Renault Kangoo

Our verdict

The ridiculous-looking Renault Kangoo is actually an inspired choice for families on a budget. It’s huge inside, can cope with all the clobber a couple of kids bring with them and really is cheap.

Comfort

 When you buy a van with windows - essentially what the Kangoo is - you can't expect the levels of comfort you get from the likes of the Scenic. It rides better than a proper commercial vehicle, but general refinement isn't far off one.

Performance

Go for a larger diesel engine. The smaller petrols (by which we mean as small as a 1.2-litre) just aren't up toe the job of hustling a work horse like this about at reasonable speed.

Cool

 The Kangoo is a vehicular ‘V' flicked at modern automotive convention. It looks daft, isn't luxurious, has zero status and yet does its job brilliantly. Definitely cool then.

Quality

A car with these workmanlike origins was always going to be pretty hardwearing. Although it doesn't feel particularly classy in here, it feels seriously sturdy which is vastly more important.

Handling

Light and quite responsive though the Kangoo may be, its narrow stance and tall roofline mean there's a lot of body roll in the corners, aggravated by a tendency towards serious understeer.

Practicality

This is the ace up the Kangoo's sleeve. There's more than enough room in every direction, front and rear. Fold the rear seats down and you have a panel van without the panels.

Running costs

Cheap to buy and potentially very economical both to insure and fuel, the Kangoo's problem here is depreciation. Cars this undesirable suffer terribly at resale, so factor that into the low initial asking price.