At the recent Renault Trafic Crew launch T&BN was also given the chance to sample the latest versions of the Renault small van, the Kangoo, which is now available with a 1.2 litre turbocharged petrol engine alongside the 1.6 litre turbo diesel.
The new turbo petrol version comes into the line up at a price of $23,490 and offers more power and torque than the 1.6 litre petrol it replaces and most importantly is more economical to run boasting 21 per cent better fuel-efficiency.
The engine is shared with the Clio, Captur and Megane passenger models and comes mated to a to a six-speed manual or an optional six-speed dual-clutch automatic.
The new 1.2 turbo petrol Kangoo offers eight per cent more power than the 1.6 it replaces, with the maximum urge of 84kW delivered at 4500rpm, 1500 rpm lower than the old engine. Even more importantly torque is up a massive 30 per cent now delivering 190 Nm between 2000 and 4000 rpm
The little 1.2 turbo is a sweet engine and boasts strong economy as well as good performance with that 21 per cent improvement in fuel economy according to Renault figures. It boasts average cycler of 6.2 l/100km in the manuals and 6.5L/100km in the auto models. CO2 emissions fall to 144g/km and 147g/km respectively.
The petrol turbo is only available in the standard-wheelbase Kangoo while the long wheel base Maxi models are exclusively diesel.
A full suite of safety features is now available in the baby Kangoo with side airbags, reversing sensors, cruise control, hill-start assist something called Grip Xtend which is really an extension of the stability control system along with a cargo area mat.
Renault’s R-Link infotainment system with a 7.inch screen is also available as an option along with sat-nav and a reversing camera.
Buyers can also order windows in the sliding side doors, a steel security bulkhead behind the driver and passenger and15-inch alloy wheels, an overhead cabin storage shelf, and rear barn doors.
It is a versatile little van and can take a standard pallet between the wheel arches and a 650kg payload in its three cubic meter load area.
Lyndon Healey says that while the buy in price for the new Kangoo petrol turbo is about $3000 higher buyers will make the cost back in the economy and efficiency it delivers.
“It will provide customers with the double benefit of added performance and reduced running costs,” says Lyndon Healey.
The Kangoo petrol auto is best-selling variant for Renault in its small van range and has the biggest market share of any Renault on the market today.
Healey says to they expect an increased demand for the new dual-clutch seven-speed automatic two more gears than the auto it replaces.
Since the launch of Kangoo six years ago Renault has sold more than 4000 of the little vans in Australia and in 2016 it sold 1118 units about 600 behind VW’s Caddy but well ahead of its other rivals.
Renault is backing the Kangoo with a three-year/200,000km warranty with three years’ roadside assistance and service intervals set at 12 months/15,000km with capped-price servicing available for the first three years.
We will have a full test of the new Renault 1.2 turbo petrol in coming weeks.
2017 Renault Kangoo pricing:
SWB 1.2 turbo-petrol man — $23,490 (plus ORCs)
SWB 1.2 turbo-petrol EDC — $26,490 (plus ORCs)
Maxi 1.5 turbo-diesel man — $26,990 (plus ORCs)
Maxi Crew 1.5 turbo-diesel — $29,490 (plus ORCs)
