Used Renault Kangoo MPV 1999 - 2009 review
The Renault Kangoo provides versatile and practical van-based transport for five people and their dogs
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What's the used Renault Kangoo like?
Ownership cost
Our recommendations
Reliability
Stuart Milne
Updated: 1 January 2006
How we test cars
What's the used Renault Kangoo like?
The Renault Kangoo's huge cabin is light and airy, and even the tallest passengers shouldn't have complaints about the headroom. Legroom is good front and back, too, and the driving position is reasonably comfortable, even though there's no seat or steering wheel adjustment.
Like other cars based on a commercial vehicle, though, there's no getting away from the fact that this is (as it's unkindly dismissed by some) a 'van with windows'.
Overview
The Renault Kangoo provides versatile and practical van-based transport for five people and their dogs
Pros
- Masses of room, decent engines
- cushioning ride
Cons
- Practicality overtakes any style, Spartan interior
In some ways, that's good news. For a start, the rear sliding doors and a high-lifting tailgate mean access is easy from all sides. And, with the rear seats folded down, the cargo area extends to an impressive 2600 litres.
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However, equipment levels are less impressive, and the interior has a spartan feel, with rubber mats rather than the carpet offered by rivals.
Once on the move, some road noise can be heard from inside, but otherwise refinement is good. Meanwhile, the ride is soft enough to cushion the effect of Britain's road surfaces, but the sift suspension does lead to a certain amount of roll through corners.
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Tips & Advice
Make sure you’re insured for the test drive
Short-term car insurance – also called test-drive insurance – will ensure you’re legal when you’re shopping for your next car
Will the car fit your needs?
As part of the test drive, fill the car with regularly-carried luggage, and make sure the family can get comfy before you buy
Ownership cost
How much does cost to run a Renault Kangoo?
It's worth spending as much as you can for one of the later models, which have a more impressive list of equipment as standard.
It won't cost much to keep it on the road, either. Servicing costs are very reasonable.
Should repairs be necessary, they should be quite cheap, as Renault is at the cheaper end of the scale, according to Warranty Direct's survey of labour rates. And, the commercial origins of the vehicle should keep the cost of parts down, too.
Fuel economy is best with the diesels, the non-turbo 1.9-litre achieving 39.8mpg on average compared with the 1.4's 37.7mpg.
The newer 1.2-litre petrol manages 40.4mpg while 1.6-litre petrol's extra performance cuts economy to 35.3mpg on average. Opt for a 1.5-litre diesel for the cheapest overall bills - economy is 53.3mpg.
Tips & Advice
Organise your motoring life
Whether you need to keep tabs on your insurance renewal, sort breakdown cover, or book a service, My What Car? has you covered
Our recommendations
Which used Renault Kangoo should I buy?
From launch the Kangoo was available with a 75bhp 1.4-litre petrol (discontinued in 2001) or 1.9-litre non-turbo diesel, and buyers had the choice of basic RN trim or RXE, which added a passenger airbag and three three-point seatbelts in the rear.
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Limited-edition versions of the 1.4 were introduced in 2000: Alize added air-con and remote central locking, Helios brought a twin sunroof.
Revisions in 2001 rationalised the trim to one level - Authentique - and changed the engine line-up to a 1.6-litre petrol with 75bhp and an automatic gearbox or an 80bhp 1.9-litre turbodiesel.
The Trekka version introduced in 2002 adds four-wheel drive and alloy wheels. But, it's rather an oddball, and the basic cars give you everything that's good about a Kangoo in a cheaper package.
Anti-lock brakes are standard on all automatic versions, and were introduced across the range from 2004. In the same year a 1.5 dCi engine with 65bhp was introduced.
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About the writer
Name: Stuart Milne
Title: Digital editor
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Stuart has been a motoring journalist for more than 25 years, writing and editing for a wide range of consumer titles. Today, Stuart is responsible for the smooth running of whatcar.com and all of its related social and digital channels. And he’s the man responsible for making sure you're able to find What Car?’s industry-leading content whenever you search for it.
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