French automobile manufacturer Renault has upgraded the Kangoo light commercial vehicle (LCV) for the 2020 model year. The upgraded Kangoo will come in two versions, both comprising more standard comforts than the current model. The vehicles get a rear-view camera, 180-degree glazed rear barn doors, fog lights, automatic dusk-sensing headlights and rain-sensing windscreen wipers.

The short wheelbase (SWB) Kangoo petrol version with a manual gearbox will cost $25,490. The automatic transmission (AT) version which cuts the payload to 540 kg from 675 kg will cost $2,500 more than the current model. The Kangoo long wheelbase (LWB) will no longer have the manual gearbox option. The AT model is now priced at $31,490, which is $1,000 more than its outgoing version.

Renault has also introduced two accessories pack for the 2020 Kangoo. The Trade Pack, priced at $900, includes LED ceiling lights, and full height timber side protection paneling. The $1,000 Business Pack comprises automatic climate control, 15-inch alloy wheels, two-tone front bumper, and dark-tinted barn door glass. Buyers get the option to fit an unglazed steel bulkhead can for $350, while a metallic color scheme can be added for $660.

The Renault Kangoo retains its existing powertrain options. The Kangoo Compact will be hauled by a turbocharged 1.2-liter engine producing 115 PS maximum power and 190 Nm peak torque. The engine will be mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 6-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT). The Kangoo Maxi, meanwhile, will be powered by a 1.5-liter diesel motor, producing 81 PS maximum power and 240 Nm peak torque. The motor comes with a DCT.

Renault is offering the Kangoo with a three-year, unlimited kilometer warranty.

The Kangoo is one of the bestselling vehicles in Renault’s Australia portfolio. The LCV sold 758 units in 2018 and commanded 28.4 percent market share in its segment, which is dominated by the Volkswagen Caddy with a 62.7 percent share. 

The Renault Kangoo is hailed for its powerful and fuel-efficient powertrains, low maintenance and ownership cost and plenty of cargo space. The car’s next iteration will be an all-electric and the same has already been revealed in Europe.

Also read: Renault Australia is offering a 1 percent comparison rate on Koleos