Manufacturer Renault Body style Van | Production 1997–present Predecessor Renault Express | |
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Class Leisure activity vehicle/Light commercial vehicle Layout Front-engine, front-wheel drive | ||
The Renault Kangoo and the Kangoo Express are a range of leisure activity vehicles and light commercial vehicles respectively, produced by the French manufacturer Renault since 1997. As of June 2016, the electric variant, the Renault Kangoo Z.E., is the world's top selling all-electric light utility vehicle, with global sales of 23,219 units since its inception in 2011.
Contents
- Kangoo I 19972007
- BreakUp
- Four wheel drive
- Engines
- Kangoo II 2007present
- Body styles
- Kangoo ZE
- Other electric vehicles
- References
The Kangoo is manufactured at the MCA plant in Maubeuge, France, and in Santa Isabel, Argentina and Casablanca, Morocco. The version for the ASEAN markets was assembled by the Malaysian Tan Chong Euro Cars (TCEC) in its Segambut plant.
The first generation model was also sold by Nissan in Latin America and Europe as the Nissan Kubistar until late 2009, when it was replaced by the Nissan NV200. In September 2012, Mercedes-Benz launched its version of the Kangoo, called the Mercedes-Benz Citan.
Kangoo I (1997–2007)
The first generation Kangoo was introduced in 1997. It was facelifted in 2003, resulting in a Phase II model. The Phase II vehicles are distinguished by their new nose styling, standardised across the Renault range, with the Renault diamond mounted on a body colour panel in the centre of the grille and teardrop headlamps.
The rear windows and seats of the Kangoo could be removed, producing the panel van Kangoo Express. The Kangoo became popular with the mobility-impaired and wheelchair users due to its height and accessibility and because it could be adapted to include mounting points for wheelchairs.
Both the Kangoo and Kangoo Express were available in four-wheel drive versions and a lengthened version was also available, with an increased cargo area. A pickup truck version was sold in the Swedish market. In some countries, such as Malaysia, the Kangoo was assembled by Nissan with a third row of 3 seats.
A badge-engineered version of the Kangoo panel van was sold as the Nissan Kubistar, sold by Nissan from 1997 to 2009.
Break'Up
The Kangoo Break'Up was a four-wheel drive concept car announced in 2002 and previewed the 2003 facelift design, together with a pick-up style rear. It was powered by 1.6 L engine producing 82 kW (110 hp).
Four-wheel drive
The 4WD version of the Kangoo was introduced in 2002 and was marketed under the model name Trekka. It should not be confused with the Skoda-powered New Zealand built utility vehicle named Trekka, which was marketed in the Antipodes for several years around 1970 .
The Kangoo Trekka's all-wheel drive system differed from the Renault Scenic RX4 in its inclusion of a Nissan sourced automatic torque coupling "ATC", a hydraulic coupling that would engage drive on all four wheels should the front wheels start to lose traction. This still allowed the Kangoo Trekka to run in front wheel drive in most conditions, saving fuel. Working in combination with the ATC, the Kangoo Trekka also featured an electronically controlled "ASR" traction control system which could brake the front wheels to arrest traction loss.
The suspension was similar to the standard Kangoo only strengthened and raised to provide more ground clearance and wheel travel. These changes gave the Kangoo Trekka a 400 mm (15.7 in) fording depth and 28-degree hill-climbing capability. The Kangoo Trekka was marketed in the United Kingdom with a choice of two engines, the 1.6 L 16-valve petrol engine and the 1.9 L dCi common-rail turbodiesel. In 2005 these models were priced at £12,600 and £13,600 respectively. The Diesel produced a peak torque of 180 N·m (133 lb·ft) and returned over 7 L/100 km (40 mpg‑imp; 34 mpg‑US) on the combined (urban and extra urban) fuel consumption test. The petrol engine had a 0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 km/h) time of 14.3 seconds and a combined fuel consumption of 9 L/100 km (31 mpg‑imp; 26 mpg‑US).
The interior of the Kangoo Trekka was spartan and the rear bench seat could be folded forward to provide a 2.5 m3 (88 cu ft) loading area to which sliding side doors provided better access.
Engines
The Kangoo and Kangoo Express was/is available with a choice of multiple engines:
51 kW (68 hp)/52 kW (70 hp)/ 61 kW (82 hp)/63 kW (85 hp)/ 66 kW (88 hp)
Some LPG and CNG variants of petrol engines have also been produced.
Kangoo II (2007–present)
The New Renault Kangoo and New Renault Kangoo Express are the new generation light commercial vehicles (LCV) in Renault's lineup. Based on the Scenic and manufactured in Maubeuge, sales began in May 2007. They are also sold by Mercedes-Benz as the Mercedes-Benz Citan, with a revised front design, being launched in September 2012.
In February 2012, Renault retired the Kangoo MPV, Espace, Laguna, Modus, and Wind lines in the United Kingdom.
A facelifted version of both the van and the passenger versions was available from the beginning of 2013.
Body styles
The Kangoo is available in three wheelbase configurations: the Kangoo Compact, the Kangoo Express and the Kangoo Express Maxi, all three also being produced in passenger versions. the first as the Kangoo Be Bop, between 2009 and 2012. The Kangoo Compact is used for smaller deliveries, with a payload of 500 kg (1,102 lb), while the Kangoo Express is used for larger deliveries and has a payload of 650 kg (1,433 lb) or 800 kg (1,764 lb). The Kangoo Express Maxi has the largest payload of 800 kg (1,764 lb) and a maximum floor length of up to 2.90 m (9.5 ft).
Kangoo Z.E.
As part of its Z.E. electric car initiative, Renault has developed the Kangoo Z.E. model that is manufactured at its Maubeuge plant, and released the electric van for retail sales in October 2011. A total of 3,652 Kangoo Z.E. utility vans were registered in France through December 2012, and, with 2,869 units delivered in 2012, the electric van became the top selling plug-in electric vehicle in the country. During 2011 the Kangoo Z.E. sold 991 units in Europe, and cumulative sales in the region reached 6,658 units sold in the region through December 2012, with global sales of 6,665 units.
Worldwide cumulative sales passed the 10,000 mark in early September 2013, representing about 10% of overall Kangoo van global sales. The Kangoo Z.E. is the leader of the small all-electric van segment and the best-selling electric vehicle in France, with 9,125 units registered through June 2014. The Kangoo Z.E. is the world's top selling all-electric light utility vehicle, with global sales of 23,219 units delivered through June 2016.
A planned Renault battery plant near Paris that will supply batteries for the vehicle was delayed due to technical constraints. Construction will start in the second quarter of 2012 and production of batteries is expected to be delayed to 2014 or 2015. Instead, Renault will have to buy batteries from a joint venture between Nissan Motor and NEC, and from LG Chem of South Korea. Customers in several countries can pre-reserve models at the Renault-ZE website with an expected release in 2011. European pricing is around €20,000 before any government incentives and excluding VAT (€15,000 excluding VAT and including a tax incentive subsidy of €5,000). In addition to buying or leasing the vehicle there is a separate monthly subscription costing from €72 (excluding VAT) for the battery. Renault estimates that fully charging the Kangoo Z.E. battery pack will cost between one and two euros, depending on the local price of electricity (kWh).
The Kangoo Z.E. has the same dimensions as the internal combustion model. It uses a synchronous electric motor with rotor coil. Its peak power is 44 kW (59 hp) at 10,500rpm, while maximum torque is 226 N·m (167 lbf·ft). Its top speed is capped electronically to 130 km/h (81 mph). The vehicle is powered by a 22 kWh lithium-ion battery pack that delivers a combined-cycle range of 170 km (110 mi) that varies depending on factors such as type of road, temperature, speed or driving style.
In November 2011, the Kangoo Z.E. was voted International Van of the Year for 2012. It was also elected Electric Vehicle of the Year in 2012 and 2013 by GreenFleet.
In 2016, a previously-small competitor announced a plan to become significantly larger. StreetScooter GmbH, owned by Deutsche Post was already making their electric Work branded van on a small scale, but announced that it would begin making 10,000 of the vehicles per year starting in 2017. If that goal is achieved, StreetScooter would become the largest electric light utility vehicle manufacturer in Europe, surpassing Renault.
Other electric vehicles
Cleanova II is a hybrid-electric drive train system, used in a vehicle based on Renault Kangoo, with two electric versions: full-electric vehicle (FEV) and plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV).