Renault Kangoo (1999-2008) review

Born from a similar mould to the one that gave us the Citroen Berlingo Multispace, Renault's Kangoo is also based on a van. That concept has not stopped it becoming a success; it's one of the best selling cars in France. The chassis and the engines come from the Clio supermini and the Kangoo can be perceived as a more basic, utilitarian and spacious version of that.

With two engines, a 1.4-litre petrol unit and a 1.9-litre diesel, power is seldom a commodity. But that's not the point. The Kangoo shines in giving loads of space for the money. Headroom is colossal and the cargo bay is positively van-like, unsurprisingly. The Kangoo steers and rides perfectly acceptably, and comfort is good too, as long as it is not driven too enthusiastically. The engines and gearbox are beyond serious criticism. With such a huge interior volume, there is a fair amount of noise and refinement is not as good as Citroen's Berlingo. However, the Kangoo is available with four-wheel-drive (Trekka), something none of its rivals can currently offer.