Citroen Berlingo Van Range : LEARNING THE BER-LINGO

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Citroen's Berlingo is bigger than you might expect but does size matter? Steve Walker reports

Citroen's Berlingo is one of the larger compact vans on the UK market offering a payloads of up to 850kg and a maximum load volume of 3.7m3. The smooth diesel engines produce strong fuel economy figures and pricing is competitive. The driving experience isn't as perky as some would like but the comfort and refinement are both a match for the sector's best efforts.

The star turn in Citroen's LCV line-up has long been the Berlingo van. The original model was launched in the UK in 1996 and it proved extremely popular with its straightforward design and robust construction. Now there's another Berlingo on the scene but anyone expecting a like for like replacement of the original will be disappointed. Citroen has diversified its van range, shunting the Berlingo up in terms of size and sophistication. You could level the criticism at some manufacturers that, in terms of importance, their commercial vehicles come a poor second to their passenger cars. This is understandable as the potential sales volumes in the car sector usually dwarf those in van land. Any right-thinking company will divert resources to where they can generate the biggest incomes but the trick is to make sure that van buyers still feel like they're important. From the dealer level right up to the boardroom, Citroen does that better than most. It's a commitment that has been rewarded by businesses across Europe where one in seven Citroen products sold is a commercial vehicle. Motive force for the Berlingo comes in the most part from Citroen's familiar 1.6-litre HDi diesel engines. There is a 90bhp 1.6-litre petrol alternative but takers for that one will be in the minority. The diesel choice comes down to a 75bhp unit with torque of 185Nm at 1,750rpm or the 90bhp alternative which delivers its 215Nm at the same engine speed. The Berlingo now tips the scales at gross vehicle weights between 1,960kg and 2,130kg, depending on your choice of bodystyle, which is around 200kg more than the original. As a result, performance isn't particularly sprightly but those sizable torque outputs ensure there's enough pulling power for most situations you'll encounter. Fuel economy is another major boon with both diesel engines returning an identical 48.5mpg and the petrol partially explaining its modest uptake with 34.5mpg.

"Today's Berlingo has been given the wherewithal to tempt buyers down from their larger panel vans â€¦"

The latest Berlingo actually shares its basic platform with the Citroen C4 Picasso MPV. It uses independent front suspension and a transverse beam with angled shock absorbers at the rear with anti-roll bars featuring at both ends. On the road, this larger Berlingo feels less agile and immediate in its responses than the original but most operators will accept a slight loss there, and in terms of cornering body control, because the van's ride comfort and refinement are both very impressive. Road and engine noise are well contained making sure that big distances fly by and the steering is light, combining with the tight 11m turning circle to aid manoeuvring. The five-speed manual gearbox is something of a let down with its sloppy long throw action. There are two Berlingo bodystyles to consider and both are on the large side of what we expect from a compact van. Both versions share a 2,728mm wheelbase but the longer L2 model has 248mm extra tagged on behind. It means that even the smaller L1 is 4,380mm in length, that's 243mm longer than the original Berlingo with 350mm extra in the wheelbase department. Payloads range from 625kg to 850kg, a sizable carrying capacity that edges awfully close to that of some small panel vans at its top end. The space in the rear is accessed through side hinged rear doors which open to nearly 180 degrees and reveal a compartment that's 1,800mm long in the L1 version and never less than 1,229mm wide. Sliding side doors are available as options as is a hinged roof flap through which long items can be poked. The loading lip at the rear is nice and low and the load bay gets excellent protection from its contents courtesy of panelling that extends halfway up the sides of the vehicle. The standard bulkhead is a ladder frame behind the driver's seat only and an unusual touch is the load compartment light that can be detached and used as a torch. Citroen offers the Berlingo in two trim levels, X and LX. Standard equipment includes ABS brakes, a trip computer, a CD stereo, central locking, electric front windows and internally adjustable door mirrors. The LX adds remote central locking, heated electric wing mirrors and an external temperature sensor. There's also the considerable pulling power of a standard Trafficmaster Smartnav satellite navigation and vehicle tracking system. An interesting option is the All-Road pack which is designed for Berlingos regularly faced with rough surfaces with larger tyres and under body protection. It's would be understandable if people who maintain a close eye on the light commercial vehicle market were mildly flummoxed by the Citroen Berlingo. The various small van contenders used to fit into convenient market sectors but Citroen has branched out in offering this larger Berlingo model along with the smaller Nemo which sits below. The Berlingo is tasked with pinching sales from the smaller models in the panel van sector as well as doing battle with direct competitors like Ford's long wheelbase Transit Connect and the Volkswagen Caddy Maxi. Internally, the Citroen Berlingo is an impressive piece of work with good quality materials and neat design. The storage space is abundant and clever solutions abound ready to swallow up all the paraphernalia of your working day. In the two-seater Berlingo, the single passenger seat folds down to reveal a desk and cup holders. The space in the Berlingo's cabin is immediately noticeable. It's wide with plenty of room for driver and passenger. Problems start to arise when you specify the three-seat model, a highly unusual inclusion on a van of this size. The protruding dash mounted gear lever makes the middle berth virtually uninhabitable by anyone with legs and Citroen's claim that this "occasional seat" is ideal for young children seems a moot point. The few remaining chimney sweeps might be interested but in this day and age, taking your child to work on a daily basis is rightfully frowned upon. The real advantage of the Extenso cabin, as the three-seater layout is known, is the ability to fold the outer passenger seat down to increase the load length available. You can also flip the seat cushion up to make a handy storage area on the cab floor. Citroen could have simply replaced its original Berlingo with a more modern product and had another sure fire winner on its hands. Instead, a reorganisation at the lower end of the marque's LCV range brought about the sub-compact Nemo and this latest Berlingo, a vehicle that's all together larger, more capable and more sophisticated than its forebear. Some of the agility of the old Berlingo was lost in the process but the Nemo ably replicates that and in virtually every other area, today's Berlingo is a significant advancement. Today's Berlingo has been given the wherewithal to tempt buyers down from their larger panel vans thanks to payloads of up to 850kg and a 3.7m3 maximum load volume. It's also impressively comfortable and refined with the interior offering a good variety of storage options with good standards of fit and finish throughout. There are some capable alternative options going head to head with Citroen's compact van but it's good enough to give any one of them a run for its money.

Facts At A Glance MANUFACTURER: Citroen MODEL: Berlingo BHP: 75bhp - 90bhp PAY
LOAD CAPACITY: 625kg - 850kg LOAD VOLUME: 3.3m3 - 3.7m3 GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT: 1,960kg - 2,185kg LENGTH: 4,380mm - 4,628mm WIDTH: 1,810mm HEIGHT: 1,812mm-1,840mm May 10th 2008