Why the Renault Kangoo is amazing

"Kar Wai Wong" (kingawesome467) 05/21/2018 at 09:15 • Filed to: Renault, Renault Kangoo, Kangoo, Mercedes, Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz Citan, Mercedes Citan, Citan

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OK, I realise this post and my profile picture make me sound like I work as a salesman at a Renault dealer, but despite my love of Renaults (for reasons I myself am not totally sure of), I never gave much thought about their little compact van. But I have since discovered how cool I think this little van is, and I’m spreading my new found appreciation for this van on to the rest of the world. (You know, the 4 readers that hasn’t immediately clicked off yet.)

A little backstory for those who don’t know, the Kangoo is Renault’s smallest offering, and it directly competes with compact vans, such as the Ford Transit Connect and the Nissan NV200, with the exception of the smaller Compact model, that competes with smaller vans such as the Ford Transit Courier and the Fiat Fiorino. I personally love the idea of single van competing in two different size classes, but I am also a weirdo who likes the styling of the Jeep Patriot. The Kangoo is currently in it’s facelifted second generation, but is very long in the tooth, as it first came out in 2007, with no replacement in sight. But that’s on par with most vans, as they’re rarely refreshed. (Riveting stuff I know).

(left to right) Kangoo Express Compact, Kangoo Express and Kangoo Express Maxi.

The Kangoo is available in a panel van, called the Kangoo Express, in three different size, while the passenger version is confusingly just called Kangoo. The passenger version doesn’t have a compact counterpart (anymore). Unfortunately for me, the compact and passenger versions were all killed in the great Renault UK Extinction event of 2011, which killed half it’s UK lineup.

(Left to right) Kangoo (5 seater) and Grand Kangoo (7 Seater)

OK, the readership numbers have now dropped to 3, so I must get a move on.

The Giraffon

So that plant pot you bought was a bit taller than you expected? With the Giraffon (Giraffe hatch), you can finally fit your replica Tiki column in your van, so it creepily stares at other motorists with it’s six faces. It actually originated as an option on the 1962 Renault 4 Fourgonnette, and has somehow survived to modern day vans. Usually super cool features like this are killed when they find out nobody uses it, so kudos.

Hmmmm

The seats

OK, a seat and a bench

Yes, despite the small size, Renault managed to fit 3 abreast seating up front, complete with nifty features like turning into a table for things like a laptop, so you can get work done at a traffic jam, such as spending way too much time typing up an Opposite Lock post that 3 people will read.

I’m amazed at how they pulled this of on such a small vehicle. Although it seems like the middle passengers legroom is the centre console. Yikes. Also unfortunate is the lack of ability to get this front bench on the passenger version, so my dreams of transporting 8 people in this van are gone.

Does anyone actually buy OEM child seats?

Seat patterns are cool but will forever remind me of public transport.

Although standard for this type of vehicle, but a point I can’t emphasise enough, 3 equal size seats in the second row! The middle person doesn’t have to get the hump! I don’t know of a single CUV or SUV that has this. Another point how MPVs, LAVs and Minivans are superior. What do you mean you don’t give no shits about 3 row seating? No come back! Huh, I guess we’re down to 2 readers.

The bulkheads

Now this feature is genius, even if I’m pretty salty that I had this idea before I realised it was already done. (my version involved a pass-through to a front trunk through the glovebox). Most of the time, there’s only a single driver, and there is valuable space taken up by a seat that’s rarely used. So just fold down that seat, and swing the bulkhead, and you now have room to carry your a second Tiki, so it’s 7 faces are staring at you while you drive. I think there’s a couple other vans that do this, but the whole super clever bulkhead thing seems Renault exclusive.

So you ordered the crew van, with a second row of seats, but now you need extra space?

BOOM!

Look at that! You can have your seats and your bulkhead protection! Tell me that isn’t impressive, you pair of readers! Readers that know recognise the importance of such an invention! They have even provided little buckets to put.......things there. (Seriously why are those holes there?)

The electric version

Thankfully, “look at me I’m saving the planet” graphics were optional

To be honest, I don’t find this particularly interesting, but Renault was one of the first manufactures to recognise the need for electric vehicles, coming out with four models all the way back in 2011-2012. the Kangoo Z.E. was pretty much the first mainstream electric van to come out, and makes up the vast majority of electric van sales in Europe. Once again the poor compact model got the shaft for electrification. I myself care more about one of Renault’s other electric vans.

I NEED IT

Well, that part on the current market share of electric European commercial vehicles was enough to put one of my 2 readers to sleep. So my single reader, you will be the only one to truly know about the full wonders of the Renault Kangoo. Enter enlightenment with me.

It was good enough for Mercedes to rebadge

Yes, you can get this van as a Mercedes-Benz Citan. Mercedes obviously doesn’t rebadge vehicles often, but heres an example. It’s not a straight rebadge, as Mercedes has taken the time to redesign the dashboard and “improve refinement”, but that wont stop Joe from bragging to his coworkers, how he just picked up a fancy new Mercedes, only to get laughed at when they tell him he overpaid for a Renault. And for some reason you can get compact and passenger version in the UK.

This marvellous thing

Remember when I said that they don’t sell a passenger version of the Compact Kangoo anymore.* Well because that’s what this is!

If you said no, it can’t possibly be because you’ve skim read this super long boring article, while wondering why the hell the writer is fascinated so much with some boring van.

Yes you single reader. Feast your pupils on this glorious vehicle. The Renault Kangoo Be Bop! What a name! The giraffe flap has been re-purposed as a sort of sunroof (it also has a regular one up front), complete with wind down rear window. This creates pretty much a convertible at the back, akin to the 2 door SUV convertibles of yore.

Why are these so cool, but the Murano and Evoque not?

Renault clearly wanted in on one of the coolest vehicle segments, And they chose one of their best/worse cars for the job. Complete with the funkiest interior and that amazing two-tone paint. Unsurprisingly, like those convertible SUVs, demand was so high, that they killed it due to poor sales.

Beautiful

My single reader has now keeled over in disgust, his sarcasm detector reading negative, before collapsing on his keyboard, dead.

Kar Wai Wong > Kar Wai Wong 05/21/2018 at 09:16

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So reader that doesn’t exist, I should mention while this article is about the second generation, the first gen was no slouch. You could get it as a Kangoo Trekka, which may look like your typical raise suspension, plastic cladding, look at me I’m an SUV , it actually had a permanent 4x4 drivetrain ripped straight from a.....Scénic RX4, which is basically the same thing, but to a people carrier.

Apparently it actually had some decent off-roading chops. Unfortunately all the Mk. 2 has is an X-Track version with extra grip.

In fact you can still buy the first gen Kangoo in a couple countries, with a bit of plastic surgery. Well you could, but literally as i was writing this, they have just stopped making them in Argentina, in favour for a Dacia with a Renault badge and the Kangoo name.

Svend > Kar Wai Wong 05/21/2018 at 10:59

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I’ve always referred to these as Postman Pat vans. The head room is so tall that anyone less then 5'10" has their head in the lower half of the side window and just looks awkward.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Kar Wai Wong 05/21/2018 at 11:03

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Very cool article! I love me clever but basic smaller vehicles, so the little Kangoo is certainly a very interesting little ride! I’ve learned a lot, kudos! :D

Reminds me somewhat of the FIAT Panda....which isn’t a van, no, but the Trekka sounds a lot like the Panda 4x4 or Panda Cross. If the Panda 4x4 was sold here in Canada, I would buy one in a heartbeat as it is pretty much the perfect car for Canada to me. We tend to mostly like smaller cars compared to the US in general so the Panda would fit that bill. It’s taller than a normal car, so more CUV-like, and the 4x4 system would be great in the winter!

Hell, second-gen Pandas are almost legal for import here...I would buy one in decent nick in 4x4 guise as a daily driver and import it! Maybe a Kangoo Trekka would be a good option too! :P

Future Heap Owner > Kar Wai Wong 05/21/2018 at 12:46

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Nice write-up! I love hearing people gush about under-appreciated vehicles, especially vans.

Kar Wai Wong > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 05/21/2018 at 16:01

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Ah one of the readers has woken up!

Well the first gen panda was available in a super cool  4x4 van , so close enough. What even are the differences between a Panda 4x4 and a Cross. And why do they have better offroad credentials than a 500X?

Kar Wai Wong > Svend 05/21/2018 at 16:06

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But hey, my single reader, that’s got to have great visibility right. It’ll feel like a Popemobile!

There was a Kangoo Popemobile? Well that’s another mark for how cool the Kangoo is! Funny because Kangoo has been criticised for not having high roof variants.

That high roof can come in handy.

Kar Wai Wong > Future Heap Owner 05/21/2018 at 16:09

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But these statistics show that no one could possibly enjoy an overly long article about a van! This comment is proven to be impossible to exist!

I blame Kinja.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Kar Wai Wong 05/21/2018 at 16:16

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AFAIK the 500x is more of a Crossover SUV while the Panda 4x4 and Cross have locking diffs for one thing, I believe.

The 500X has an AWD model, while the Cross and Panda 4x4 are 4WD on demand? Somebody correct me if I am wrong.

I like the Panda 4x4 as I would only need the 4x4 part on occasion in our Canadian winters and the rest of the time it would just be your run of the mill FWD.

Kar Wai Wong > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 05/21/2018 at 16:19

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The 500X thing was a joke, I know very well of the imposter it is. I was wondering of the difference between the 4X4 and the Cross.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Kar Wai Wong 05/21/2018 at 16:31

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I think the Cross has a little higher lift and has more advanced off-road features.....plus it looks hella cool :P

Kar Wai Wong > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 05/21/2018 at 16:39

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Might as well have called it the Panda 4X4+ or something. Way too similar to be two separate variants. Thank you fellow user with a french car manufacture badge as their profile pic.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Kar Wai Wong 05/21/2018 at 16:52

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Haha! No problem! Classic and quirky FIATs are my favorites, but I love anything quirky, basic and interesting! As to the Citroen badge, I saw my profile pic on Flickr once and really liked the aesthetic of it and have been using it as an avatar ever since, despite my main FIAT affiliation! :P

Svend > Kar Wai Wong 05/21/2018 at 16:56

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I’d rather have one of the Ford’s, myself.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Kar Wai Wong 05/21/2018 at 23:36

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Has depreciation hit these hard? They seem like they would make a great family hauler, but importing one to Canada could prove tricky or expensive.

Kar Wai Wong > BaconSandwich is tasty. 05/22/2018 at 14:33

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IIRC Canada has a 15 year import rule, so looking at UK Auto Trader your going to be looking at 2000-2003 1st gen models. Around 1000-5000 Canadian dollars. Mostly wheelchair conversions.

I’d say a hard pass.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Kar Wai Wong 05/22/2018 at 18:26

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Truth be told, I’d want the electric one the most.