…anywhere and shifts anything. If you want a lot of space for a lot of people, then a people carrier is definitely worth looking at as an SUV alternative. The Citroën Berlingo has done such a good job that rivals such as the Opel Combo Life and the Peugeot Rifter have had a good look at the formula. The Berlingo’s origins stem from a van which is clear to see and even more apparent when driving a car based around MPV’s such as the Ford S-Max or the Volkswagen Touran.
This new Berlingo has its work cut out, it’s aiming to offer more luxury and refinement than ever before as well as plenty of safety features. Engine choice in the Berlingo is refreshingly simple, there’s a 1.2 petrol and a 1.5 diesel. The BlueHDi range has a 1.5L BlueHDi with 75 hp, 100 hp or 130 hp with either a 5-speed manual or 8-speed auto. The Petrol engine is in the form of the 1.2L PureTech with 110 hp or 130 hp 6-speed manual or 8-speed auto. Even in its lowest power guise, the petrol still pulls quite well although if you’d like to drive it swiftly, you need to make use of higher revs.
The diesel engine option is most impressive with 130 bhp, which pulls really well and is perfectly suited for those who wish to transport lots of people and their luggage. If you go for the 5-speed manual, it is fairly slick shifting however is not as smooth as what you will find in a Volkswagen Touran or Ford S-Max.
Steering is accurate and light at lower speeds to make parking and maneuvering around town easy. It really excels in it’s ability to move in and out of tight spaces with it’s smooth steering. The Berlingo offers a nice, relaxed ride with little road noise especially when you take the big body into account. There is some wind noise especially from around the wing mirrors and windscreen but this is also true of many of the Berlingo’s rivals.
There’s some interesting textured materials around the dash and across the top of the dials. They’re really designed so that they can be easily wiped clean. The dials are chunky and straightforward to use, you can easily adjust the air-conditioning and temperature settings. There’s a simple to use 8-inch touchscreen, some of the buttons you have to press twice before it reacts, it just means using more direct inputs the first time around.
When it comes to space and practicality the Berlingo takes everything that you can throw at it. There is plenty of room for tall adults sitting in the front and the rear. There’s also lots of storage with cubbies hidden all over the dash with more behind the infotainment screen.
The passenger seats fold down to lie relatively flat meaning you can transform the Berlingo back to its van origins with massive space for storing pretty much anything. Even with the rear seats raised the boot is still huge, with few cars in this class coming close to matching the Berlingo for the sheer amount of luggage it can hold.
Some of the storage solutions, such as the overhead compartment above the boot, are optional extras. The sliding rear doors are also hugely practical as is the flat floor because three adults can sit side-by-side relatively comfortably. And if you’ve got three children and you’ve got narrow car seats, there’s three sets of ISOFIX.
Pitted against Opel’s Combo Life or Peugeot’s Rifter, you’ll notice that pricing is similar across the range. The Berlingo’s fuel economy is competitive, the 75bhp diesel has an official figure of 68.9 mpg while the 130 bhp petrol comes in at 51 mpg. The Berlingo shouldn’t cost a lot to insure and standard safety kit now includes automatic emergency braking and a lane departure assist (oddly located but easily turned off).
Citroën’s Berlingo is a practical MPV, it offers unrivaled interior space, a relaxing ride and excellent value.