Renault has from the outset pitched the Kangoo as a vehicle loaded with versatility. With its unconventional shape and side sliding doors, it can be a passenger car, a light commercial vehicle or whatever captures your imagination.
So is it any surprise that this time around, the Kangoo is sporting a different look?
For a start, the basic shape is eye-catching. Paint it orange to make it stand out even more. Why not go full hog and make the seats the same colour as well? Add a dash of sporty cosmetics, and what you have is a Sportif.
European styling leans towards subtlety. The sporty bumpers, side skirts and nifty overhead umbrella compartment may count as subtle but the colour is certainly more than that.
Senior manager (strategy & operations) Reza Mutalib of TC Euro Cars Sdn Bhd, Renault’s local franchise holder, pointed out that the shape and colour of a vehicle make an immediate impact on how people perceive it.
Tango orange (Yep! That’s the snazzy name for it) was chosen because it’s warm, fresh, exciting and different, he says, adding that it took about four months to come up with this Malaysian special.
On any other car, it probably would come out as gaudy but the quirky Kangoo carries off the colour well and makes for an arresting sight.
The Sportif package rides on alloy wheels. The Kangoo cabin has also been given a new treatment, with a two-tone leather-wrapped steering wheel, full-length carpeting, leather seats, reverse sensor, overhead umbrella and tissue-holder compartments and interestingly enough, third-row seating.
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| Leather wrapped: Seats and steering wheel included. |
That means the Kangoo Sportif SL could accommodate up to seven people but the last row is really meant for small children as it would be a squeeze for an average-sized adult. It can be folded away when not in use or to make way for cargo.
A basic Sportif that comes without the overhead compartments is also available in lemon yellow.
While the Kangoo is going great guns in Europe and even in Singapore, it has a small following in Malaysia, which is a real shame.
It’s spacious and comfortable, and the handling leaves a good impression. Headroom is plenty and the front and rear windscreens offer an expansive view.
What’s more, the Kangoo’s four-star Euro NCAP rating puts it at the top end of its category in passive safety.
The 1.4 litre 4-cylinder petrol engine - linked with a Proactive automatic transmission - feels responsive and delivers good torque for city driving. Abrupt lane changes did not leave it flustered and stability is maintained past the speed limit.
The Kangoo has always been functional, practical and unpretentious, appealing to a broad family base. With the Sportif facelift, the youth market may actually begin to take notice of the fact that the Kangoo could be an enticing buy.
This version, launched last week, is going for around RM76,000 (Auto, without insurance), though the first 50 customers will get it for less than RM72,000.