citroen

Berlingo Multispace

Is it a car, a van or a tourer? Well, to be honest the Berlingo is all three. Brimming with cutting edge features, it offers comfort, style, practicality and a host of safety features all under one roof… and with a reasonable price tag too.

The good

Practical, spacious and reasonably priced

The bad

Lots of competition out there

Tech Specs

Price from

£13,355

Combined Fuel up to

68.9mpg

0-62 from

11.4 seconds

max speed up to

109mph

co2 from

109g/km

Test Drive

Citroen Berlingo Multispace XTR HDi 115

Okay so let’s get the fact that the Citroen Berlingo Multispace looks quite like a builder’s van over and done with first so we can concentrate on the positives – and believe me, there are plenty of them.

It’s understandable that the vehicle’s very upright and somewhat boxy design will not be everyone’s cup of tea, but the Berlingo Multispace is billed as a car for enjoying life with its modern design and flexible practicality and in fairness to Citroen it is exactly that.

Eye-catching features include 16-inch alloys, dark tinted rear and tailgate windows, daytime running lights, body-coloured door mirrors and black door handles, front fog lights and plenty more besides.

But it’s inside the vehicle where the best impressions are made. The sliding rear door open up a vast passenger area with three individual seats which can be tilted, slid, folded or even removed.

There is ample room for five adults and there will never be any luggage limitations either as the boot can hold 675 litres with all the seats in an upright position which can be increased to a whopping 3,000 litres with the rear seats folded flat.

Elsewhere there is a very deep central bin, split-level glove-box, cup holders, good-sized door pockets along with a storage drawer under the front passenger’s seat.

Up front there are plenty of techno treats to be explored, such as a good audio system with CD player, USB and MP3 connectivity, Bluetooth, sat nav, air conditioning, cruise control and a very useful child surveillance mirror to keep a watchful eye on the little’uns in the back.

The range-topping XTR test model also featured the Modutop storage option (£700 extra) which adds roof rails, glass roof sections, and overhead aircraft style storage space.

The Berlingo Multispace was powered by a punchy 1.6-litre diesel engine and can reach from 0-62mph in 12.1 seconds and onto a top speed of 107mph. According to official figures, it can deliver 55.4mpg on a combined run with carbon emissions of 134g/km.

And the performance is pretty impressive along the way. Admittedly, sharp bends have to approached with some caution and you can expect to feel some wind resistance on gusty days, but that aside, it coped admirably. The road-holding is good, cabin noise is pretty minimal and all the bumps and dips are ironed out thanks to the car’s very efficient suspension system.

One vital factor on this type of vehicle is visibility and the high-seated driving position along with the large door mirrors are an added bonus especially as the car is likely to be used regularly on school runs.

The Berlingo Multispace was happy weaving through busy city centre traffic, but can also hold its own alongside faster moving motorway vehicles where acceleration through the five-speed manual transmission is both smooth and nicely responsive.

And another very notable feature is the car’s multi-terrain function which can be adjusted via a simple dial to enable it to tackle snow, mud or sand so nothing Mother Nature throws in its path will halt the car’s progress.

As one would expect, the Berlingo Multispace is fully equipped with a whole host of safety features, including anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution, electronic stability control, numerous airbags and much more besides. In the Euro NCAP safety ratings it was awarded four stars out of a maximum five.

All in all, the Berlingo Multispace, priced at £20,815 including £2,910 in optional extras, is a super all-rounder and the striking XTR model certainly adds a touch of flair, athleticism and boldness to the line-up. It is also excellent value for money.