because dealers are aiming to clear everything they have on the lot.And have your finance in place before you arrive, especially if you're taking up a special deal, because that makes things quicker and you'll also be spared any hassle and potential extra costs.Watch out for 2012 cars because the warranty clock has already been running, don't forget that a big discount today will also mean less at changeover time, and remember that a demonstrator car could have had a hard life already. 

There's probably a psychosis associated with being a van driver. It could well be their working environment. Let’s face it, how would you like sitting in a small moving box for up to 12 hours a day.  Not nice.VANNIESBut new vans out of Europe are making "vannies" lives a bit better with more multi-media connectivity, Bluetooth phones and even.... air conditioning and decent audio. They are becoming more like passenger cars in terms of features, drive feel, ergonomics and (little) luxuries.CUTIERenault's new Kangoo van - a real cutie to look at, benefits from obvious input by those in the know - the drivers. Renault must have lined up a platoon of drivers and pumped them for information about what they need in a vehicle.The result is Kangoo. It's a vannies delight that can make them some money, not cost them much money and keep them happy and safe. Gotta like that.ENGINEKangoo diesel manual, the one we are driving, is powered by a 1.5-litre, single cam turbo diesel four cylinder. It's good for a handy 63kW but more important, 200Nm from a low 1700rpm.What this means is strong acceleration pretty much from a standstill and strong mid range response for highway driving. The amount of kick from this engine surprises especially once you are on the move.LOADEDNo cringe factor at all. This of course translates easy load handling as the engine makes light work of lugging Kangoo's 800 kg payload.We haven’t been able to test it but have had half a tonne in there and it makes light of the load. It is ticking over the claimed 5.2-litres/100km fuel consumption with mixed driving meaning fill ups up around the 800-900km mark.Access to the load space is facilitated through the 180 degree rear barn doors and left side slider. Access to the passenger compartment is by two large doors that open right down to the bottom of the floor.COMFORT FACTORIt's comfortable for longish drives and the driving position is adjustable to suit. Renault has positioned some controls/switches in hard to find positions - to keep you on your toes. There's plenty of storage inside including an overhead shelf that will take up to about 50kg.All it needs is an auto transmission for city couriers - but that's only available with the petrol four...

It's handy having a light commercial vehicle at your disposal - there's always something to dispatch from here to there and all the better if it's a van - for security and safety.PRICEEven a small one like the Renault Kangoo has plenty of appeal and is extremely affordable at $24,490. Hugely popular in Europe. the diminutive cargo box with a cab is designed for work, has a cute disposition and quite a few competitors as well.TEMPTERSBut Renault offers a few tempters that are hard to ignore like a five year warranty, low interest finance (at 3.9 per cent spotted recently) and occasionally, free service for three years though that one hasn't been around for a while. Jag all three and you are looking at an extreme value van to buy and run that will take a surprisingly hefty 800kg payload.REPUTATIONAnd going on its reputation, you can't kill a Kangoo with a stick. They just keep on going. We snaffled a diesel Kangoo and immediately put it to work carting half a tonne of pavers and some tools from the landscape suppliers.ENGINEIt was like water off a ducks back to the Kangoo which runs a 1.5-litre, single cam, turbo diesel, four cylinder donk good for 63kW/200Nm. More importantly, fuel economy hovers around the 5.5-litres/100km mark with the combined cycle officially rated at 5.2. The diesel comes with a five- speed manual only. If you want an auto it has to be the 1.5-litre petrol. Why would you bother, the diesel is too good to pass-up.PERFORMANCEIt has decent performance, especially once you get into second cog. First is short and designed to get a heavily laden Kangoo cleanly off the mark.GOODIESKangoo weighs 1277kg and has plenty of work truck features. Central locking is a given, the rubber load area floor mat is handy as are tie down lugs in the floor and on the sides. The rear barn doors open 180 degrees and the left hand side slider further aids accessibility. You can option an additional right slider. It gets Bluetooth, cruise control and a/c, power windows, a trip computer and plenty of cabin storage. Not a bad working environment. 

While the focus until now has been cutting the harmful engine emissions of cars, commercial vehicles should not be overlooked. Utes and vans and the like make up about 20 per cent of the vehicles sold in Australia and most of them probably clock up more kilometres each year than the average family car.With this in mind it's comforting to learn French car maker Renault has produced an electric version of its small delivery van the Kangoo - as well as the electric Fluence sedan. We drove both vehicles on a recent visit to Portugal but to be frank it was the Kangoo ZE that was more impressive.The Kangoo is targeted at business customers looking for an economical solution but one that is more "respectful" of the environment.Maybe it was the fact that we had lower expectations of the van, but we reckon it was the better drive. To put this in perspective we drove the 1.5-litre diesel version of the Kangoo not too long ago.While its a tough little competitor, the electric version could easily replace it and save operators of small fleets money into the bargain. Imagine a dozen of these things with a range of 170km which that take less than $100 a month to charge? It'd be perfect for a city-based delivery service like a courier or florist for instance.In Europe the battery is leased through the Better Place company which charges the equivalent of $95 a month which includes the power. Over there 70 per cent of delivery vans travel less than 100km a day.Renault has not confirmed whether it is bringing the Kangoo ZE to Australia, but given its strong desire to have us drive the vehicle it's a fair bet.The Kangoo ZE comes in two sizes, short and long wheelbase as well as a five-seat passenger version  - all with a 650kg carrying capacity. With a 22kWh battery that weighs about 260kg the ZE it has a range of about 150km from a single charge. The electric motor produces 44kW of power and 226Nm of torque. More importantly maximum torque (the important half of the equation) is available from zero revs. The battery does not intrude in anyway into the cargo area of the van which has the same capacity as the diesel.Unlike the Fluence however the battery cannot be swapped for a fully charged one. It must be plugged into a charge point to be recharged which takes six to eight hours or less with a commercial grade charger. The battery is mounted horizontally beneath the floor.The smaller lighter van is surprisingly nippy to drive and the pick of the bunch. The larger versions feel considerably heavier but the extra weight has little impact on power consumption. The harder you drive the van less range it has, but an eco button limits the speed of the van and can boost range by up to 10 per cent.With less moving parts Renault estimates maintenance costs are 20 per cent less than a petrol or diesel powered vehicle. That will also appeal to savvy fleet operators. With electricity something like 10 cents a kilowatt hour, it's a powerful argument.

There's no vehicle better suited to go electric than the small delivery van. Vast numbers of them spend their days idling around the cities and their nights sitting idle back at base - or at home, if they're owned by a small business. Most of them never stray far from town, their strongest features are practicality and economy, and their drivers would rarely spend red lights planning a screeching track start.So Renault has high hopes of success for the business case they're mounting to bring the Kangoo ZE plug-in van here. Of the three vans available in Europe, the most likely to arrive is the smallest two-seater, with the Maxi two-seater also on the wish list and the five-seater very much an outside chance.VALUEAs with the Fluence ZE, you buy the plug-in van but then enter into a 'battery subscription' with prices rising according to how much distance you buy.It's similar to buying a mobile phone and subscribing to a pre-paid plan - except that in this case the phone battery is part of the lease from the carrier. While that sounds awkward, it would be great if mobile phone batteries came with the Kangoo's guarantee of maintaining charging capacity and roadside breakdown assistance.There's no indication yet of what the plug-in van's price point will be in Australia, where - despite a succession of governments braying endlessly about the environment -- we still don't look like getting any tax incentives to drive green.In Europe where the pollies seem to be genuinely interested in advances other than salary review, a ?5000 deduction means the short wheelbase Kangoo ZE comes in at ?15,000 - the same price there as the internal-combustion version - with subscriptions starting at ?75 ($100) per month.So in Australia the little plug-in will have to fend for itself, arguing mainly on the basis of running costs. It will likely come in with a price above $30,000 but will be facing off against cheaper and cheerfully dirtier rivals - including the incumbent Kangoo, at $24,490 for both the 78kW/148Nm 1.6-litre petrol that uses 8.3L/100km and the 63kW/200Nm 1.5-litre turbodiesel (5.2L/100km).The bottom line is going to balance out sooner for those with high kilometres. But the running costs payoff includes about 20 per cent less in service costs with an electric motor, while medium to large businesses that have an emissions reduction target can use the Kangoo's zero output against their green bottom line. That will doubtless make them feel and look good, but in the end it's the dollars that count.TECHNOLOGYBehind the grille is a 44kW/226Nm electric motor powered by a 22kWh 400V lithium-ion battery pack - which Renault says has a 10-year lifespan.The 260kg pack is in a low central position under the rear floor, so there's nothing stolen from the 650kg payload and 3000-litre capacity (up to 4600 for the Maxi depending on the number of seats).The front wheels are driven via a CVT automatic - which is going to be welcomed by a lot of business drivers who find a manual shifter just adds to the day's chores in city traffic.Range is claimed to be 170km, but that will be with careful driving and unladen. Just as with petrol and diesel, carrying more weight will empty the 'tank' faster.However, unlike the fossil fuels, the erratic on-off pedal work of city traffic can help build reserves by capturing energy as you decelerate, although the Renault system doesn't scavenge during braking like the hybrid systems that are more familiar here.An 'eco' mode further conserves the charge by limiting the motor's torque, and shutting down the airconditioning, which means the button won't get touched during Aussie summers -- if ever.Recharging takes six to eight hours from the dedicated charge points, which increases to 10-12 hours from a standard household socket. But even an hour will top you up with about 20km range, Renault says.DESIGNFrom the outside, you can't tell it apart from any other Kangoo until you spot that there's a 'filler flap' in the grille for the charging socket - and that it's missing an exhaust system.In the cabin, the instrument cluster includes gauges for load and remaining charge, while you can keep an eye on the reserve of range through the trip computer.Built on the Scenic people mover platform, it's configured with choices of short or long wheelbases -- with the latter having a five-seat option - with a single sliding door and rear barn doors accessing the cargo area.The load floor height is a very accessible 575mm, which means it should continue to be popular for wheelchair mobility conversions.SAFETYIt doesn't have an ANCAP crash rating yet, and it's not reassuring that it only gets a single driver-side airbag - the passenger one is an extra option. However there are anti-skid disc brakes with brake assist for urgent stops and brakeforce distribution to compensate for the extra needed at some wheels when loading is uneven.DRIVINGYou slide into a high seat, but it's an uneasy spot with no reach adjustment on the steering wheel, and no rear-vision mirror on the 'blind box' smaller wheelbase of the two versions we tested.That leaves you relying entirely on side mirrors for reversing and parking. It's a manoeuvre that delivery vans do a lot of, and in the little European Kangoo it's not easy, but Renault Australia guarantees ours will have rear windows.Take-off is silent, with the motor giving a rising whine as speed climbs. But it's still very quiet at lower speeds, so an optional louder noise system is available for those who aren't keen on bouncing pedestrians off the bodywork.Both the short and long versions were quick to get going, but the smaller one kept the action up and switched direction more readily - although with a touch of jitters that suggested it would benefit from a load in the back.No surprise that the longer wheelbase felt calmer, but it was also a bit more reluctant to keep tipping in toque so smartly. It's just 160kg heavier, but it makes a noticeable difference, which suggests that the shorter wheelbase will be similarly less urgent with freight on board.The Renault electric system's 'motor braking' is so strong that the lift-off deceleration is often enough to slow you down by itself. We went for quite a while without hitting the brakes both in some urban stretches and a patch of gentle downhill bends.The steeper uphill runs meant jamming the throttle pedal to the floor to maintain speed, and that's going to suck up the charge and slash the range. But overall the Kangoo was an easy drive - even a fun one in the short wheelbase.VERDICTIt's going to do nearly everything the any other small van can -- except for more than 200km without stopping. If it comes in at a price that pays for itself in a reasonable amount of time, you'd have to consider it. That will change to 'buy it' if the government ever puts our money where its mouth is.RENAULT KANGOO ZEPrice: $30,000 + (est)Warranty: 3-year 150,000km (est)Engine: 44kW/226Nm electric motor and 22kWh 400V lithium-ion battery packTransmission: CVT, FWDBody: 2-door plus rear doors, seats 2Safety: no crash rating, 1 airbag, ABS, EBD, BAThirst: 0L/100km; 0g/km CO2Top speed: 130km/hRange: 170kmRecharge: 6 to 8 hours (16amp) 10-12 hours (10amp)Payload: 650kg, capacity 3000Weight: 1410kgDimensions (mm): length 4213mm, width 1829mm, height 1805mmWheelbase: 2697mm, tracks front/rear 1521/1533

The number of small delivery vans has grown dramatically in the past few years. Like Doctor Who's Tardus they're bigger inside than you think and often fit the bill better than a larger van, with offerings from VW, Holden, Peugeot and Renault — to name a few.VALUEFor $25,990 driveaway Renault's recently updated Kangoo runaround represents excellent value. For the same price you can have either the 1.6-litre petrol version with a four-speed auto or the 1.5-litre turbo diesel with a five-speed manual transmission.DESIGNThe new Kangoo is built on the Scenic people mover platform and offers a greater level of driving refinement, not to mention a surprisingly high driving position. Longer and wider than before, the diesel can swallow 3.0 cubic metres and carry a payload of up to 800kg, compared with the previous model's 2.75 cu m and 530kg. It's also significantly more than the petrol version's 650kg.Unlike some competitors, however, it comes in only the one length or wheelbase with a single sliding side access door. The kerb-side sliding door provides 635mm of access, while the rear barn-style doors open wide for bulkier items. Six tie-down points are provided in the rear.A driver's airbag is standard along with four-wheel disc brakes, with ABS with EBD (Electronic Brake Distribution) and EBA (Emergency Brake Assist). Sadly, electronic stability control remains an option and is available only with the petrol model. Bluetooth and cruise control with a speed limiter are standard. The equipment list is generous and you can stream audio from your Bluetooth phone.A load area liner and load area lighting complete the package. Kangoo comes with a 3-year 150,000km warranty which includes roadside assistance.TECHNOLOGYKangoo's 1.5-litre turbo-diesel engine generates 63kW of power at 3750 revs and 200Nm of torque from a low 1900 revs. Offering class leading fuel economy of 5.2 litres/100km, with a 60-litre tank it has a range of well over 1000km. The engine is quiet and smooth thanks to a double flywheel damper, multi injection cycle and specially designed engine mounts.DRIVINGOur test vehicle the 1.5-litre turbo diesel was a real surprise packet, small and manoeuvrable and quite nippy. The elevated driving position, big windows and large exterior mirrors provide plenty of vision and the large wide opening doors make getting in and out a snack. Unlike larger diesels there's a limit to the amount of torque available and this means having to change down on steeper hills.We got 5.9 litres/100km over a distance of almost 500km during testing. Because the cabin is not physically separated from the load area the van is quiet noisy inside and it is difficult to strike a balance between hot and cold with the airconditioning.The seating position is comfortable, but the steering wheel is not reach adjustable and height adjustment for the driver's seat is optional, with a parcel shelf overhead for storing items. A bar behind the driver provides some protection from the load moving forward in the event of an accident.The new model is larger than before. Loads of up to 1218mm wide will slide between the rear wheel arches.

You know a van has left a good impression during a test drive when you think about buying one. That's what happened when I tested out the new Renault Kangoo.I changed my mind when my dirt bike wouldn't quite fit - well, it would fit but the front tyre was touching the folded forward passenger seat. Of course, it is reasonable that it wouldn't fit given this is a compact van and larger machines like a Toyota HiAce or Hyundai iLoad would be better suited for dirt-bike lugging.The reason I liked the Kangoo so much is that the drive experience is very similar to a Renault car. There is a bit more road noise, even with the optional rubber cargo mat, but other than that it is pretty much the same.The interior looks like that of a Renault car, although the plastic is rock hard, and you get all the features such as cruise control, electric windows, steering wheel audio controls and a Bluetooth phone system with a streaming function that means it can play music from your iPod without it being plugged in.I had the petrol version, which uses a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine that generates 78kW and 148Nm, figures that aren't going to impress anyone. Still, there is adequate performance for getting about. It's not the smoothest engines in the world, but isn't too rough either.The only transmission is a four-speed automatic which does the job well enough.My fuel use worked out to 7.2 litres per 100km which is quite reasonable.I also tested out a diesel version. This has a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel which generates 63kW and 200Nm and is only available with a five-speed manual. While it also doesn't set any records in terms of smoothness and quietness, it has adequate performance and uses just 5.9l/100km.The Kangoo is affordable at $24,490 and has anti-skid brakes, but the standard model only gets a driver's side airbag when at least two airbags should be standard. Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is available as an option on the petrol model. 

But if you drive the Kangoo, the extra dosh will become less important.Kangoo is a good thing. Performance belies 1.6-litre engine capacity. Has heaps of go, great torque and impressive fuel economy. Engine is 70kW unit lifted from Renault Clio.Ride quality is good unladen, better with a load on board. Kangoo will carry up to 560kg with minimal fuss and negligible impact on fuel economy.Only compact van available with optional four speed automatic transmission but five speed manual is a treat to use.Small exterior hides large load bay – it's big back there and has two side sliders (only one is standard) and rear opening doors. Access all areas.Plenty of safety equipment including ABS with EBD, pretensioning seat belts and a driver's air bag. There's even a protection bar behind the driver's seat.Standard equipment includes power steering, CD, aircon, remote central locking and electric mirrors and windows.Handy floor anchorage points for loads.Tight turning circle, direct steering.Major service intervals are 30,000km apart.Will return up to 7.5l/100km in mixed driving. Tank holds 50 litres.Easy to park because of compact dimensions.Looks good in a funny sort of way – more personality than Combo or Berlingo.Body feels tight as a drum but plenty of engine and road noise bounces around inside cabin.Passenger area is light and airy, easy to use controls. Plastics look tacky.Access into the cabin is helped by large doors, high mounted, comfy seats.Only weighs a bit over 1 tonne.Had strong headlights and a decent horn.