written by on 22/08/2008
Good Points
well designed and generally reliable. Can put up with lots of hard work.
Bad Points
Noisy on motorways, very patchy support from a dealer network that occasionally seems to be charging breath-taking and questionable amounts for simple repair and servicing work.
General Comments
I have driven my 2000W Renault Kangoo 665D for over 130,000 miles, having bought it with 50k miles at auction.
So, in 180,000 miles, it has only required servicing and routine item replacement. It still has its original clutch, shockers and alternator! Think about that.
After frankly failing to find the Renault Service departments believable, I service my own Renault. The Full sevice can be correctly carried out in 45 minutes and costs about 40GBP to do. No, not 230GBP - 40GBP. Am I making myself clear here? If I were to charge 100GBP per hour labour on top, I would STILL undercut Renault by about 100GBP.
Renault's published service intervals for this model are simply incorrect. Oil and air and fuel filters ALL need replacing at 10k maximum or performance becomes overly sluggish/reliability suffers.
There's not much one can say about a dealer network that wants more than 200GBP to change the oil, and 1500GBP for a new driver's seat... so I won't say anything more...much.
Irritating electrical niggles haven't stopped my van performing remarkably well both on and off road but a long stint on the motorway is best done with ear defenders. Since I drive off-road as well as on, my Kangoo has a hard life, sometimes being entirely coated in mud or left on tickover for two hours. Its indestructable feel is a fair reward for its rather basic style. 46mpg is mediocre but if you do your own servicing and KEEP CLEAR of Renault's own 'support' then this is a cheap van to own.