An alternative to your normal people carrier is Renaults Kangoo. The van based carrier has always been a family favourite due to its exceptional value and ample cabin space. The new Kangoo aims to offer even more of both with an emphasis on practicality.

When looking at the Kangoo its hard to get away from where its come from and its clear to see that it was designed as a van first with the passenger model being a development. This however does mean that as it wasn't designed from scratch development cost savings can be passed on to car leasing customers. Although the Kangoo wont win any awards for looks the new model has a funky front bumper and headlights giving it a little something extra over the old car. The cabin is very roomy with a good build as you expect from Renault. A simple MPV-style dash alongside a commanding driving position and a large front windscreen offers a fantastic view ahead.

New dimensions increase the room inside as the overall length has been increased by 18cm. This ads to the Kangoo's already class leading legroom and makes for a 660-litre boot space with the seats still in place. On folding the seats down car leasing customer could create an impressive 2800-litres of carry space, some 1000 litres more than a BMW X5.

The new Kangoo will be available in June this year and at the moment the 1.5 dCi version is what Renault think the majority of customers will opt for. The 1.5 dCi has an 85bhp engine and returns some good performance with fuel economy over 53mpg and emission of only 140g/km, which for a vehicle of the Kangoo's size is quite impressive. Other units available are the 1.5dCis and 8v and 16v 1.6-petrol engines.

The Kangoo's soft suspension leads to a very comfortable ride and although there is some body roll around corners it still handles well. The new Kangoo brings more powerful engines with better emissions and economy plus improved levels of standard kit. Its a spacious family vehicle that is incredibly practical, able to cope with what ever you throw at it. For a family looking for a good value car with plenty to offer then the Kangoo fits the bill perfectly.