Citroen Berlingo Review

Citroen Berlingo 600 1.6HDi Enterprise

Manufacturer’s RRP: £11,195 (excluding VAT)

Trusty and versatile with a good pay load and excellent fuel economy.

Technical

Presented with the latest fuel efficient Euro IV engines, the Berlingo van range is now offered with a wide choice of 1.6HDi diesel engine configurations and a 1.4i petrol engine that can run on both LPG and petrol. The new engines not only offer improved fuel economy but also have a 40 per cent increase in peak torque, resulting in better in-gear performance and easier driving characteristics. It's also worth noting that the diesel engines are able to run on up to 30 per cent bio-diesel without modification.

Looks great in silver	A comfy interior
Sliding door maximises access	Protection for the driver only
A good payload	Handy desktop, increases load space
Door pockets fit a 1.5 litre bottle	The box challenge!

Drive

In comparison to the previous version of the Berlingo, the new engines excelled in performance. The Berlingo is very manageable to drive with smooth acceleration, effortless gear shifts and we found it particularly nifty when carrying out manoeuvres - even on a tiny country road. The van's performance remained unaffected when we tested it with half of its maximum payload, demonstrating a powerful torque. The engine growled a little at high speeds but this was a small price to pay for an energy efficient, trusty work horse.

Cabin comfort

Entering the cabin is made easy via the large doors which are suited to just about any sized driver. The clear instrumentation on the dashboard demonstrates part of a well laid out dashboard which although fairly basic, is easy to operate. The cabin is surprisingly spacious sporting plenty of storage areas. The doors easily hold a 2 litre bottle and there is a handy 12 volt power socket included in the central console between the seats. Another useful feature is the foldable passenger seat which provides a working area with drinks holders and an elastic strap for holding papers. Other gadgets include a steering column mounted control for the audio system and an over-screen storage compartment.

Load area

With a choice of a 600 or 800kg payload and up to 9 different van load door configurations, there's a Berlingo to suit every requirement. The nearside sliding side load door increases the load access options, and the van can carry a full sized pallet (1000 x 1200mm) or two smaller metric pallets. The load deck length is 1700mm (extendable to 2100mm in LX and Enterprise models by folding down the passenger seat) and a 1600mm maximum width.

Safety Features

ABS brakes

Driver's airbag

2 x 3 point inertia reeel seat belts

Auto activation of hazard warning lights

Energy absorbing side impact protection

Front seat belt pre-tensioners with force limters

Height adjustable front seat belts

Verdict

A comfortable, practical van with good load space and a superior choice of engine.

Data File

Engines: 1.4i, 1.6 HDi
Power: 75bhp, 75-90bhp
Insurance Group: 7a
Security features: Anti-theft immobiliser, automatic door locking (at speeds of more than 6mph), remote control locking with dashboard locking button
Maximum Pay Load (kg): 800
Load Space (m3): 3
Loading Area: length/ width / height (mm) 1700(extendable to 2100) x 1600 x 1246

Vansunited.co.uk verdict : ****