What Van? Britain's biggest and best van buyers' guide

Renault launched a facelifted range of Kangoo vans in the UK in July this year and in the process took the opportunity to add the 110hp version of its 1.5-litre dCi engine to the line-up.

The manufacturer introduced this drivetrain on the Megane passenger car, and in the 110hp Kangoo it comes wedded to a six-speed manual gearbox as opposed to the 75hp and 90hp vans, which make do with a five-speed ’box.

We tested the 110hp engine in a Kangoo Maxi LL21 Crew Van Sport. The model comes with a three-person rear bench seat to accommodate a team of workers or family members if it’s serving as a private as well as a business vehicle.

There’s an impressive amount of legroom in the back, but the unglazed side panels could leave some passengers feeling a touch claustrophobic. Sliding doors on both sides of the van give access to the rear seats.

The engine provides plenty of power and works harmoniously with the six-speed transmission. We found the Maxi to be equally at home when negotiating tight city streets requiring frequent gear changes or when bowling along dual-carriageways, where it imparts the sense of having more than enough muscle in reserve to cope with a full payload of 740kg if called upon. The vehicle we tested was equipped with cruise control and a speed limiter, costing a combined £240, all prices exclude VAT, but the option makes sense on the most powerful 110hp Kangoo Van, which is likely to be chosen by operators covering longer distances.

The 1.3m³ load bay is accessed via unglazed asymmetrical rear doors, which open through to 180 degrees and is separated from the second row of passenger seats by a fixed grille bulkhead – a £180 option, otherwise you get the standard tubular fit. There are eight load anchorage points in the back and the Sport version we drove also comes with a tough rubber floor covering, which has the added bonus of being easy to sweep out after unloading. For longer items, such as ladders or pipes, a roof bar and rack fixings are fitted.

Side protection mouldings reduce the risk of minor damage to the exterior of the van, and 15-inch steel rimmed wheels should prove to be fairly scuff-resistant.