A year ago, Renault unveiled the next generation of the Kangoo EV, but only as a commercial vehicle. Today, the passenger version has been announced at last.
The front fascia is the only thing the battery-powered Kangoo has to tell it from its gas-guzzling cousin. A single electric motor on the front axle drives it with 120 PS (118 hp / 88 kW) and 245 Nm (181 lb-ft), but switching to Eco mode caps the output at 75 PS (74 hp / 55 kW).
The traction battery holds up to 45 kWh of power and yields 285 km (177 miles) of WLTC mixed-cycle range. The highway range is more impressive at 430 km (267 miles). Interestingly, the car still has a rudimentary fuel hatch at the right side despite having no fuel tank anymore. This is explained by the manufacturing processes being unified across the models. As for the charging port, it resides at the front end.
Inside, the dashboard is digital, and the van can be optioned with a winter-friendly package including heated steering wheel, windshield and seats.
The assembly will take place in Maubeuge, France, with the sales scheduled to begin in early 2023.