First look: Citroen uncovers Berlingo van

CITROEN has uncovered its third-generation Berlingo light-commercial van alongside the Peugeot Partner and Vauxhall Combo siblings, with the former firming for Australia as its current model goes into run-out.

 

According to Peugeot Citroen Australia (PCA), the “new-generation LCV (is) under study for the Australian market, with local introduction and specification to be confirmed”.

 

Based on PSA’s EMP2 platform, the Berlingo is offered in two sizes, two cabin layouts and two grades with the choice of three petrol and diesel turbocharged four-cylinder engines in various states of tune.

 

While the M and XL sizes share the same 2100mm width, the former is 350mm shorter and 50mm lower than the latter, at 4400mm long and 1800mm high. The M’s wheelbase is 2780mm long while the XL’s is 190mm longer.

 

The Extenso Cab cabin layout features a three-seat front bench, while the XL-only Crew Cab has seating for five occupants across two rows, including a folding and retractable second row. Buyers can choose between a swing or 60/40 panel rear door, while up to two sliding doors are optional.

 

Load volume is 3.3 and 3.9 cubic-metres in the M and XL respectively, while Extenso Cab versions increase these capacities by 0.5 cubic-metres, thanks to their folding side passenger seat. Various interior compartments provide 113 litres of storage.

 

Payload ranges from 650kg to 1000kg in the M, while the XL’s maximum is 50kg less. However, both sizes have a braked towing capacity of up to 1500kg.

 

The Worker grade targets drivers who transport equipment and workers with its raised ground clearance (up 30mm), under-engine protective plate, Grip Control with Hill Assist Descent, larger wheels with mud and snow tyres, plastic-covered floor, enhanced load-area lighting, 12-volt power socket and mid-height load securing rings.

 

Alternatively, the Driver derivative focuses on drivers who make long trips or several deliveries in urban areas with its acoustic package, dual-zone climate control, seat lumbar adjustment, dusk and rain sensors, cruise control, speed limiter, 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, and electric park brake.

 

The Driver also features a segment-first rear surround-view camera, which replaces the traditional rearview mirror with a 5.0-inch colour display that shows a live feed of the cameras located at the base of the passenger-side door mirror and top of the rear swing doors.

 

Other available equipment includes a retractable head-up display, wireless smartphone charging, satellite navigation with live traffic, two USB ports, one 220V power socket, keyless entry and start, cornering lights and an industry-first overload indicator.

 

Advanced driver-assist systems extend to autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control with stop and go functionality (automatic only), lane-keep assist, high-beam assist, driver attention alert, traffic sign recognition and blind-spot monitoring.

 

Of the three available powertrains, the 1.2-litre PureTech petrol is available in 82kW and 97kW tunes, with the former matched to a six-speed manual gearbox, while the latter is paired to an eight-speed Aisin torque-convertor automatic transmission.

 

The 97kW 1.5-litre BlueHDi diesel is offered in manual and automatic forms, while the five-speed manual-only 1.6-litre BlueHDi diesel is produced in 56kW and 75kW tunes.

 

The Partner and Combo differ from the Berlingo with their unique front-end and cabin designs but are otherwise mechanically identical. Neither are expected to be offered in Australia.

 

Sales of the Berlingo have taken a hit this year, with 63 examples sold to the end of May – a 34.4 per cent decrease over the 96 deliveries made during the same period in 2017.

 

This effort currently places the Berlingo behind the Volkswagen Caddy (871, up 21.5 per cent) and Renault Kangoo (320, down 12.3 per cent) in its segment this year.

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