Renault has announced a substantial update to the Kangoo VAN and the passenger Kangoo, with the E-Tech electric versions taking most of the changes. Both now use the 52 kWh NMC battery already fitted to the Renault 5 and Renault 4 E-Tech electric, up from 45 kWh.
WLTP range rises to as much as 354 km, depending on version and body style, though homologation is still pending. Prices for the updated models will be announced in the coming weeks.
Faster Charging
Maximum DC charging power climbs from 80 kW to 100 kW. A 15 to 80 percent charge now takes 30 minutes rather than 40, and that half hour adds up to 240 km of range, compared with 179 km before.
On AC, Renault offers a choice of 11 kW and 22 kW chargers depending on model, an arrangement it says is unique in the segment. An 11 kW wallbox needs 3 hours 30 minutes for the same 15 to 80 percent top-up, while the 22 kW unit does it in 1 hour 45 minutes. The heat pump is retained.
New Motors and Paddle-Controlled Regeneration
Two motors from the Renault 5 and Renault 4 family replace the earlier 90 kW (120 hp, 245 Nm) unit. One delivers 100 kW (135 hp) and 270 Nm; the other 115 kW (155 hp) and 300 Nm.
The 135 hp version offers Eco and Normal modes, while the 155 hp adds a Perfo MySense mode that Renault says is particularly useful with a full load, bringing the number of configurations to three. Regenerative braking now has four levels instead of three, selected with new steering wheel paddles. A compact dashboard-mounted e-shifter, which includes Auto Hold, replaces the gear lever and clears space on the centre console.
Tools for Daily Electric Driving
The electric Kangoos gain an EV Route Planner and battery preconditioning, which can start automatically when a trip is planned in the multimedia system or manually from a dashboard control.
Cabin preconditioning and remote charge scheduling are also available. A Vehicle-to-Load function lets the battery power equipment such as an air compressor or power tools outside the vehicle.
Larger Screen, New Software
Every Kangoo and Kangoo VAN now has a 10-inch touchscreen in place of the 8-inch unit, with sharper graphics and a response time Renault puts at twice as fast. It runs OpenR Link in two forms, both with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto: one without navigation, and one with built-in navigation, apps and HERE mapping, which takes over from TomTom. On the electric models, EV functions are grouped in the interface.
Connectivity improves too. USB-C ports now appear across the range, with two near the e-shifter and an optional second pair at the phone holder, and the Kangoo adds two for rear passengers. The induction charger moves from 15 W to 25 W, with a magnetic connection, cooling and MagSafe compatibility. An emergency call button and a 4G and 5G eCall unit are now standard.
Made in France, and the Wider Line-Up
The vehicles are assembled in Maubeuge, where Kangoo production has run since 1997. The new battery comes from Douai, the motors from Cléon in Normandy and the running gear modules from Le Mans. The range still spans petrol, diesel and electric power in two lengths, 4.49 m and 4.91 m.
The Kangoo VAN uses the TCe 130 petrol and Blue dCi 95 and 115 diesel engines, and comes as a panel van, platform cab or five-seat crew cab. The passenger Kangoo and Grand Kangoo, in Evolution and Techno trim, seat up to seven. On the L2, the sliding side doors are the widest in the class.
Renault also notes its sales standing. In France the Kangoo VAN is the number one light commercial vehicle across both combustion and electric models, and in Europe it ranks in the top three, with the E-Tech electric in first place.
A Nameplate Since 1997
The Kangoo debuted in 1997, combining van practicality with a modular layout and a sliding side door, with a second sliding door added in 1999. Three generations have followed, in 1997, 2007 and 2021, with the long Grand Kangoo joining in 2023.
Maubeuge built its one-millionth Kangoo in 2002 and its four-millionth in December 2023. The electric story began with the Kangoo Z.E. in 2011, and the plant built its 100,000th electric Kangoo in 2025. The model is sold in more than 50 countries and draws a large following in Japan, where enthusiasts gather by the thousands each year.