Wessex Water takes delivery of a fleet of Renault kangoo Panel Vans to boost it's fleet to 150 Units.

• Wessex Water adds 25 Renault Kangoo Panel Vans to its compact LCV fleet
• Leading utilities company now operates 150 Renault Kangoos
• Wessex Water is a long term partner of Renault
• Whole life costs a major influence in securing latest order
• Renault LCVs come with four-year/100,000-mile warranty

One of the most efficient water companies in England and Wales is using the Renault Kangoo to provide a service to its 2.7 million customers across the South West of England.

Wessex Water has taken delivery of 25 Renault Kangoo Panel Vans, the leading water company now having a total of 150 examples of the versatile French van on its fleet.

In its work to provide household and business customers across Dorset, Somerset, Bristol, the majority of Wiltshire and parts of Gloucestershire and Hampshire with water and sewerage services, Wessex Water will use its new Kangoos in the completion of essential site surveys and callouts by its scientists, water samplers and inspectors.

Wessex Water’s previous experience of the Renault Kangoo – the company being a long term partner of Renault – and the vehicle’s impressive whole life costs were key factors in the company’s decision to once again invest in the versatile LCV. Other influences were the Kangoo’s comprehensive standard specification and the excellent support that Wessex Water has received from the manufacturer and its dealer network in the time it has operated Renault vehicles.

Finished in Wessex Water’s striking livery, the company’s latest Kangoos are all powered by the efficient dCi 75 1.5-litre ENERGY diesel engine, which returns up to 67.3mpg (combined). Supplied in Business trim, Wessex Water’s Kangoos provide the company’s operatives with high levels of comfort, safety and convenience. 

Wessex Water’s drivers will benefit from such standard features as electric door mirrors and electric front windows, DAB radio with AUX input, USB and Bluetooth connectivity, remote central locking, and ESC (Electronic Stability Control) with Hill Start Assist and Grip Xtend, which optimises traction of both front wheels depending on the conditions.

Kangoo also has a host of storage compartments in its cabin to make the best use of the available space, while the versatile Panel Van offers a payload of up to 650kg. 

Practicality is enhanced with the standard full steel bulkhead and Wessex Water has tailored its Kangoos with bespoke racking systems and sanitation equipment by QI Van Systems. 

The business also ordered each van with the factory fitted options of a 68mph speed limiter and the R-Link multimedia system with built-in satellite navigation.

Wessex Water enjoys the reassurance of the four-year/100,000-mile warranty and roadside assistance package that comes as standard with all Renault LCVs. The company’s ownership experience will also be enhanced via the Renault Business Quality Commitment – the manufacturer’s 13-point plan that guarantees customers will receive a class-leading service. 

Designed to keep customers moving no matter what and deliver hassle-free business motoring, the plan covers everything from an impressive warranty and transparent pricing to the availability of courtesy vehicles and a dedicated customer hotline.

Martin Crocker, Head of Fleet, Wessex Water, said: “The Kangoo is a perfect fit for our needs and when its whole life costs, payload and efficiency are taken into consideration, it continues to provide us with an excellent package at a very competitive price.

“Feedback from everyone who drives them is very good and the high level of standard equipment has been particularly well received. With our previous experience of the Kangoo, we also know that the vans will provide us with the reliability that we insist on, our Kangoos being on the road 24/7 and any downtime having a major impact on our operations.”

Nick Tame, Sales Director, Groupe Renault UK, said: “Wessex Water is recognised as having high standards and demands the best, so its confidence in the Renault Kangoo epitomises the excellent proposition that our compact LCV offers to business customers. 

With the Kangoo having a car-like drive, comprehensive specification, varying payloads and lengths, and a choice of diesel and all-electric power, there’s a version that meets the requirements of all kinds of businesses. What’s more, the exceptional choice it presents is complemented with minimal purchase and operating costs.”

The Renault Kangoo range encompasses the Panel Van, the longer Maxi that is also available in Crew Van and Crew Van Cab configurations, and the Z.E, which is Europe’s best-selling all-electric van and which also comes in Panel Van, Crew Van and Crew Van Cab bodystyles. 

Like the Renault Trafic and larger Master, Kangoo is available in Business and Business+ levels of trim that have been specifically developed with the requirements of the business user in mind. The Renault Kangoo range starts from £13,350.00 ex. VAT.

The stylish Kangoo is the entry to the best-selling LCV product offering from the manufacturer’s specialised Renault Pro+ brand, which comprises of a vehicle range, services and a specialist dealer network dedicated to business customers.

After a record year in 2015 for Renault LCV sales in the UK, the brand’s LCVs are proving to be even more popular in 2016. In the first half of the year, Renault van sales in the UK grew by over 20 per cent to 13,435 vehicles, significantly outpacing the van market that grew by 2.5 per cent, according to official figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. LCV market share for the first half of 2016 stood at 7 per cent – up 1 percentage point on the same period in 2015. 

Renault’s continued growth in the van market builds upon its best ever performance in the UK last year, with sales up 40 per cent on 2014 to 25,458 units, and also the manufacturer being the best-selling LCV brand in Europe for the 18^th consecutive year.