In recent times Renault opened orders for its new Express van in France and some European markets.
In Ireland, it may just be marketed as the Kangoo Express, a budget option sold alongside the all-new Kangoo, which is creeping up-market with more equipment and some new innovations. The new Kangoo will be available in commercial and passenger versions, as well as an electric version.
By comparison, the new Express has been described as practical and efficient, it says that the new Express van meets the essential needs of professionals looking for the best price/performance ratio.
We believe that the Express is built on the B0 platform, while the new Kangoo uses the current CMF alliance platform. The Express has been described by a European colleague as derived from the Dacia Dokker, albeit extensively modernized.
It offers up to 3.7sq m load volume, very good side opening of 716mm, useful length of up to 2.36m, and up to 48 litres storage space.
Renault will unveil all the details of its new van family late next month as part of its new LCV strategy.
The new Express van displays Renault brand codes such as the C-Shape LED light signature (C-Shape ). Renault says this expresses both robustness and dynamism, thanks to a vertical bumper and high grille, a ribbed bonnet and fluid lines. Its design features attractive finishes and chrome inserts.
The new Express van is available in five body colours.
The interior incorporates a modern horizontal dashboard with clean lines that emphasise the volume of the cabin. The new Express van pays particular attention to storage space with a record up to 48 litres, making loading, unloading and reloading easier, which are part of the daily routine of professionals.
The new Express van has dimensions at the best level in its class: 1.91m floor loading length (with solid partition ), 716mm width for the sliding side door. Its cargo volume from 3.3 to 3.7sq m is among the largest in the segment.
The van allows a payload of up to 780kg in the petrol version and 650kg in the diesel version. It is equipped with six swivelling lashing rings on the floor and four on the sides.
The new Express van offers three levels of multimedia equipment: Radio Connect R&Go, as well as the Renault EASY LINK multimedia system (with eight-inch touch screen and smartphone replication ) in two versions, with or without navigation.
It offers an induction charger for smartphone, up to three USB sockets and four 12V sockets, one of which is in the cargo area.
The new Express van significantly increases the driver's visual control over his environment with, among other things, the Rear View Assist which, in a sheet metal vehicle, transcribes rearward visibility on a screen located in place of the rear-view mirror. The Blind Spot Warning alert of a potential danger to reduce the risk of collision due to the dead angle on both sides of the vehicle, while the wide view mirror helps the driver to see the right blind spot of a sheet metal vehicle. The reversing camera simplifies parking manoeuvres with image feedback integrated into the multimedia system or the interior rear-view mirror.
In Europe, the new Express van is marketed with the 1.3 TCe 100 FAP petrol and 1.5 Blue dCi 75 and 95 diesel engines, with a 6-speed manual gearbox. The Ecoleader diesel 1.5 Blue dCi 75 engine helps to reduce fuel consumption by limiting speed to 100 km/h.
Internationally, the New Express Van is available with the 1.6 SCe 110 petrol engine (with a five-speed manual gearbox ) and 1.5 blue dCi 95 diesel engine (with a 6-speed manual gearbox ).
The new Renault Express van will be marketed from April in Europe and internationally.
