Renault's little Kan-do workhorse has come under the knife for a fresh new look and a brawnier engine.
The 2014 Kangoo Express panel van's smarter and more sculpted front end was inspired by Renault's modern design identity, with a bold central logo contrasted against a black grille and tapered headlights.
The previous Kangoo's 1.6-litre engine wasn't too well endowed, with outputs of just 64kW and 128Nm. The new 1.6-litre 16V motor comes to the party with a more respectable 77kW at 5750rpm and 148Nm at 3750rpm.
Renault claims a combined fuel consumption figure of 7.7 litres per 100km, equating to CO2 emissions of 180g/km.
The new Kangoo can haul an 800kg load and offers a three-square-metre loadbay that can be accessed via a single sliding side door and a pair of rear doors that can open to 180 degrees.
Its office up front features, air conditioning, power steering, remote central locking, trip computer, height-adjustable driver's seat, dashboard-mounted gearshift, A4 document storage area and an aviation-style handbrake that frees up more storage space between the two seats. They even thought of throwing in a pen holder, although drivers will have to sing to themselves if the optional MP3/CD/Bluetooth audio system hasn't been ordered.
On the safety front, only a driver side airbag is fitted, while clean stopping is assured by ABS brakes.
The single Kangoo model on offer costs R184 900, which includes a five-year/150 000km mechanical warranty and three-year/60 000km service plan.