Renault has become the first manufacturer to offer the same van in three different sizes with the launch of the new Kangoo Van Maxi and the new Trafic.
Firstly the Maxi. At nearly 40cm longer than its smaller relative, the Kangoo Van, the Maxi gets its name from its extra cubic metre of load volume and extra length.
The new model is available as either a two-seater or a five-seater and offers a load volume of up to 4.6m3 and a maximum load length at floor level of 2.9m.
It boasts the best interior loadspace measurements in the big volume compact van segment, yet at the same time offers the exterior size and easy manoeuvrability of an MPV. The Maxi does not have a raised roof, so its overall height is 1.82m, making it compact enough to use city-centre car parks.
The two-seater version offers a maximum load volume of 4.6m3 and a payload of 800kg. It can be equipped with a folding passenger seat, allowing the maximum load length at floor level to be extended from 2.1m to 2.9m (with seat in folded position). Compared with the Kangoo Van, these are increases of almost 40cm and 1m3.
The five-seater Kangoo Van Maxi Crew Van has a maximum load length at floor level of 1.33m (2.2m with the rear bench seat folded) and a payload of 740kg. It is highly flexible and can be positioned in three different ways thanks to its 60/40-split folding rear seat. This arrangement allows the load volume to be adjusted depending on the number of passengers. It is fitted with either a cargo securing net as standard with the option of a fixed wire mesh bulkhead. All versions of Kangoo Van Maxi are fitted as standard with twin sliding side doors.
The Maxi has a range of low-consumption diesel engines boasting CO2 emissions among the lowest on the market. The 1.5 dCi 85 powerplant returns average combined cycle fuel consumption of 53.3mpg and 47.9mpg on the urban cycle. This engine is available for both the two and five-seater versions and emits 140g of CO2 per km.
The Kangoo Van Maxi + trim level is equipped with the Carminat TomTom® navigation system as standard meaning unnecessary mileage can be avoided.
The New Trafic
The Trafic was the third-best selling vehicle in its segment in Europe in 2009, with a market share of 13.5 per cent. With the launch of the new model, Renault says the line-up is now more focused on the requirements of the target customers, tradesmen and traders. The dashboard has been redesigned to incorporate practical stowage spaces, while new equipment features normally associated with passenger cars are said to make life at the wheel even more comfortable.
The new dashboard incorporates additional practical and user-friendly stowage spaces:
• An A4 document holder at the top of the centre console
• A storage slot above the glovebox (on versions without passenger airbag)
• New centrally-positioned stowage spaces
The instrument panel now incorporates a redesigned hood to improve the visibility and legibility of the information display. The warning lights have been repositioned, again to improve visibility.
New equipment includes:
• Automatic climate control across the light commercial and passenger-carrying range
• Carminat TomTom® navigation incorporating IQ Routes technology which uses real-world traffic speed patterns to calculate the quickest possible route to your destination. By refreshing the TomTom® routings database with information derived from the journeys of millions of other road users, the IQ RoutesTM system can compute the optimum route for that particular day and time.
• A new range of audio systems with radio CD MP3 player with a more clearly visible remote display, USB connectivity and Bluetooth telephone connectivity with audio streaming.
• Cruise control and speed limiter with controls located on the steering wheel. The on-off button is conveniently located on the dashboard for easier activation.
On commercial versions of New Trafic the fuel consumption of the 2.0 dCi 115hp engine with manual gearbox is slashed by 4.2mpg and CO2 emissions drop by 19g/km to 195g/km.
The dashboard top has a new, more sporty character and on the exterior, a new Gunmetal Grey colour replaces the current Cherry Red.
Both models will go on sale in the UK on June 4.
