2007 Citroen Berlingo Reviews

Cheap drive-away pricing might be drawing customers to the Citroen Berlingo, but is it a worthy rival for VW's dominant Caddy in the small-van class?

Tim Robson road tests and reviews the new Citroen Berlingo with specs, fuel consumption and verdict. The words 'unusual' and 'delivery van' aren't usually found together in the same sentence, but with Citroen's quirky Berlingo you can have your cake and deliver it too. Up until quite recently, the idea of looking

Chris Riley road tests and reviews the Citroen Berlingo with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Joshua Dowling road tests and reviews the updated Citroen Berlingo van, with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

James Stanford reviews the 2015 Citroen Long Body Berlingo, with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Citroen has been making passenger-car-based vans for decades and the latest Berlingo benefits from this as it's on the same platform as a Citroen people mover.

Compared to driving a Ferrari 458, getting behind the wheel of a Citroen Berlingo van might not hold a lot of attraction but plenty of people spend a large slice of their lives in vans such as the Berlingo.The trouble is many of these small, bonneted vans aren't nearly as good as the little froggy freighter. That's because Citroen `invented' the passenger car based small van decades ago with its pig-snouted TUB that was built on the Xsara coupe platform of the day.The latest Berlingo is a bigger vehicle spawned from Citroen's C4 Picasso people mover platform and it's a good `un offering a passenger car drive feel, incredible fuel economy and surprisingly good dynamics and ride for a work a day commercial vehicle. Pity it only gets one airbag as standard and stability control is optional.HOW MUCHTwo versions are available here, a short body 1.6-litre petrol for $19,990 and subject of this test, the long body turbo diesel 1.6 that goes for $22,990. A variety of options is available that will add a tad to the bottom line.WHAT YOU GETBoth have a five speed manual transmission driving the front wheels and both can fit in two standard pallet loads in the back on a rubber floor mat and with waist high internal panel protection.The rear barn doors open nearly 180 degrees and are 60/40 split fold enabling Berlingo to nuzzle up close to loading docks. There's also a side slider and all doors are centrally locked from the key fob.LOADEDBoth short and long body models have the same wheelbase with the latter getting more rear overhang to accommodate the extra length. The petrol's payload is 850kg while the diesel takes 750.INSIDEIts compact dimensions don't mean a compromise on useable interior space which is generous in the long body we tested. It even had two and a half seats with three seat belts and a fold-up passenger seat squab for extra storage.Not that it needs any extra with storage options liberally scattered throughout the cab including a parcel shelf behind the sun visors and a flip up glove box atop the instrument console. Plenty of thought obviously went into Berlingo's design to make it as practical a work vehicle as possible.They tried to make Berlingo like an office on wheels.  That's why it has Bluetooth, a trip computer, MP3 slot, air conditioning, cruise control, heated exterior mirrors, rake and reach steering adjustment, large front doors and a protection frame behind the driver.On the outside, the front and rear bumpers are designed to protect Berlingo from inevitable bumps and scrapes encountered on its delivery rounds.ENGINEIn terms of actual driving the thing is quite impressive with plenty of pep from the single cam turbo diesel engine rated at 66kW/215Nm output. It can sip fuel at around 5.8-litres/100km from a 60 litre tank. The gearshift is high mounted in the centre console rally car style.MISSINGBut they didn't fit a reversing camera or reversing park sensors, the latter being an option along with auto headlights and rain sensing wipers, the second air bag and stability control. It rides well unladen of with a load thanks to the well sorted front strut rear torsion beam suspension. It could do with a tighter turning circle.VERDICTCould we spend a working life in Berlingo? Possibly. It would be a darn sight better than a one tonne ute with a canopy or some of the other alternatives.Citroen BerlingoPrice: from $22,990 (diesel)Engine: 1.6L turbodiesel, 66kW/215NmTransmission: 5-speed manual, FWDThirst: 5.8L / 100Km

The idea is simple - make as much cargo space inside the van's perimeter as possible. Simple stuff, really, but then it gets hard. Make the van safe - preferably with a five-star crash rating like the Mercedes Vito. Load it with passenger-car features, make it flexible with seating, ensure ride comfort and