2016 Citroen Berlingo review
What is it?
This is the long body version of Citroen's Berlingo van, powered by a diesel engine and featuring a semi-automatic transmission. It is one of three Berlingo variants available, but the only one the auto option.
How does it drive?
The Berlingo has a comfortable unladen ride, although it does feel a little light in the rear at higher speeds and in cross winds but no more than expected considering it's at light end of the commercial vehicle scale and because of its slab-sided shape. Small bumps are soaked up with little fuss as are rough roads, with the Berlingo feeling more like a small passenger car like than a van. The steering is a little heavier than you would expect but it has positive feel and good stability. The engine is quiet and does the job although the same cannot be said about the semi-automatic gearbox, which is one of those old robotised manual transmissions and is slow and jerky while changing gears.
What's the interior like?
The interior is full of good quality plastics that are different colours and textures which gives the interior a sense of character beyond the normal bland, workhorse roots. The seats have reasonable support and are generally pretty comfortable - the driver's seat has a captain's chair arm rest, there are height adjustable seat belts and the steering wheel has both reach and rake adjustments, making it easier to find a comfortable driving position.
The glove box isn't very useful in overall size but it does have a compartment for pens and a small shelf you could fit some small envelopes on. The driver's side of the dash has a small compartment on the top which is good for storing paper work while the centre console is deep and there's a storage bin under the driver's seat to secure larger items. Elsewhere, there is an overhead shelf that runs the full width of the cabin, which sounds convenient but it's not very deep and is made of slippery plastic so if you accelerate on a hill you could end up wearing the contents on your lap.
Otherwise, the Berlingo is fairly well thought out with manual headlight height adjustment, power windows, 12 volt power outlet, USB port, driver and passenger vanity mirrors in the sun visors, separate lock/unlock buttons for front and rear cabins, hill start control and manual paddles on the steering wheel if you wish to shift the transmission yourself. Height and reach adjustable steering wheel makes finding the ideal driving position much easier.
What's the payload and towing capacity?
The payload for this variant is 750kg. It's unbraked towing is capped at 730kg while braked towing is not much more at a maximum 1000kg
What about load space dimensions and anchor points?
The Berlingo punches above its size as a commercial vehicle, with plenty of space in the back. In this long body configuration, it's cargo length is 3250mm, the overall height is 1100mm and the distance between the wheel arches is 1230mm, meaning you can fit an Australian standard size pallet in the back pretty easily. There are six floor-mounted anchor points in the load compartment and three points on each side of the roof that will carry 75kg.
How does it perform under load?
With a full payload on board, the van's chassis copes with minor bumps reasonably well, making it easy and comfortable to drive around in. Bigger road imperfections will see the Berlingo hitting its bump stops more often, although it remains well composed and doesn't buck or move around while recovering from the movement.
It can, however, be susceptible to mid-corner jolts on rough roads, but we found the stability control system intervened without too much histrionics and maintained its composure safely on the road.
All in all, with anything less than a full payload in the back, the Berlingo's on-road manners are superb, The steering might feel a little too heavy for some but with the weight in the back it gives you a good confident feel of the van. That being said the front end did become light to the point where, under acceleration, the traction control was activated during take offs, and thanks to the inconsistent and aggressive transmission it will occasionally chirp the tyres.
The engine itself does a good job in handling the extra weight, but the transmission lets it down with painfully slow and indecisive shifting, putting more strain on the engine, particularly on steep inclines.
Any special features worth mentioning?
There's a 7.0-inch touch screen with a reverse camera, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with voice recognition as well as USB and Bluetooth input. It's also got a good ESP system (as we just outlined), cruise control and a speed limiter.
We also liked the rear barn doors with 180 degree openings that make loading easier, as well as left and right side sliding doors that are are standard.
Any criticisms?
By today's standards the transmission is extremely ordinary. The slow shifts have your head nodding back and forth like a first time learner driver in a manual and will have you feeling motion sick in no time. Modulating the throttle while changing gears as if you were driving a traditional manual helps at times but that's not the point. The optional passenger air bag is also a bit disappointing.
How does the warranty and servicing costs rate?
Citroen's warranty expires after three years or 100,000 kilometres, and the van requires servicing every 15,000 kilometres. The manufacturer does not offer fixed price servicing on its vans, so service costs will vary from dealer to dealer, with smaller services around the $400 mark and major maintenance closer to $900.
What else should I consider?
If safety is paramount then the VW Caddy is worth a look, otherwise the Renault Kangoo and Fiat Doblo represent viable alternatives.
Verdict:
The Berlingo is a great van for small to medium businesses and is comfortable and solid to drive no matter whether its carrying a load or not.
The Checklist
0-60km/h time: 6.8 seconds (unladen), 8.8 seconds (loaded)
0-80km/h time: 11.3 seconds (unladen), 14.5 seconds (loaded)
0-100km/h time: 17.3 seconds (unladen), 21.8 seconds (loaded)
Load testing weight: 600kg
Safety rating: 4 star (ANCAP)
2016 Citroen Berlingo Long Body Price and Specifications
Price: $30,500 driveaway
On sale: Now
Engine: 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel
Power: 66kW at 4000rpm
Torque: 215Nm at 1500rpm
Transmission: 6-spd speed semi-automatic, FWD
Fuel usage: 4.7L/100km (we averaged 6.7L/100km)