The Renault Kangoo and the Renault Kangoo Express are a range of leisure activity vehicles and light commercial vehicles manufactured and marketed by Renault across two generations since 1997. As of December 2018[update], the electric variant, the Renault Kangoo Z.E., is the world's top selling all electric light utility vehicle, with global sales of 38,527 units, since its inception in 2011.
The Kangoo is manufactured at the MCA plant in Maubeuge, France and Casablanca, Morocco. The version for the ASEAN markets was assembled by the Malaysian Tan Chong Euro Cars in its Segambut plant.
The first generation model was marketed as a rebadged variant by Nissan in Europe as the Nissan Kubistar until the end of 2009, in other Spanish-parlant countries has retained his original designation, when it was replaced by the Nissan NV200. In September 2012, Mercedes-Benz began marketing a rebadged variant of the second generation Kangoo as the Mercedes-Benz Citan.
The first generation Kangoo was introduced in October 1997 and was facelifted in March 2003, with new front end nose styling, especially the grille, 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 version was sold in the Swedish market. In some countries, such as Malaysia, the Kangoo was assembled by Nissan with a third row of three seats.
A badge-engineered version of the Kangoo panel van was sold as the Nissan Kubistar, sold by Nissan from 1997 to 2009.
The Kangoo Break'Up was a four wheel drive concept car announced in August 2002 and previewed the facelift design due in 2003, together with a pick up style rear. It was powered by 1.6 L engine producing 82 kW (110 hp).
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 on the front had longer front struts with revised coil springs, lower suspension arms were revised to a cast steel item, whilst the rear suspension was totally revised from the standard Kangoo torsion bar suspension beam axle to a fully independent coil sprung system with wishbones, the rear differential was centrally mounted with two driveshaft transmitting power to the rear wheels, all this was carried on a specially manufactured subframe which raised the 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 both with a five speed manual gearbox
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 100 km/h (0 to 60 mph) 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.
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.
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).
Complete article available at this page.
