The What Van? Road Test: Renault Kangoo (2022)

Date: Friday, February 24, 2023

Rear 3:4 Copy

Operating

Service intervals are set at two years/18,000 miles and Renault provides a three year/100,000-mile warranty.

Our Kangoo turned out to be fuel-frugal, averaging 55mpg – slightly ahead of the official combined figure – over a mixture of routes. Stop & Start forms part of the specification and the energy that would otherwise be lost when the van slows down is adroitly recaptured.

A spare wheel comes as standard. No side rubbing strips are fitted, which leaves the paint – an optional metallic finish in our case – vulnerable to damage.

Renault Kangoo ML19 Blue dCi 95 Start van

Price (ex VAT) £19,550

Price range (ex VAT) £18,650–£33,100

Gross payload 814kg

Load length 1806mm

Load width (min/max) 1284mm/1570mm

Load bay height 1215mm

Load volume 3.3m³

Loading height 634mm

Rear door aperture 1256mm x 1117mm

Side door aperture 736mm x 1054mm

Gross vehicle weight 2230kg

Braked trailer towing weight 1500kg

Residual value 32.49%*

Cost per mile 41.65p*

Engine size/power 1461cc, 95hp @ 3750rpm

Torque 260Nm @ 1750rpm

Gearbox 6sp

Fuel economy 53.3mpg

Fuel tank 54L

CO2 139g/km

Warranty 3yrs/100,000mls

Service intervals 2yrs/18,000mls

Insurance group 33E

Price as tested £23,650

*after 48 months/20,000 miles p.a – source – KWIKcarcost

Options

Load area ladder rack £600

Active Emergency Braking System £450

Blind Spot Intervention £350

Advanced Lane Keep Assist £550

360° parking sensors with reversing camera £500

Tyre Pressure Monitoring System £100

Load area side panels and load bed cover £350

Easylink display screen with satellite navigation £800

Metallic paint £400

Rivals

Ford Transit Connect

Price (ex VAT) £21,250–£29,815

Load volume 2.9–3.6m³

Gross payload 679–982kg

Engines 100hp 1.0 petrol, 75hp, 100hp, 120hp 1.5 diesel

Verdict: Revamped a while back with a boost to its payload capability, Connect continues to offer top-notch performance and handling. The eight-speed automatic transmission deserves a round of applause but that is not to denigrate the manual box, which delivers a slick, smooth gear-change. We like the Sport variant a lot, but if you need to stay mobile off-road consider the Active, which offers increased ground clearance plus an optional mechanical limited slip diff. No electric Connect.

Peugeot Partner

Price (ex VAT) £20,220–£34,840

Load volume 3.3–3.8m³

Gross payload 721–987kg

Engines 102hp, 131hp 1.5 diesel, 100kW electric

Verdict: A solid, sturdy, workhorse that looks unlikely to let you down, and the availability of a zero-emission electric model will help you burnish your green credentials. The same van is also marketed by Citroen as the Berlingo, Vauxhall as the Combo, and Fiat Professional as the Doblo - all three brands are owned by global automotive giant Stellantis - and by Toyota as the Proace City. Toyota offers a particularly-attractive warranty package.

Volkswagen Caddy

Price (ex VAT) £19,285–£28,745

Load volume 3.1–3.7m³

Gross payload 606–711kg

Engines 75hp, 102hp, 122hp 2.0 diesel, 114hp 1.5 petrol

Verdict: Safety is baked into this van, quality standards are high, the engines and transmissions are well-matched, and fuel consumption is respectable. The load area is smaller than what was on offer from previous Caddies however and payload capacity is below that of some key rivals. There is no electric version but VW does of course offer the award-winning battery-powered ID.Buzz Cargo, which is the same size as the larger Caddy models.

The Final Verdict

Design 8/10 – Would be perfect if the Open Sesame door were available in right-hand drive models

Cabin 7/10 – A comfortable environment, but the optional intrusive ladder rack makes it cramped

Ride 7/10 – Choppy when lightly-laden, but improves once you put some weight in the back

Refinement 9/10 – The best-built Renault van we’ve ever encountered, with no squeaks or groans

Load area 8/10 – Three-way access plus plenty of anchorage points make it easy to use

Handling/performance 9/10 – Both are to a high standard, brisk acceleration and an ability to push hard in bends

Engine/transmission 9/10 – A well-matched combination benefiting from the manual box’s slick gear change

Standard equipment 7/10 – A shame that essential kit is optional, and will cost you extra

Operating costs 8/10 – Good fuel economy and generous warranty, service intervals will keep costs down

What Van? subjective rating 9/10 – If you’re looking for a light van, put the award-winning Kangoo on your shopping list

Overall Rating = 81/100

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