Test drive by Renault Kangoo 1997 - 2003 Minivan

All photos Renault Kangoo 1997 - 2003

Between Wan and "Heel"

ONE ON ONE

Renault-Kanka
Renault Kanga was first shown at the end of 1997. It is produced with four- or five-door bodies, in a double cargo (with a conventional or large compartment, standard or to 800 kg with a carrying capacity) or a five-seater cargo-passenger variants. Equipped with gasoline engines 1.1; 1.4 liters, as well as a diesel engine of 1.9 liters and a five -speed manual gearbox. The leading wheels are front.

Doninvest-Orion m
Doninvest Orion M was demonstrated at the current Moscow Motor Show. In fact, this was debuting in 1996 by Citroen Berlingo (Peugeot Partner). The French car is produced with three- or four-door bodies, in a double cargo or five-seater cargo-passenger versions. Equipped with gasoline engines 1.1; 1.4; 1.8 liters, as well as 1.8 diesels; 1.9 l. With the first two motors, not only five, but also four-speed gearboxes are aggregated, and the most powerful gasoline and diesel versions can be not only front, but also all-wheel drive.

A little over a year ago, a couple of heels (ZR, 1998, No. 9) had already visited our test. Today there is an occasion to return to cargo-passenger cars: firstly, Renault Kanga is now sold in Russia (ZR, 1997, No. 12), and, secondly, the company Doninvest has begun until the screwdriver assembly of the Orion M. model, and we will get to know the newcomers closer.

Who needs it, so square?

The square itself - who needs it, is needed. And these square cars are only in height, in length-shirin as ordinary cars. The design of Kanga, deliberately functional in the style of the once popular model Renault-4, as he says: I am not a dope, I am almost a proletarian. Orion, on the contrary, in every possible way hides his working and peasant origin: there is an elegant appearance, and large fourteen-inch wheels, and a single-headed door, like an ordinary station wagon. Under it, it is pleasant to sit in the rain, setting a table in the trunk, but for loading and unloading is still more conveniently double-leafing, like on Kanga. However, it depends on the performance - if desired, the door on both cars can be ordered any. For transportation of something very long - either boards, or stairs - Renault has a huge hatch in the rear of the roof as additional equipment.
There is one more, inconspicuous on the outside, but the difference is quite relevant for Russia: Orion’s motor compartment is not covered from below, and a rival colleague has a powerful steel pallet, which only to shine the curbs.

And sit?

You can sit. Places above the head - a kind quarter meter. In front under the ceiling of both cars, an extensive regiment and many more niches and pockets throughout the cabin. Three people from behind? No problem! True, with one but: Rostov, and strives to hide the side to the right passenger of the protruding substetelee above the door gloz. By the way, the second row of Orion is located higher, as in the amphitheater. The floor level from which the tunnel hump disappeared, but a pair of comfortable caches for the instrument appeared under the rugs. But the inner handle was designed either by a dion or a sadist - the door can only be opened with the left hand. The handles are also shifted too far ahead on the front doors. You will not have to sleep on the long journey here - the backs do not completely lean back. But the salon is decorated without discounts on utilitarianism - as in a passenger car.
Kangu inside is simpler - a lot of bare iron, the devices are only the necessary minimum, the planting is slightly more vertical and smaller in length, in the middle of the floor is a tunnel. However, there are no obvious mistakes, with one exception - the handle of the rear door is located at the floor. Given the French roots of both machines, chronic problems with handles are alarming - maybe the French do not grow hands from there?

And the suitcases?
There is enough for suitcases and ordinary low -commissions. The same cars are cargo -passenger and can be used as light trucks. Orion is a little later - in addition to the driver, he is able to take on board another 580 kg, against 505 kg at Renault. However, the latter can be increased to 800 kg of carrying capacity. The internal volumes of rival colleagues are impressive - 2.8 mz with folded rear seats! Having donated another 200 liters in Kanga with the right front seat. The trunk are covered with soft shelves-stamps, and in our Orion there were also a removable lattice partition, and a split, in an unusual proportion of 1/2, the rear seat. The floor in the trunk is low, and the wheel arches are minimal - thanks to the compact torsion pendants with almost lying shock absorbers so beloved French.
And to steer?

Well, scoured. Only thoughtfully.
He sat down thoughtfully ... It’s simple in Kanga, but conveniently, everything is in its place. A pleasant lever of the gearbox - short, with clear moves, are good external mirrors. True, there is no site under the left leg and distracts an unhurried rear wiper - each time you wait with interest whether he will crawl to the end or die half a way.
Orion offers, in addition to seats, to adjust the height of the steering wheel. The front panel is rolled out, a tachometer appeared among the devices. At the same time, manual mirror adjustment is not clear, the efforts are great on the ventilation system switches, the front racks are quite wide. And again, national problems with the rear wiper! - He moves quickly, but the washer gives a stream after prolonged thought.
... and thoughtfully went. Noting in between, on both cars, close -up engines with a volume of 1.4 liters are close in capabilities and similar total transfer numbers of transmission.

The designated difference in the characters of the cars was confirmed by their behavior on the road. Renault Kanga is nimble and painful, but also noisy and hard, in a marginal turn is prone to drift. Interestingly, half a ton of ballast affects his behavior very imperceptibly - the reserve for the pedal and shaking in the cabin almost do not change. However, a hard suspension has a dignity - it is not easy to break through it. The smaller mass and size of the wheels allow you to move with a load on a steep rise without slipping, and 10 percent - even accelerate in the 3rd gear.
Doninvest Orion is not so hardworking - you have to move in the rise with the load, playing with a clutch, there is no question of acceleration in the second exercise, although, in principle, to stay in the stream is not a problem. And without a load, and without it, the car is quieter, more comfortable, in general, demonstrates almost a passenger character, although there is no need to talk about the breakdown of the suspension here. Its reactions are not so sharp, in the bend during the overkill of speed it drifts to the side of the road with all four wheels, the brakes are just shine. It’s worse here and the body: when one rear wheel arrives on the 20-centimeter border of the Orion door, unlike Kanga, they open, and are all the same easily.

Cook your money

Already. For Renault Kanga with a remote central lock, immobilizer, belt tensioners, electric mirrors and front glasses - $ 13.5 thousand. Doninvest Orion M with a fabric upholstery of the cabin, a driver’s airbag, adjustable steering wheel, seized with a split rear seat will cost only $ 10 thousand Russian vehicles assemblies without a catalytic neutralizer, and gasoline can be poured 92nd. A little later, diesel will appear on them and even, perhaps, all -wheel drive. Cargo modifications of both models are cheaper than $ 1.5-2 thousand. The frequency for gasoline machines is 10 thousand km, the warranty is one year during which Orion can pass no more than 20 thousand km, Kanga - without restrictions. So if you are engaged in small business, have a summer house, love to travel - read, count, choose.

Doninvest Orion m

Renault Kanga

Doninvest Orion m

Renault Kanga
+Good dynamics, a painful engine, protection of a motor compartment from below, effective ventilation, a huge trunk.
- Hard suspension, increased noise, very modest interior design, high requirements for fuel, slight hardness of the body.

Doninvest Orion m
+ High smoothness, effective brakes, large standard carrying capacity, good sound insulation, passenger compartment, lack of tunnel on the floor, huge trunk, acceptable price.
- Unknown door handles and adjusting the backs of the front seats, fuzzy adjustment of the mirrors, the pedal node, wide front racks, an unprotected motor compartment are crowded.

SUMMARY
With all the external similarity, the characters of the cars turned out to be different: if Renault Kanga is really cargo -passenger, then Doninvest Orion M is rather a passenger -carbon car.