Citroen is a strong player in the smaller van market and that success has been based on the Berlingo model. It’s the pleasure of post office crews across the country and has ensured that the mail gets through no matter what. Now the Berlingo has been upgraded with a new model that’s bigger and more powerful. Michael Moroney reports from his Berlingo run.

SMALL businesses love small vans, they offer versatility and practical features for the range of duties that small businesses need to respond to. And the French have been masters of the small van market with its Euro topping sales that spawned success for Citroen and Peugeot over decades.

And for Citroen that success has been a van called Berlingo. Now Berlingo is gunning for more with a new bigger van that is designed for the same market segment. The new Berlingo offers a payload of up to 850kg, together with a load length and volume of 1.8 metres and 3.3 cubic metres respectively. Where the Citroen Extenso modular cabin is fitted this allows larger loads of 3 metres in length and 3.7 cubic metres to be carried.

For the Irish market Citroen importers Gallic Distributors are offering the three seat model, which they claim combines design and engineering innovation, together with major practical, functional and cost benefits. In truth the new Berlingo offers passenger car like levels of equipment. The van can be fitted with ABS braking as standard plus optional features such as Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) and hill start assist.

With the Extenso cabin option the outer passenger seat can be folded away to enable loads of 3.0 metres in length or more depending on load to be carried. The outer passenger seat can also be configured so that its seat cushion can be raised vertically against the seat back, to enable tall items to be carried on the cab floor next to the driver. 

Citroen offers a single engine choice, the 1.6-litre HDi common rail diesel and there are two power options, either 75bhp or 90bhp. This second option comes with a particulate trap for lower diesel pollutant emissions.

The CO2 emission levels are just 153g/km for the diesels, no matter which version you select. And Citroen confirms that both diesel variants can be run on a mixture of up to 30% biodiesel and look set to be frugal.

Citroen expects that fuel economy will be significantly enhanced when the new optional stop-start system that’s in the pipeline comes available next year. This allows the engine to idle for more than a few seconds and the system will kill it automatically, restarting it when the clutch is depressed.

The Berlingo comes with a five-speed manual gearbox as standard across the range and ABS and disc brakes all-round feature on all models. And it is fitted with a hydraulically assisted power steering system.

There are two load length options, built around the same chassis, which is derived from the Citroen C4 car. The L1 model is the smallest in the range and that’s still bigger than the older Berlingo, which is still available and now called the Berlingo first. The load length of the new model is 100mm longer while the payload capacity is 25kg more at 625kg.

Move up to the L2 model and you get a longer load length capacity up to 3.25 metres and the payload rating jumps to 850kg, that’s 50kg more than the previous model. The top range model has a total gross weight of 2,185kg. This extra load capacity for the bigger version of the new Berlingo is provided by a 248mm longer van overhang.

The van doors are metal finish as standard, with a glazed door being optional. The test van came with glazed doors and for city driving; the glazed door gives extra visibility, while exposing the load to prying eyes. The twin rear doors split 60/40 as standard. They can be pushed through nearly 180° to give a wide opening.

Twin sliding side loading doors along with the Extenso 3 seat system are standard items for the larger L2 model. There is an optional rear roof flap that allows over-length items, such as ladders to be poked through rather than left to stick out of the back doors.

For driver safety there is a ladder frame bulkhead mounted behind the driver included in the basic specification. Other bulkhead designs are available. And there is plenty of cabin storage, with side pockets, overhead storage and storage in the folding passenger seat.

This van will compete against formidable players such as the Volkswagen Caddy and Ford Transit Connect, both well regarded in the sector. In addition, the new Peugeot Partner is an even closer competitor with a similar specification and styling but without the option of the three seat front.

The Citroen features give additional driver comfort and include electric windows, remote radio/audio controls, folding passenger seat armrests and a tubular bulkhead, which is available from Peugeot.

The Citroen gives comfort and new styling but ultimately for van buyers it’s down to price and running cost. The Berlingo has the load volume and the payload capacity and at €16,460 for the bigger capacity model it looks value.

Citroen Berlingo L2 1.6 HDI van - Specifications

Top speed                    160 km/hr

0 – 100km/hr               13.9 seconds

Economy                      5.8l/100km

CO2 emissions 153 g/km

Payload capacity          850kg             

Price                            €16,460

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