THE Renault Kangoo has become a firm favourite with the British public, by establishing a niche for cars with originality, a spacious and flexible interior and low purchase and running costs.

New from this April is the introduction of an Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) on every Kangoo as standard equipment, making Renault the only top five best-selling car manufacturer (Ford, Vauxhall, Renault, Peugeot and Volkswagen) to provide ABS as standard across its entire model range.

The company has been regularly acclaimed for safety performance in recent years, and this addition only serves to underline its commitment to providing the best active and passive safety features in its class for every model it produces.

Family runabout

Offering a blend of space, practicality and refinement to its wide customer base, the versatile Kangoo can be used as the perfect leisure partner, a family runabout or general load lugger.

In addition to its high levels of standard equipment, the Kangoo's impressive safety list includes Renault's anti-intruder device (RAID) self-locking doors, driver and passenger front airbags, seat belt reminder, height adjustable front seatbelts with pretensioners and load limiters and Isofix child seat fittings.

Commenting on the latest update to the Kangoo range, Renault UK Brand Manager, Small cars, Jeremy Townsend, said: “We wanted Kangoo to offer the same high level of safety as our other models.

“Recently tested by EuroNCAP and given an excellent four star crash test rating we felt now was the time to fit ABS as standard as previously it was a £565 option.

“I am sure that its popularity will continue to rise, particularly among safety-conscious family buyers.”

Kangoo is perfect for people who want maximum space for five people and their luggage with features such as twin sliding side doors and a load capacity of 650 litres (increasing to 2,600 litres with rear seats folded) plus 110 litres of handy stowage space, including aircraft-style bins.

Power comes from a range of economical and lively engines, ranging from 1.2 16V (75 bhp) and 1.6 litre (95 bhp) petrols to the refined and responsive 1.5 and 1.9 dCi common rail diesel engines - with an excellent extra urban fuel consumption cycle of 61.4 mpg for the 1.5 dCi 80. Service intervals are once every two years or 18,000 miles.

Available in three equipment levels: Authentique, Expression and Trekka 4x4. On-the-road prices start at £9,600 for the 1.2 16V Authentique, rising to £13,500 for the Trekka 4x4 1.9 dCi 80.