Citroen drops rudimentary in favour of sophisticated for its latest Berlingo
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In reality, you need to judge ‘sophistication’ by list pricing, assures Iain Robertson, because a light van base is never going to be quite as natty as its passenger car equivalent, even though, confusingly, it may have started out as a car platform.
Oddball carmaker, Citroen, first hit the LAV (Leisure Activity Vehicle) market in 1996, with its Berlingo model, on a colourful premise of funky, fun and youthful. Within a very short period of time, it became epitomised by anoraks, animals and blue-rinsers…quite a sea change from its original intentions, yet somehow inevitable. While vans-with-windows have a moderate and time-served market value, the Berlingo was forcing potential buyers into stretching their beliefs that squishy seats, sliding side doors and acres of grey plastique (with the ability to load-up with a Euro-pallet) might be a cost-effective route to larger car ownership. Hah! Fat chance!
Powering its Berlingo and subsequent Peugeot badged equivalent with an unexciting choice of c.70bhp petrol or diesel engines may have looked fine on paper but proved ultimately disappointing to the target market. Yet, that enormous cubic metre-plus of boot space offered tremendous appeal to the Crufts set and an entirely new enterprise of cage manufacturers developed that supplied to the needs of both leafy suburbs and zoos, breeders and animal charities.
The second generation arrived no less than twelve years later, this time based on the same platform as the Citroen C3/Peugeot 308. It was larger and squarer in every dimension, while still slotting into the compact van segment. In fact, in 2009, the Peugeot side of PSA loaned me a 12-month long-term test version of the Berlingo, which I rechristened delightedly but disrespectfully as ‘Le Shed’. That vehicle transported me and totty to Europe on three occasions (once on a fortnight’s driving holiday), plus piled on over 18,000mls in the UK and I grew to love its practicality. Powered by the ubiquitous 1.6-litre, 110bhp, HDi turbo-diesel engine, it topped 110mph (where allowed), returned 45mpg overall and was indefatigably reliable. Okay. It had the appearance of a chicken shack but I never suffered a spinal twinge, not once.
If the van-with-windows has any reason to falter in sales terms, it lies in its complete lack of sex appeal. It can be the most useful mobile box in the world but, if it does not look right, or causes the neighbours to snigger, its cause is lost and feelgood factor dissipates faster than a Mr Whippy cone in midsummer heat. The latest version of the Berlingo shares more visually with the C3 Picasso than the previous van that resides underneath it. It has lost none of its immense practicality but those coloured fillets and funkier headlamp structures provide a sense of greater purpose that is entirely psychological.
Making pertinent interior changes is also vital and one of the key introductions to the Berlingo range is the installation of a 10.0-inch digital driver’s display on the popular Rip Curl (a former special edition that is now part of the range) and Flair XTR models. The old analogue dials are ditched, with the new digital set-up allowing the driver to select a choice of display modes, including Dials, Driving and Personal settings that tailor the vehicle to individual preferences.
Citroen has also decided to introduce what it calls ‘e-Toggle’, the 8-speed automatic gearbox controller that is little more than a rotary dial instead of a gearstick. To be frank, I prefer a more conventional shifter but user familiarity, backed up by a dash-panel read-out avoids confusion and does not rob space. While the interior trim is still predominated by hard plastic, at least it is slightly more colourful than the typical light van and more organic shaping makes it marginally more interesting to look at.
As mentioned earlier, the Rip Curl trim level that was introduced originally only last year is now a core version within the Berlingo line-up and replaces the outgoing Flair trim level. It is available in the more popular M (Medium) body length and comes with a complete package of exterior and interior detailing, including a bright ocre colour pack, with 16.0-inch diameter Starlit black alloy wheels and Onyx Black door mirrors. Rip Curl reminders can be found on the front doors and rear-quarter windows, while the interior benefits from a fresh-looking grey Curitiba interior trim, with a welcome yellow stripe and white stitching detail, as well as custom Rip Curl seat labels on the three individually adjustable and removable rear seats.
Factoring-in greater levels of technology helps to hike the vehicle’s reputation from light commercial to more sophisticated passenger vehicle. While the new 10.0-inch reconfigurable dash does its job, automatic dual zone climate control, front parking sensors and a colour 180° reversing camera aid the programme. Drivers are also able to access a full suite of ADAS, which includes Active Lane Keeping Assist, Active Safety Brake, Speed Limit Recognition and Recommendation, and Extended Traffic Sign Recognition, much of which can be switched off, when the various warning lamps and alarms get annoying.
Along with the Flair trim, the previous Feel PureTech 110 manual XL version is also deleted from the range to simplify the Berlingo offering. However, other trim levels that remain include Feel and Flair XTR, both of which are available in M (five seats) and XL (seven seats) body lengths, with either manual or fully automatic gearboxes, and both petrol and diesel engines.
A long-time proponent of electrification, Citroen’s ë-Berlingo EV is set to join the UK range later this year and will be available in Feel and Flair XTR trims. Customers will also be offered a choice of an M or XL body length to meet their space requirements. As you might expect, the ë-Berlingo is being marketed as a ‘zero emissions’ vehicle and is powered by a 100kw (136hp) electric motor connected to a 50kWh battery pack, which provides a range of 174mls from a single charge (WLTP test figure). Naturally, the ë-Berlingo line-up starts expensively from £29,575, after the Government’s Plug-in Car Grant (£2,500) has been applied. The balance of the range starts at £22,135, rising to £29,300. All new car prices are creeping upwards inexorably at present, an aspect that Citroen is not ignoring. Yet, the Berlingo is very much a what-it-says-on-the-can-is what-it-does type of vehicle and it does the job competently.
