Citroen RELAY MINIBUS RANGE
Modern MPVs are all very well for carrying five or six people. Some even lay claim to a capacity of seven or eight but the poor devils you shoehorn into the rearmost seats will need a black belt in Yoga and a stout pole to prise themselves out again. Even if your party of eight includes a pair of small children or jump jockeys to sit at the back, most MPVs leave little or no extra space for luggage. No, if you need to move larger groups of people and their baggage around, your best bet is a minibus and Citroen have just the thing in the shape of their Relay Minibus range.
Citroen have a long association with a group of specialist coach builders who have been producing tippers, refrigerated vans, dropside trucks and, yes, minibuses based on Citroen commercial vehicle underpinnings for some considerable time. More recently, the manufacturer introduced their Ready To Run scheme which brings these vehicles together under one banner, greatly simplifying the process for customers. Ready To Run is currently the best way to buy a Relay Minibus or, indeed, any other specialist Citroen commercial vehicle. The hassle of buying a chassis cab and independently taking it to a coach builder for conversion is gone and theres a full warranty on all models.
| Build |  |
| Comfort |  |
| Depreciation | |
| Economy |  |
| Equipment | |
| Handling | |
| Insurance | |
| Performance | |
| Styling | |
| Value | |
All the models on offer are fully compliant with European M1 standards and are fitted with M1 seats for maximum comfort and safety. There are head-restraints on each seat along with red seatbelts so that the driver can easily see at a glance that everyone is fastened in.
"Ready To Run vehicles come with a two-year unlimited mileage or three-year/100,000-mile warranty"
All the Relay Minibus models feature ABS brakes, remote central locking, electric windows and a rear parking sensor. Theres also a BSi fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and the option of fitting wheelchair access ramps, meaning that moist of the key features that buyers look for in this sector are already included in the package. The Citroen Relay is offered in a perplexing number of different varieties. This makes for an extremely lengthy price list and a great range of choice for the customer.
In order to father such an immense extended family for the Relay, Citroen provide three basic models, the 1100, 1500 and 1800. These are divided on the basis of their gross vehicle weights (2.9t, 3.3t and 3.
5t respectively). On top of this, youve got four wheelbases (short, medium, long and extra long) to cater for differing load length requirements. Next, the van body itself can be supplied in three heights (standard, high roof and extra high roof). You can also go for a window van if you like or, failing that, delve into the collection of chassis cabs, chassis crew cabs, platform cabs, chassis scuttles and chassis semi-scuttles: these come ready to take whatever specialist modifications you so desire. Even with so many possible combinations contained within the Relay range, Citroen refuse to rule out further additions as and when the need arises. The Relay Minibus is available with a variety of different engine options. Of the four powerplants on offer, two first appeared in this version of the Relay while the other pair saw limited service towards the end of the previous models reign.
The old favourites are the 2.0-litre HDi diesel with its 86bhp and the powerful 2.8HDi that can generate 127bhp at 3,600rpm. The former acts as standard power for the Relay 1100 and some 1500 models, while the latter will provide the drive needed in vehicles with more weighty duties.
Supplementing these two engines are another diesel, a 104bhp 2.2-litre HDi, and a 2.0-litre petrol unit with 110bhp at its disposal. All the Relays oil-burners are advanced turbocharged common-rail affairs, so economy is impressive.
Visually, the Relay Minibus displays a number of tidy features. A large three-bar grille on the nose incorporates a prominent Citroen badge, while the front bumper below has deep, purposeful indents. It all adds a touch of character and gives the Relay about as much individuality as is possible in the panel van arena where functionality is the prime directive. Move further backwards and youll spot the thick side rubbing strips running the vehicles length between the wheel arches.
These should prevent damage to metalwork and pricey resprays in the event of a minor parking shunt. At the rear, the lights are arranged along the sides of the double doors and the restyled rear bumper doubles as a usefully wide step when accessing the luggage area. Make the step up to the commanding driving position and youll be greeted with a pleasant sight. The three-seat cabin is nicely fitted out in tough plastics with well-placed, idiot-proof controls.
One complaint would be that Citroen had overplayed the grey card in our test vehicle and it did create something of a dreary visage with seats, dashboard and door inserts all chipping in. On the plus side, the dash-mounted gear lever makes cross-cabin clambering easy and theres quite a bit of storage space including a neat mobile phone/drinks can holder. Equipment, even on the entry-level models, is generously supplied. Central locking, electric front windows and heated, electrically adjustable, door mirrors are standard, as are a clever document clipboard above the stereo and an ingenious folding centre passenger seat -this doubles as a desktop, complete with laptop computer clamp for the driver with his finger on the pulse.
The Relay Minibus incorporates most of the features that buyers look for in this type of vehicle. Key strong points include the strong engine range and the competitive Citroen pricing while the cab interior, though a little dated, looks durable. The conversion itself is done to a very high standard which is likely to stand the test of time and generate few complaints from operators.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
VAN: Citroen Relay Minibus range ENGINE: 2.0 petrol/2.0HDi/2.2HDi/2.
8HDi SEATING CAPACITY: 9, 12, 15 or 17 seats GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT: 2.9t (1100) or 3.5t (1800)
