Renault Kangoo gets new turbo-petrol engine

Renault Australia has this week introduced a new direct-injected turbo-petrol engine to its Kangoo light-commercial van range.

The 1.2-litre unit offers more power and torque than its predecessor, while also being 21 per cent more fuel-efficient.

The lighter, smaller-capacity all-aluminium engine – which is also employed in Renault's Clio, Captur and Megane passenger cars – replaces the old 1.6-litre petrol unit.

It is paired as standard to a six-speed manual transmission. Optionally, the new turbo-petrol mill is available with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Peak power of 84kW (up eight per cent) arrives 1500rpm earlier at 4500rpm, with 190Nm of torque (up 30 per cent) on offer over 2000-4000rpm.

Idle-stop technology further reduces fuel consumption, which is now 6.2L/100km in manual models (down 21 per cent) and 6.5L/100km in dual-clutch variants. CO2 emissions fall to 144g/km and 147g/km respectively.

Like the long-wheelbase Kangoo Maxi, the standard-wheelbase Kangoo petrol range now also receives new safety and convenience features with the upgrade.

These include side airbags, reversing sensors, cruise control (with speed-limiter function), hill-start assist and Renault’s Grip Xtend feature, an extension of the stability control system, and a cargo area mat.

Optionally, the Kangoo range is offered with Renault’s R-LINK 7.0-inch infotainment array with sat-nav and reversing camera, 15-inch alloy wheels, sliding-door windows, steel bulkhead, an overhead cabin storage shelf, and rear ‘barn’ doors.

The Kangoo will accept a standard Australian pallet between its wheel-arches and, in standard-wheelbase form, offers three cubic metres of cargo capacity and a 650kg payload.

“The new Kangoo petrol engine provides customers with the double benefit of added performance and reduced running costs,” said Lyndon Healey, Senior Model Line Manager for Renault Light Commercial Vehicles.

“This new powertrain is a significant change for the Kangoo, which has the highest market share of any Renault product sold here in Australia.

“The Kangoo petrol auto has been the best-selling variant to date and we expect a high demand for the new EDC [efficient dual-clutch variant], which has two more gears than the auto it replaces. This variant has been amongst the most affordable vans of its type on the market and this is set to continue with the new version,” Healey said.

Renault has sold more than 4000 Kangoo variants since sales began in Australia in 2011. To December 2016, the Kangoo tallied 1118 sales behind the Volkswagen Caddy’s 1706, but the Kangoo out-sold all other rivals in its class, including the Suzuki APV (472 units), Citroen Berlingo (315) and Fiat Doblo (133).

The Renault Kangoo is backed by a three-year/200,000km warranty with three years’ roadside assistance. Service intervals are set at 12 months/15,000km (whichever comes first) with capped-price servicing available for the first three years.

Renault’s new 1.2-litre turbo-petrol Kangoo is priced from $23,490 (plus on-road costs), with existing 1.6-litre petrol stock on run-out for $21,990 (manual, drive-away).

2017 Renault Kangoo pricing:
SWB 1.6 petrol man — $21,990 (drive-away)
SWB 1.6 petrol auto — $24,490 (drive-away)
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)