The Renault Kangoo is a family of minivans built since 1997 across three generations, sold either as a passenger multi-purpose vehicle or as a light commercial vehicle. For Europe it is manufactured at the MCA plant in Maubeuge, France.
Renault Kangoo at a glance
| Maker | Renault, MCA plant, Maubeuge, France |
|---|---|
| Production | since 1997, three generations |
| Types | passenger MPV and light commercial van |
| First generation | X76, introduced October 1997, facelifted March 2003 |
| Rebadged versions | Nissan Kubistar, NV250 and Townstar; Mercedes-Benz Citan, T-Class and EQT |
| Electric version | Kangoo Z.E., over 100,000 built by June 2023 |
| Van version | Kangoo Express, with rear seats and windows removed |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the Renault Kangoo.
History of the Renault Kangoo
The first Kangoo
The first-generation Kangoo, coded X76, was introduced in October 1997 and facelifted in March 2003 with a new front end, a grille with the Renault diamond on a body-coloured panel and teardrop headlamps, a style then standardised across the range. Its rear windows and seats could be removed to make the Kangoo Express panel van. The car became popular with wheelchair users and people with limited mobility because of its height, accessibility and the mounting points that could be fitted for wheelchairs, with the rear cut to take a ramp.
Badge-engineered versions
Renault also supplied the Kangoo to partners: Nissan sold it in Europe as the Kubistar in the first generation, the NV250 in the second and the Townstar in the third, while from September 2012 Mercedes-Benz marketed a rebadged second-generation Kangoo as the Citan, with the current model also sold as the EQT and T-Class.
The electric Kangoo
By June 2023 the electric Kangoo Z.E. was Europe’s best-selling all-electric light commercial vehicle, with more than 100,000 units produced. A four-wheel-drive version, the Kangoo 4×4, was also offered during the first generation.
Design and features
- Van or MPV: one body serving as a family car and a commercial vehicle.
- Kangoo Express: the panel van conversion with the rear seats and windows removed.
- Accessible design: height, flat floor and mounting points for wheelchair users.
- Electric version: the Kangoo Z.E. became Europe’s top-selling electric van.
Renault Kangoo versions
- Kangoo I (X76, 1997): the original, facelifted in 2003.
- Kangoo Express: two-seat panel van.
- Kangoo 4×4: four-wheel-drive version of the first generation.
- Kangoo Z.E.: the battery-electric model.
- Mercedes-Benz Citan and Nissan NV250: rebadged versions.
The Kangoo’s electric ideas also appear in the Renault Frendzy concept, and it was the smallest van above the Renault Express in the range. More Renaults are in the Renault collection.
Video: ADAC moose test: Renault Kangoo
Video by HM Sir Nicolas on YouTube.
Sources
- Renault Kangoo, English Wikipedia: generations, plant, versions, electric model
