Bigger Kangoo gets facelift while Trafic gains extras
By Rob McKay | March 4, 2011
Renault Australia’s bid to arrest its decline in the vehicle market, both commercial and personal, has begun to gain speed.
The marque started the process late last year, bringing aboard new Renault Australian Managing Director Justin Hocevar and National Fleet Manager Jim Boyd, with the early focus trained on the dealerships.
That process stepped up a gear in Melbourne yesterday as Renault unveiled changes to two of its light commercial vehicle (LCV) range.
The Kangoo, first launched in Australia in 2004, has been given something of a facelift and made bigger, while claiming a best-in-class diesel economy rate.
“When you consider the low running costs, very low emissions, car-like driving experience, ease of loading, and the opportunities to add an extra sliding side door or a roof flap for accommodating especially tall items, it becomes obvious there is no better vehicle in the market that can meet the needs of such a diverse range of businesses,” Hocevar says.
The Phase III Trafic has been given additional standard equipment for at extra purchase cost.
Kangoo is available in petrol and diesel, each costing $25,990 drive away.
The petrol version produces 78 kW of power at 5,750 rpm and peak torque of 148 Nm at 3,750 rpm, while the turbo-diesel engine generates 63 kW at 3,750 rpm and maximum torque of 200 Nm at 1,900 rpm.
Renault says the diesel consumes 5.2-litres of fuel per 100km on the combined cycle, and emits 137 g/km of CO2.
Based on the Scenic people mover, the Kangoo is longer and wider.
The diesel can take 3 cubic metres of cargo, and carry up to 800 kg of payload, up from the previous generation’s 2.75 cu m and 530 kg.
The petrol version can carry an additional 120 kg over its predecessor, for a total of 650 kg within the 3 cubic metre capacity.
The 1,200kg-payload Trafic now has a passenger airbag, joining the driver airbag previously offered.
With its payload of more than 1,200kg, it has a new double bench seat in place of a single passenger seat, allowing a crew of three to be carried
There’s a new steering wheel with integrated cruise control buttons and a new radio with 4 x 20W speakers features CD/MP3 functionality as well as an RCA auxilliary jack and Bluetooth connectivity for wireless audio streaming and phone calls.
ABS brakes with Electronic Brake Force Distribution, as well as height adjustable seatbelts with pre-tensioners and load limiters, while an alarm and remote central locking
Both standard and long wheelbase models use the same engine, mated to a choice of six-speed manual transmission or six-speed, clutch pedal-free automated Quickshift set-up.
Fuel consumption on the combined cycle amounts to just 8.3-litres per 100km for the manual and 8.0l/100km for the Quickshift version.