When I was growing up, Sundays were for roast dinners and car cleaning. Dad scrubbed, vacuumed and polished while mum basted the roast beef.

But as I cast my eye along the average urban street today, I see very little of this old-fashioned domesticity. Cars have become disposable and unloved. Now and again they’ll be run through the supermarket car wash, but little more than that. This is why the Renault Kangoo could be perfect for family living.

Descended from a Renault van, which in turn was derived from the much-loved Renault Clio, this utilitarian people carrier combines the durability and practicality required by white van man with the needs of the nuclear family.

Introduced to the UK in April 1999, the Kangoo proved a winning combination and has remained virtually unchanged since. Offering petrol and diesel power, and with a starting price tag of less than £9,000, the cheapest 1.2 litre petrol version provided true MPV practicality (albeit with five seats) for supermini money. Today early cars fetch about £2,500, so they are better value than ever.

The best models are the more economical and refined direct-injection diesels that joined the lineup in January 2002. The entry-level Authentique provides 65bhp and fuel economy of 51.4mpg on the combined cycle, while the more generously equipped Expression gets a power boost to 80bhp and has even better economy of 53.3mpg.

Renault even produces an off-road four-wheel-drive Kangoo, known as the Trekka. Powered by either a 95bhp 1.6 litre petrol engine or an 80bhp diesel, the Trekka has slightly chunkier styling and its good fuel economy makes it an attractive alternative to other “soft-roaders”.

But it is on the tarmac that the Kangoo delights, as it handles with real charm. It’s better to drive than either of its arch rivals, the Citroën Berlingo Multispace and the Fiat Doblo, and that makes it the best-handling van-derived car that money can buy.

Its steering is light, the seats large and supportive, and with the cabin’s huge glass area, outward visibility is never an issue. The Kangoo’s relatively high centre of gravity does imply a little more body roll than the typical hatchback, but a quick run round the block will convince most buyers this is a car that’s more than capable of racking up a serious mileage in above-average comfort.

Buyers will also be impressed with the practicality of the Kangoo’s interior: the sliding rear side doors make tight parking spaces fear-free for parents trying to strap in their offspring, and the huge tailgate makes a highly effective protective rain canopy on Expression and Trekka models.

Sit inside and you’ll notice the large aircraft-style overhead lockers that can swallow more than 100 litres of luggage, and myriad storage pockets and cupholders. In true French fashion the Kangoo is a vehicle that encourages you to live in it rather than put up with it.

While standard equipment was never overly generous, buyers always had the option of adding features such as air-conditioning, a large fabric sunroof and alloy wheels. And many did, so hunting down a top spec secondhand example is easy and a job worth doing.

The Kangoo does attract its critics, though, and its interior fit and finish, for instance, are only of average quality, the use of hard plastics and exposed metalwork harping back to cars from an earlier era. But plus points, such as the wipe-down rubber flooring in the rear cabin, and simple, oversized dials and controls, help to redress the balance.

Consider the Renault Kangoo as a modern-day Renault 4 or Citroën 2CV, and you should immediately understand what it’s about. It remains one of the cheapest and most comfortable ways of ferrying your tribe around, and with the generous dollop of motoring character that it possesses, it may even prompt owners to give it the occasional Sunday morning spring clean.

Tailgate Expression and Trekka models have a rear up-and-over door for rain shelter

Sunroof Optional fabric sunroof is desirable but check headlining for signs of water leaks if the car is kept parked outside

Boot space Huge 650 litre capacity increases to 2,600 litres with rear seats down

Servicing 18,000 miles petrol, 12,000 diesel

Air-conditioning Optional on all new Kangoos

Gearbox Five-speed manual has an easy gearchange; 1.6 petrol has four-speed automatic (though not Trekka)

Safety Four-star Euro NCAP safety, but on most models antilock braking was a £400 option until recently

Security All have remote central locking and immobiliser

Stereo Entry models get only a radio-cassette

Electrics Some owners report electrical failures so check systems carefully

Vital statistics

Model Renault Kangoo 1.5 dCi Expression
Engine 1461cc, four cylinders
Power 80bhp
Transmission Five-speed manual
Fuel 53.3mpg (combined cycle)
Acceleration 0-62mph: 12.5sec
Top speed 96mph

The one to buy Renault Kangoo 1.5 dCi Expression 2003 03 with 50,000 miles. Pay £5,275 at a Renault dealer, or £4,250 privately

Values

Mileage
20,000 30,000 50,000 2003 03
Trade £4,250 £4,025 £3,675
Retail £5,825 £5,595 £5,275

2004 04
Trade £4,750 £4,550 £4,175
Retail £6,325 £6,125 £5,750

2005 05
Trade £5,325 £5,050 £4,575
Retail £6,895 £6,625 £6,250

Or for similar money

2002 51 Toyota Corolla Verso 2.0 D4D
2003 52 Vauxhall Meriva 1.7 CDTi Life
2003 03 Fiat Multipla JTD 115 SX
2004 53 Citroën Berlingo Multispace 1.9D
2004 04 Mitsubishi Spacestar 1.9 DID