With the introduction of the all-new Kangoo, Renault’s Australian commercial vehicle range, which includes the highly praised Trafic mid-sized van and the space- conquering Master, is now complete.

Recognised as the leader of commercial vehicle manufacturers in France and Western Europe, Renault has a sound reputation for producing well-designed, attractive and efficient commercial vehicles. Since the launch of the first-ever Kangoo in Europe in 1997, Renault has manufactured over 760,000 Kangoos. With the release of the Series 2 Kangoo in 2001, the vehicle’s popularity continued to build and in 2003 Renault sold almost 110,000 of the compact vans and claimed 26% of the segment.

The Renault Kangoo has been chosen by many fleets around the world as its preferred vehicle – including the British Gas Company, and the Swedish, French, German and Spanish Postal Service - testimony to the flexibility and sound reputation of the vehicle.

The Kangoo’s fresh-faced styling adds to its appeal. Elliptical headlamps, a plunging bonnet with central crease and a front grille with horizontal slats reflect the Kangoo’s cheeky personality and guarantee that the vehicle stands out from of its bland competitors.

Powered by the same 1.6-litre 16 valve engine found in Renault’s popular Clio hatch, the Kangoo generates 70 Kw of power at 5,000 rpm and a handy 148 Nm at a standard 5-speed manual gearbox or an optional 4-speed automatic transmission – the only compact van in the Australian market to offer this option.

In addition, all automatic transmission Kangoos add the latest generation Bosch 8.0 ABS anti-lock brakes and EBD (electronic brake distribution) as standard features.

In Australia, the Kangoo will be offered in one highly equipped variant, including features previously unknown in this segment. Standard appointments include power steering, compact disc player, air-conditioning, heat reflective windscreen, remote central locking and electric mirrors and windows.

Safety equipment offered on the Kangoo includes driver’s side airbag, seatbelts with pre-tensioners and load limiters, front disc brakes, ABS and EBD (standard on automatic versions, optional on manual versions), collapsible steering column, reinforced and padded doors, protective steel-reinforcing bars around the driver’s seating area and an innovative flexible front spoiler to enhance on-road stability.

Optional equipment includes an additional steel sliding door – with or without windows, fog lamps and a versatile rear flap with optional glass above the barn doors which further extends the cargo area.

But the real test of any commercial vehicle is in the flexible use of space and cargo carrying capacity and here the Kangoo delivers in spades. With a payload of 600 kilograms and a storage width of 1.17 metres, the Kangoo offers usable cargo space of 2.75 square metres. Easy access to the cargo area is assured, with a low loading sill of 535 millimetres, 180-degree opening rear barn doors and a standard side sliding door. Four anchorage points on the floor ensure any load can be safely secured.

Just as important to any fleet operator are maintenance and servicing costs, and once again the Kangoo doesn’t disappoint. In line with Renault’s overall aims of offering attractive, competitively priced and operator-friendly products to the market, the Kangoo comes with an innovative servicing policy. Major services are at 30,000 km intervals with minor service intervals (oil change) at 15,000 km and all Renault commercial vehicles are back up by a three-year, 100,000 kilometre warranty.

The fashion-conscious Kangoo comes in a range of attractive colours, including glacier white, lemon yellow, Caribbean blue, cherry red (metallic), carmen red and cosmic grey (metallic).

Priced at just $18,990* for the manual-transmission variant and $21,490* with the four-speed automatic transmission, Kangoo offers an excellent economical addition to the compact commercial vehicle segment.

According to Renault Australia’s Manager for Commercial Vehicles, Adam Le Fevre, the all-new Kangoo is destined to attract a lot of attention from business fleet operators. “With its high levels of passenger vehicle comfort, long list of standard features and the first-time offering of an automatic transmission in this segment, the Kangoo will appeal to all purchasers considering a compact commercial vehicle,” Mr Le Fevre said.

Rudi Koenig, Renault Australia’s Director of Operations, welcomed the addition of the all-new Kangoo to Renault’s Australian commercial vehicle range. “Following the outstanding success of Renault’s CV sales in Europe, we are very pleased to present the range here in Australia. With its big brothers the Trafic and Master, we can now offer a comprehensive product line-up for Australia’s commercial vehicle buying public,” Mr Koenig said.

The Kangoo is available from Renault’s Commercial Vehicle Centres in all capital cities from September 1st.

*Prices are recommended retail only and do not include dealer delivery or government charges or optional extras including metallic paint.

Renault’s all-new Kangoo – the inside story

An economical yet powerful engine equals lower operating costs

Renault’s all-new Kangoo provides excellent performance which is particularly well adapted to urban and suburban operations. The zippy 1.6-litre 16 valve engine, originally found in the popular Clio hatch range, is notable for a torque curve which increases ease of driving and provides good response from low speed – an advantage when the vehicle is laden.

Fuel consumption is low and the 1.6-litre engine is notable for its balance between economy, low emissions and reduced operating costs.

For additional ease of driving, the Kangoo is available with an optional four-speed Proactive automatic transmission. With its nine shifting strategies and the use of fuzzy logic, this transmission takes into account the type of driving and the road profile and adapts its shifting accordingly, providing levels of driving pleasure and fuel consumption almost identical to those achieved by the manual transmission variant.

A streamlined, expressive design

Renault’s all-new Kangoo offers expressive styling including smooth elliptical headlamps, rising high in the wings, a plunging bonnet highlighted by a central crease, body coloured bumpers plus a front grille with horizontal slats to make it stand out from the general run of commercial vehicles.

To provide better protection for the bodywork against minor impacts, an enveloping moulding surrounds the rear doors and wide protective strips run along the sides of the vehicle. It is a design which combines good looks with functionality and improves ease of use.

User-friendly, functional and comfortable

The standout feature of the all-new Kangoo is its comfortable, car-like appointments. The dashboard is attractive and functional, with a light finish on its lower section and an anti-reflective treatment on its upper surfaces. A cavernous stowage with glovebox lid, along with a user-friendly centre console which incorporates a drink-holder and removable ashtray ensure efficient storage of all occupants’ equipment.

Driving comfort is optimised in the Kangoo. The front seats provide superior sideways support through the addition of dense foam padding and noise insulation is optimised. The underside of the dashboard and the bulkhead are isolated with padding of 30 millimetre thick foam. Stiffened engine mountings and a reinforced subframe are implemented to reduce the transmission of vibration within the cabin.

In addition, the four built-in tie-down points in the all-new Kangoo ensure any load can be safely secured.

With a payload of 600 kilograms and a storage width of 1.17 metres, the Kangoo offers usable cargo space of 2.75 square metres. Easy access to the cargo area is assured, with a low loading sill of 535 millimetres, 180-degree opening rear barn doors and a standard side sliding door.

Safety – a Renault imperative

Renault’s reputation for enhancing levels of active and passive safety in its passenger vehicles is well recognised, and the commercial vehicle range benefits from the company’s commitment to safety research.

The all-new Renault Kangoo offers driver’s side airbag, seatbelts with pre-tensioners and load limiters, front disc brakes, ABS and EBD (standard on automatic versions, optional on manual versions), protective steel-reinforcing bars around the driver’s seating area and an innovative flexible front spoiler which improves side wind stability and driver control enhance on-road handling as standard equipment.

An optional passenger side airbag is also available on both models.

In addition, the steering column collapses in the event of an impact and prevents the intrusion of the steering wheel into the cabin. The sides of the bulkhead, together with the sill sections have been strengthened to provide better cabin stiffness in an impact. The dashboard is less intrusive and reduces the risk of knee injury. The door padding is soft and energy absorbent and provides the best protection for the pelvis and abdomen in a side impact.

A sound investment

The design and development of components with a view to their end-of-life recycling has led Renault’s engineering departments and suppliers to seek innovative solutions and to take recyclability into account in their design, development and quality processes. Methods of attachment – including the protective mouldings and surrounds, the sliding door panel and the sill and B-pillar trims - have been designed to ensure easy dismantling.

The front bumper and grille, made from recycled material, represent progress in using fewer different materials in vehicle manufacturing.

Kangoo Specifications

Version	1.6l Petrol 74kW	1.6l Petrol 74kW
	Manual	Auto
Volume	2.75m³	2.75m³
Transmission Type	5-speed manual gearbox	4-speed auto gearbox
Braking ABS	-	Std.
Front disc brake diameter (mm)	259	259
Weight
Kerb weight (kg)	1060	1095
Gross vehicle weight (kg)	1620	1620
Gross train weight (kg)	2500	2500
Payload (kg)	600	600
Towing weight braked (kg)
(driver only)	890	880
Towing weight unbraked (kg)
(driver only)	530	530
Load platform length	1402	1402
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2605	2605
Overall length	4035	4035
Overall width	1672	1672
Overall height	1835	1835
Platform height unladen	605	605
Interior height	1257	1257
Interior width between wheel arches	1172	1172
Maximum interior width	1219	1219
Engine Type	Petrol Engine	Petrol Engine
Capacity	1598	1598
Valves	4	4
Max. power kW	70 (95HP)	70 (95HP)
revs/min	5000	5000
Max. torque Nm	148	148
revs/min	3750	3750
Fuel Tank	50L	50L
Fuel consumption Urban cycle	9.8	11
Fuel consumption Combined cycle	7.5	8
Kangoo 1.6 Integral	$18,990	$21,490
Safety Features
Driver's Front Airbag	Std.	Std.
Power Assisted Steering	Std.	Std.
Height Adjustable Driver's Seat	Std.	Std.
2 Steel Tubes behind Driver	Std.	Std.
ABS with EBD (Electronic
Brake Distribution)	Optional	Std.
Comfort & Convenience
2x15W Single-CD and Radio with
Fingertip Remote Control	Std.	Std.
Heat Reflecting Windscreen	Std.	Std.
Tinted windows	Std.	Std.
Door Pockets	Std.	Std.
Glove box with lock	Std.	Std.
Air Conditioning	Std.	Std.
Electric Windows &
Electric Door Mirrors	Std.	Std.
Remote Central Locking	Std.	Std.
Manual Gearbox (5 speeds)	Std.	-
Auto Gearbox (4 speeds)	-	Std.
Loading Area
Interior Lighting	Std.	Std.
Security Features
Engine Immobiliser	Std.	Std.
Exterior Features
Body Side Protection Mouldings	Std.	Std.
Side Impact Bars on Front Doors	Std.	Std.
Side Loading Door (Left - Unglazed)	Std.	Std.
Internally Adjustable Door Mirrors	Std.	Std.
180° Opening Rear Doors (Glazed)	Std.	Std.
Trim
Typhon' Cloth Upholstery	Std.	Std.
Color
Glacier White or Lemon Yellow	Std.	Std.
Cherry Red or Cosmic Silver
(Metallic Paint)	Optional	Optional
Warranty
3 years or 100,000 km	Std.	Std.
Renault 24 hr Roadside Assistance	Std.	Std.