It's a converted van featuring a high roof, masses of window space, an echoing interior with acres of painted metal showing minimal trim in the cargo area, some pretty crude fascia fixing details - and, despite Renault's best efforts with adjectives like "fun" and "cheeky", it looks like nothing on earth.But somebody's waved a magic wand over this chunky device. It's not only phenomenally roomy, but also enjoyable to drive, and I liked it even on a journey for which it would previously have been my 89th choice - a 750-mile there-and-back motorway dash.Unlike the Citroen Berlingo Multiscape, which is its only real rival, the Kangoo comes as standard with five doors. The fifth one is a high-lift tailgate, and the two rear doors at the sides slide back rather than hinge open.It doesn't take long before you realise how sensible sliding doors are, in a restricted-space car park or out in the country when you want to have some fresh air while enjoying a back-seat picnic. And they allow a much bigger opening than would be possible with conventional doors.If such a thing is possible, there's too much room in the Kangoo. I had 12 inches or more between my head and the roof lining. But there's no doubt that, as a family runabout, it offers plenty of load space when the rear seats are in place, and enough to carry the gear for a major sport-or-leisure expedition when they're folded forward. It's also a full five-seater.You can have a 1.4-litre petrol engine in the entry-level RN, and there's also a 1.9-litre indirect injection diesel option. I tried the petrol car, and I don't fancy the likely noise levels in the diesel.The RN has power steering and an engine immobiliser, but if you want things like ABS, remote central locking, a passenger airbag, heated door mirrors and a 60/40 split rear seat, you investigate the extra-cost options list and/or go for the RXE at £1000 more.The petrol engine is one of Renault's low-friction jobs, with a familiar capacity but more businesslike torque than the one it supersedes. It made the Kangoo a far better car than I'd been expecting, not only around town and out on country roads, but also on that motorway hustle.If you keep the throttle close to the floor (and Renault engines always like revving) there's no sense that the Kangoo is holding up traffic around it, and the fuel consumption is fair enough for something with the wind-slicing capability of a couple of lashed-together telephone boxes.Without becoming too sloppy about it, I thought this was an endearing machine, because it achieves so much from a very basic base. Several commentators have referred to it as a kind of throwback to the long-gone Renault 4, but I prefer to think that it's something like the Mark IV version in a line whose designers skipped Marks II and III.Second opinion: I love the way the French treat of motoring with such utter lack of snobbery. The Kangoo has a silly name and it looks bizarre, but so what? It was designed to do a job and it does that job brilliantly. It's so practical that owners who do anything so bourgeois as wash the thing are probably missing the point. David Finlay. Engine 1390cc, 4 cylinders Power 75bhp Transmission 5-speed manual Fuel 37.7mpg Acceleration 0-62mph: 14.3 seconds Top speed 97mph Price £9500 Details correct at publication date
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