Renault Kangoo Van consumer car reviews and road tests

Renault Kangoo Van 2003

I bought a 53 plate kangoo and had it for almost 3 years. It had 87,000 miles on it when I bought it, but later discovered it was on its second engine. I loved this van to drive - getting in and out of the van is made so much easier by the handles on the pillar. I had winter tyres on it all year round and handlng was really good, and got almost 60 to the gallon doing 60-70mph most of the time. But it’s the most unreliable piece of junk I’ve ever owned. The speedo stopped working at about 97k, and so did the odometer/trip meter. Occasionally the engine management light would come on and suffer a drop in power, the van wouldn’t rev above 2k. After a while an owner gets used to a vehicles’ quirks and niggles, but I put up wih this van for too long. When the van was cold, if you switched the ignition off after anything less than 30 mins driving, it would start up but wouldn’t rev. Only solution was to leave the van for at least 4 hours and let something reset. Renault could never find the fault, all they would do is charge a fortune for diagnostics checks and diagnose non existent faults or fail to find real faults! The heater stopped working, and new fuses, new rheostat, new fan motor, new switch did nothing t fix it. Changed the clutch and heater started working again.... But the stereo and reverse light stopped working! I will NEVER buy a Renault again.

Renault Kangoo Van ML19 2009

Being an ex Renault Mechanic, I know what Renault’s are about and what the dealers can be like. I would normally opt for cars from Japan. But on the van front there does not seem to be a van what matches the Kangoo. I have the 105 Model 1.5 diesel, what a great van, great fuel and really responsive. I have done over 10,000 miles now and not even a bleep from the van. I’m just reaching 28,000 miles. Renault’s, in my view, always drive great when they are new and for the money there aren’t many cars or vans that can touch them. I do have a concern over the electrics down stream as they seem to struggle, which for me lets Renault’s down. Over all I can not fault this van, I do not feel there is a van that can match it, including its French friends. Would I buy another? Yes I would actually, just on fuel and ride alone. Just to let you drivers know, always buy the 1.5 diesel and make sure its later then 2005 model because they changed the fuel pump, which gave problems. My other vans I had have been VW T4, Ford Transit and Toyota Hiace. I would say the Kangoo over all drives better and gives better value for money on the whole cost wise. Just make the dealers better then you will have a winning package!

Renault Kangoo Van 1.9d 865 2000

I’ve had my Renault Kangoo 1.9d 865 model for 6yrs and have done 60k now. I have found the vehicle to be a real work horse. Mine is only used for town driving and is now on 90k. My total spend is £1695 for servicing and parts and that’s not bad. It’s a versatile van and great around town for fuel return. It doesn’t have many extras on it, but it does what it’s suppose to do. Granted it’s the older model engine and maybe that’s the reason for less problems?

Renault Kangoo Van 5 Door 2010

I should have spent the extra £1000 on a Berlingo or older Connect, this van is plain nasty. It’s a very clean van with only 30,000mls on the clock, but boy the engine is a real dog. It rattles and makes noises, has no power and it does 45-50 mpg at the most. Compared to my new shape Berlingo or the 07-08 and 09 Connects we have it’s a peace of old junk. I think they put a new body on a very old van. It’s ugly, but looked quite nice sign written. I spend 3 hours a day in the cab and it’s a harsh place to be. It’s truly guttless and old school, my Escort van would beat this off the lights. It’s been reliable so far, but I’m not sure I can live with it. Buy a Berlingo for comfort or a Connect for work. Simple.

Renault Kangoo Van 1.5DCI 2005

I Bought my very clean Kangoo van privately in april 2011 with 83000 miles on the clock. Very clean inside and out 6 year old van low mileage what could possibly go wrong? Well it lasted 9 days. Big end blew and only then did I start doing the research I should have done before. Have a look how many of these vans there are for sale with blown engines, research the reliability of the 1.5 DCI engine, I’m afraid it does not make pretty reading. Maybe I just got unlucky but scared by the experience I’ve gone to a dealer and got myself a Toyota Hiace having read the excellent reviews on this site. The dealer told me that the Kangoo is the worst small van on the market and he flatly refuses to retail them. Buyer beware.

Responses to this review

Thanks for the information on Renault Kangoo, I was about to book a Renault 1.4 7-seater until I read your complaint, I will never consider a Renault, maybe I will go for Toyota mpv. Thanks for feedback - Lawrence Law from Malaysia

Renault Kangoo Van 2007

This van looks pretty. I have had it put on a dia machine and it says number 3 injector, but number 3 injector is working. It cost me an arm and a leg, put 5 sets of new ones in and van no different. Wish I’d have kept my old tatty van.

Renault Kangoo Van 2005

I am a courier driver, I did 212,000 miles in 3 years and I never laid a spanner on this van apart from new front pads and disks and of course servicing. Even the rear shoes were original when I sold the van...truly magnificent van.

Renault Kangoo Van 2001

My daughter bought for me a second hand Kangoo van a few years ago. It has been marvellous. A hard working economicai and efficient machine. Last October I lost the ignition key, the only one. I know, I won’t do that again. My local Renault main dealer (Benissa, Alicante) took the van to their workshops and 3 months later sold me two new keys for 1,200 euros. Is this normal? I feel ripped off.

Renault Kangoo Van 1.5cdi 2007

I have had this, my Postman Pat (that what my grand children call it), for 4 months now and I can only say that it has been a fun to have. Being 6’5" and with the weight to go with it, I can only say that getting into the vehicle has been tremendous. No more bumping my head or rubbing it against the head liner. The van is economical on fuel 5.8lt/100km runs at a steady 120kph on the highway, what more can I want? My wife and I travel all over with it. Exellent vehicle and now I want to ask Renault to do something for my city of East London, South Afrika "Join Mercedes-Benz and build your factory here!" Thank you

Renault Kangoo Van ML85 A/C + 2009

Bought the van in may and have covered 6000 miles to date. Bought it mainly because we bought a Trafic van 3 years ago which has proved a good buy. All 3 drivers/family members like the van and it has proved economical/reliable/ and easy to drive. Only mystery is why we never see other new Kangoo’s on our travels?

Responses to this review

Same as you, love the van. Most people don’t know what it is because they have not caught on here. Everywhere in France, must be the No.1 van in France at the moment - Alex Artson from England