The third-generation Renault Kangoo entered production all the way back in 2020, but its local launch has now been delayed to the first quarter of 2024.
After initially being expected to arrive here in 2022, Renault Australia confirmed early this year it would launch the new van in the third quarter of 2023… only to move the goal posts once again.
As with the last delay, Renault Australia says the issue comes down to getting supply, with other, larger markets being prioritised over ours.
The delay affects not only the combustion-powered model but also the E-Tech Electric, a replacement for the outgoing Z.E. Electric.
Stock of the outgoing model has effectively dried up, right as the electric model finally has a direct rival in the recently launched Peugeot e-Partner.
The new E-Tech Electric, which entered production in 2022, is a big step up in power and range over the old Z.E.
It features a 90kW and 245Nm electric motor driven by a 45kWh lithium-ion battery pack capable of 80kW max DC charging, with 170km of range added in 30 minutes.
The battery takes just under four hours to go from 15 per cent to 100 per cent charge when plugged into a 11kW wallbox, and “less than 6 hours” on a cheaper 7.4kW AC wallbox.
The WLTP driving range is a claimed 300km, more than ideal for “last mile” couriers and freight operators. It also has three levels of regenerative braking force: ‘sailing’, default, and ‘maximum’ for added energy recuperation.
Renault also says it has a 615kg payload and braked towing capacity of 1500kg.
The old Z.E. has a WLTP range figure of just 200km from its 33kWh battery. It also produces just 44kW of power and 225Nm of torque.
Combustion-powered versions of the new Kangoo offer a choice of 1.3-litre turbo-petrol and 1.5-litre turbo-diesel engines in Europe, the latter available in three tunes: 60kW/230Nm, 70kW/260Nm, and 85kW/270Nm.
The petrol engine has 75kW and 200Nm.
All use a six-speed manual transmission apart from the most powerful of the diesels, which uses a seven-speed automatic.
The Kangoo range has a full suite of available active safety and driver assist technology, including autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, traffic jam assist, traffic sign recognition, and semi-automatic parking assist.
Renault’s small van is the latest in a series of vehicles from various different brands that have experienced significant delays getting to Australia.
Volkswagen, for example, began selling its ID.3 and ID.4 electric cars in Europe in 2020, but they’re not coming here until 2024.
