The Citroën Berlingo is a super little van. Winner of Parkers’s Small Van of the Year in 2020 and 2021, it’s also one of the best-selling models in its class in Europe. The current version first appeared in 2019 and has been attracting admiration ever since. We love the Berlingo here at Van Sales and have great deals available whether for cash sales, leasing, or finance.
Engines and Transmissions
The Berlingo is known for being an easy, pleasant drive. It was launched in 2019 with a choice of three BlueHDi diesel engines and one petrol engine. Two of those diesels changed slightly in 2020 to meet newer, stricter emissions standards, but there’s little practical difference in their specs or ability.
From 2019, the diesel engines available were a 1.6-litre with either 75hp or 99hp and a 1.5-litre with 131hp. From 2020, the two 1.6-litre engines were changed to 1.5-litres models, but their power output remained the same at 75hp and 99hp. They’re all considered decent, but the 75hp version (in 1.6 or 1.5) tends to lack the pep required for heavier loads or motorway driving.
The 75hp and 99hp models get a five-speed manual gearbox, but the 130hp benefits from a six-speed manual. It’s even possible to upgrade to an eight-speed automatic should you desire a bit more technological luxury in your life.
There’s also a petrol option as I mentioned: that’s a 110hp PureTech and is a reasonable choice for those who would prefer, perhaps for environmental reasons, not to drive a diesel. It comes with a six-speed manual gearbox.
ë-Berlingo
From May 2021, Citroën have begun taking orders for their brand new ë-Berlingo, a 100% electric version of this excellent van. It has a 50kWh battery that can provide up to 171 miles of autonomy. As the battery is housed in the chassis, there’s no compromise on load space: the electric version gets the same cubic-meter cargo capacity as the standard models. There are multiple charging options for you to power up, from public charging stations to custom-installed personal charging points.
The electric motor has a power output of 136hp. There are three different driving modes: Normal, Eco, and Power. Normal is great for everyday driving and restricts power to 80kW. Eco reduces power to 60kW; it reduces heating and air-conditioning to achieve this, but it doesn’t deactivate them entirely. Finally, Power offers 100kW of power and is excellent for heavier loads.
Dimensions
The Citroën Berlingo, or Citroen Berlingo, for those who prefer an easier word to type, comes in two body lengths but just one roof height. The two lengths are referred to as M and XL (which I find odd, given that there’s no S or L!), and the ë-Berlingo comes in both body lengths too.
Both M and XL come with a sliding door on one side and double rear doors (side hinged). If you’d like a second sliding door on the other side, you can add one to the XL model at additional cost. The exterior height of the M is 1840mm; the XL is 1849mm. If you go for the Worker version (more on this below), the height increases to 1860mm. Not exactly a massive change though.
M:
Maximum load length: 1817mm (3090mm)
Maximum load height: 1236mm
Maximum load volume: 3.3m3 (3.9m3)
XL:
Maximum load length: 2167mm (3440mm)
Maximum load height: 1243mm
Maximum load volume: 3.8m3 (4.4m3)
The figures in parentheses there are if you choose the “Extenso” cabin option. This gives you a bit of additional load length into the cab with a load-through hatch in the bulkhead and a fold-down passenger bench that can be turned into a desk.
Load width is standard at 1550mm with 1230mm between the wheel arches.
It’s worth noting that there’s also an “Extended Cabin” version of the Berlingo. This is similar to a combi van or crew cab; it seats up to five people and is available on the XL body length. The Extended Cabin has a metal, mesh partition behind the second row of seats instead of a bulkhead, and that can be slid up to the backs of the front row of seats if you fold the second row down.
Payload
The payload is the maximum permitted weight of cargo that you can legally carry. The Berlingo has three different payload options which are specified in the van’s model name: 650, 950, and 1000 (kilograms). However, which models get which payload depends on a variety of factors. All XL Berlingos have a 950kg payload, but for the M version, what you get is related to what you have, i.e., which engine, trim, etc.
The ë-Berlingo is stated to have a maximum payload of a very respectable 800kg; the slight reduction there versus the standard versions is due at least in part to the weight of the battery itself.
One very nifty feature in some Berlingos is the Overload Indicator, which tells you when you’re getting close to your maximum payload and turns orange when you’ve exceeded it.
Interior and Trims
Not only is the Berlingo an easy van to drive, but it’s also a comfortable one. There are lots of adjustments possible for both the driver’s seat and steering wheel, and the spacing of various cab elements seems well thought out. There’s an abundance of storage space available (113 litres, according to Citroën!) and even a little tray with wireless charging for your phone.
The are four different trim levels available.
First, there’s the Berlingo X:
- Daytime running lights and automatic headlights
- DAB radio
- Bluetooth connectivity, USB port, and audio in
- Driver’s airbag
- Deadlocks, remote central locking, and a separate lock for the cab
- Full bulkhead
- Electrically adjustable mirrors
- Electric windows (front)
- Electronic stability control, ABS, and a hill-start feature
After that comes the Enterprise (also available in ë-Berlingo):
- Alarm
- Air-conditioning
- Parking sensors (rear)
- 8.0-inch touchscreen “infotainment” system with DAB radio, 2x USB ports and connectivity for Apple’s CarPlay, Android Auto, and MirrorLink
- Heated door mirrors with electric folding
- Tyre-pressure monitoring system
- Extenso cabin: foldable passenger bench seat that can be made into a desk, load-through bulkhead
- Hard plastic on the floor of the cargo area
- Front (cornering) foglights
Onwards and upwards, there’s the Berlingo Driver (also available in ë-Berlingo):
- Additional sound insulation
- Automatic wipers
- 16” alloy wheels
- Rear bumper, door handles, and mirrors colour-coded to match the body
- Citroën Connect Nav including voice recognition and a multifunction steering wheel
- Front parking sensors in addition to the rear sensors on the Berlingo X
- Surround Rear Vision camera package
- Citroën Advanced Comfort including Comfort driver’s seat
Finally, you could consider the Berlingo Worker. Rather than building on the Driver as the Driver builds on the Enterprise, etc., this takes it back to the Berlingo X and builds on that. It’s designed for maximum utility.
- 16” steel wheels with tyres for mud and snow
- Additional 30mm of ground clearance
- Additional undercarriage protection
- Front (cornering) foglights
- Cargo area with LED lighting
- Electronic handbrake
- Grip Control (Citroen’s augmented traction capability) plus hill-descent control
- 220v socket
- Tyre-pressure monitors
- Four rings in the cargo area to help secure your load (mid-height)
- Extenso cabin: foldable passenger bench seat that can be made into a desk, load-through bulkhead
Reliability
The Berlingo is a generally reliable, sturdy van. There have been a a few issues with the touchscreen “infotainment” system, and the current Berlingo has been subject so far to one recall; this was to fix a potential problem with the handbrake (but it only affected a small proportion of vans). If you’re buying second-hand, make sure that the recall repair work has been carried out if it was necessary.
In general, it’s always wise to learn as much as you can about a vehicle you’re thinking of buying before you make the decision. Ask to see invoices, the service history, and any paperwork associated with the van. Check the body for signs of damage or repair. Encourage the dealer to tell you as much as possible; any reputable dealer will be more than happy to tell you all about the vehicle’s history.
Safety
Citroen pride themselves on the available safety options for their vehicles. Unfortunately though, most of them are extras/upgrades that cost extra. Still, if you can pay a bit more, you could choose from a range of safety-feature delights including blindspot monitoring, trailer-stability control, coffee-break alert (maybe you can set it to tea?), automatic main beams, traffic-sign recognition, lane-departure warning, etc.
The Berlingo does come with a Citroën Connect Box; this provides the facility for emergency / assistance calls free of charge, and it can be set up for optional telematic services.
The Citroën Berlingo is a super little van. Winner of Parkers’s Small Van of the Year in 2020 and 2021, it’s also one of the best-selling models in its class in Europe. The current version first appeared in 2019 and has been attracting admiration ever since. We love the Berlingo here at Van Sales and have great deals available whether for cash sales, leasing, or finance.
