Renault trims Kangoo line-up but adds more gear

BY CALLUM HUNTER | 23rd Mar 2020

RENAULT has taken a streamlined axe to its Kangoo van line-up, shedding the manual transmission option from the Maxi as well as dropping the Crew variant altogether as part of a 2020 refresh which adds extra standard equipment to the remaining variants.

As before, the Kangoo range is kicked off by the Compact, still powered by an 84kW/190Nm 1.2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, driving the front wheels via a six-speed manual transmission.

What does differ, however, is the new asking price of $25,490 plus on-road costs, marking a subtle price increase of $500.

In exchange for the extra outlay, a rearview camera, automatic headlights, rain-sensing windscreen wipers, foglights, rear parking sensors, cruise control, hill-start assist, Bluetooth connectivity with audio streaming, folding electric side mirrors, leather-wrapped steering wheel and new 180-degree opening rear barn doors have all been added as standard.

Opting for the six-speed automatic transmission still carries a $2000 premium over the manual, mirroring its $500 price increase.

Now the flagship of the Kangoo range, the Maxi trundles on with the same 81kW/250Nm 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine as before, now exclusively paired with the familiar six-speed automatic transmission.

Priced from $31,490, the new range topper is $1000 more expensive than before but scores all of the extra goodies outlined above.

For an extra $900, customers can add what Renault calls the Trade Pack which adds anti-slip timber floor,ing full-height timber side protection panelling and LED ceiling lights.

In contrast to the utilitarianism of the Trade Pack, the $1000 Business Pack adds a bit more class to the Kangoo, courtesy of 15-inch alloy wheels, automatic climate-control air-conditioning, extra tinted barn door glass and a satin chrome two-tone front bumper.

According to Renault Australia managing director Anouk Poelmann, the Kangoo has been a popular offering in Australia thanks to its mixture of great dynamics and practicality.

“With the addition of customer-friendly features, the 2020 Kangoo is set to write another successful page in the history of the Renault brand here in Australia,” he said.

Last year Renault managed to shift 758 Kangoos, accounting for 28.4 per cent of the compact van segment compared to the Volkswagen Caddy’s 62.7 per cent (1672 sales).

Things are much the same so far this year with 73 Kangoos sold as of the end of February compared to the Caddy’s 241, still good enough for second place in the segment but down 33.6 per cent year-on-year.

2020 Renault Kangoo pricing*