Item: Citroën e-Berlingo
Rating: 4
Author: What Car? Team

Citroen e-Spacetourer

Citroën Berlingo

Citroën Spacetourer

Citroën e-Berlingo

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Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

While the entry-level Citroën&nbsp;e-Berlingo undercuts the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/rifter/estate/review/n23858">Peugeot e-Rifter</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/combo-life/mpv/review/n23859">Vauxhall Combo-e Life</a> on list price, its top-spec XTR version doesn’t look quite as good value as the SE-spec Combo-e Life.&nbsp;

The e-Berlingo’s list price is lower than those other two electric <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-mpvs-and-people-carriers-2022/n17001">MPVs</a>&nbsp;but the Combo-e Life isn't much more expensive and will be worth more after three years, giving you a better trade-in value for your next purchase.

Fortunately, it should be exceptionally cheap to run because there’s no yearly VED road tax to pay, and home charging on an Economy 7 tariff will cost significantly less than filling up with petrol or diesel.

Entry-level Feel trim comes with all the basics, including air-con, automatic lights and wipers, cruise control, electric front windows and electrically operated door mirrors. It also includes&nbsp;the 8.0in infotainment system and rear parking sensors.

That said, we wouldn't blame you for going for the top XTR trim. It gives you 16in alloy wheels, electric rear windows, dual-zone climate control, picnic tables in the back and the convenience of the adjustable driver's lumbar support.

You also get lots of safety features, including automatic emergency braking<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-aeb-and-how-does-it-work/n3283"> (AEB)</a>, lane-keeping assistance and traffic sign recognition. It missed out on a five-star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/the-safest-cars-on-sale-today/n19724">Euro NCAP</a> rating, though, scoring four stars out of five because it was deemed that the AEB system wasn't especially effective. There were few quibbles over its structural integrity, though.&nbsp;

As a brand, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/citroen">Citroën</a> ranked 11th out of 30 manufacturers in the 2021 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2021-what-car-reliability-survey-brands/n23418">What Car? Reliability Survey</a> – higher than (in order) Volkswagen, Peugeot, Vauxhall and Ford.

All new e-Berlingos get a good but not exceptional three-year/60,000-mile warranty, although that increases to a Toyota-rivalling five-years and 100,000 miles if you buy it online. The battery pack is covered for eight years or 100,000 miles to retain 70% of its capacity.

Charging the e-Berlingo will take a little over seven hours from a wall charger, or roughly 30 mins from 10-80% on a 100kWh rapid charger.&nbsp;

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The Citroën e-Berlingo is powered by a 134bhp electric motor and 50kWh battery pack (its useable capacity&nbsp;is more like 45kWh).&nbsp;As you’d expect given its size and bluff aerodynamics, performance isn’t brisk at 11.5sec 0-62mph for the five-seater version, so you won’t be challenging the fastest <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-electric-cars-2021/n17000">electric cars</a> out there.

It is, however, just as swift as the regular petrol <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/citroen/berlingo/estate/review/n17319">Citroën Berlingo</a>, and because what power there is can be accessed immediately and there are no gears to change, it gets off the line smartly and keeps up with regular traffic easily. The official WLTP range is 174 miles.

The e-Berlingo beats its petrol sibling in terms of refinement. While the normal car is fine in everyday use, the electric model is far more peaceful because there’s none of the former’s three-cylinder thrum&nbsp;when getting up to speed, nor do you have to put up with its odd vibrations when making low-speed manoeuvres.

There's a little bit of electric motor whine at higher speeds, but wind and road noise are pretty low (although the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/touran/mpv/review/n17348">Volkswagen Touran</a>&nbsp;and other traditional MPVs are even quieter in these respects).

As for handling, the steering is light enough at low speeds (jolly helpful&nbsp;when manoeuvring the longer XL seven-seater version into a parking space) and it's accurate to give you confidence on faster, flowing roads. You'll still notice a bit of body lean through quick corners, even though the heavy batteries under the floor keep the e-Berlingo’s weight low to the ground.

For a van, the e-Berlingo is surprisingly surefooted, although you’ll need to look at non-electric&nbsp;alternatives including the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/s-max/mpv/review/n81">Ford S-Max</a>&nbsp;and Touran to find the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-mpvs-and-people-carriers-2022/n17001">best MPVs</a> in terms of handling.

By electric car standards, the e-Berlingo is supple over potholes around town, and sharper intrusions, such as expansion joints over bridges, at higher speeds. Again, if you’re after maximum comfort, you’ll need to look at non-electric rivals – the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/galaxy/mpv/review/n142">Ford Galaxy</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;Touran, for example.

OUR PICK

Fuel 

Gearbox

0-62 MPH

The 109bhp three-cylinder petrol engine is the best compromise for the Berlingo. It’s quiet and very willing to pull from low revs and has a surprisingly strong mid-range, too – 0-62mph takes 11.5sec. Plus you can expect reasonably good fuel economy.

http://example.com

1.2 PureTech

12-puretech

99bhp and low-end poke mean it's flexible enough and good for towing, but we'd still go for the more powerful petrols instead.

1.5 BlueHDi 100

15-bluehdi-100

This engine is available only from stock. It is remarkably smooth and refined for a diesel engine, and has lots of useful low-down grunt that’ll be great for those who regularly carry large loads or lots of people – especially useful if you opt for the seven-seat model. It also offers great fuel economy if you do lots of motorway miles. It's available with a slick, eight-speed automatic gearbox, which feels like a perfect fit with this engine. 

1.5 BlueHDi 130

15-bluehdi-130

The 134bhp electric motor actually manages to keep up with the most potent 1.2-litre petrol-powered Berlingo. Its 0-62mph time of 11.5sec for the five-seater version isn’t exactly thrilling, but it gets off the line smartly and keeps up with regular traffic easily.

100kW

100kw

The question of how you make an MPV cool might just have been answered by the Citroën e-Berlingo – make it electric.

In years to come there will no doubt be many other multi-purpose 'volts-wagon' electric cars, but the Citroën e-Berlingo is one of a select few at the moment. There's also the nearly identical <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/rifter/estate/review/n23858">Peugeot e-Rifter</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/combo-life/mpv/review/n23859">Vauxhall Combo-e Life</a>, along with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/e-nv200/van/review/n20139">Nissan e-NV200</a> Combi.

All four are effectively electric vans with extra seats and windows so they're more suited to family life than work duties.

Now, you might think the only reason you’ll buy an e-Berlingo over an e-Rifter or Combo-e Life is that a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/citroen">Citroën</a>&nbsp;dealership is closer to you than any other brand's. However, there are a number of differences between the three – and we'll explain them in this review.

In non-electric form, we’ve traditionally preferred the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/citroen/berlingo/estate/review/n17319">Citroën Berlingo</a> out of the three choices (in petrol or diesel form) because it offers the best value for money. If you go by base price, the e-Berlingo is indeed the least expensive of these <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-electric-cars-2021/n17000">electric cars</a> to buy.

This current (not a pun, but it can be...) version has just as many safety features as the regular Berlingo as standard. It can also be had in two body styles: a shorter one (called 'M') with five seats and a longer one ('XL') with seating for seven passengers.&nbsp;

Yes, you’ve read that correctly: you can have an all-electric seven-seater without having to fork out for a pricey <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-x/hatchback/review/n161">Tesla Model X</a>. The Berlingo’s simple sliding rear doors work perfectly well in tight car parks (arguably better than the Model X's overly complicated gullwing doors, in fact).

Read on to find out whether the electric conversion has made the Citroën e-Berlingo even easier to live with than the original Berlingo, and how it compares with other electric van-based <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-mpvs-and-people-carriers-2022/n17001">MPVs</a> you might be considering. We'll cover all aspects of the car, from its performance and range to the quality of the interior and the running costs.

Remember, when you do decide to buy a new vehicle of any make and model, we can help you cut the cost by thousands if you search for the best price using our free&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">What Car? New Car Buying service</a>. It has a good selection of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/citroen/berlingo/estate/deals">Citroën Berlingo deals</a>.

The interior of the e-Berlingo is a carbon-copy of the regular <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/citroen/berlingo/estate/review/n17319">Citroën Berlingo</a>&nbsp;so&nbsp;you’ll find lots of durable, hard-wearing plastics.

If you go for the top-spec XTR trim, you’ll be treated to brighter fabrics and finishes inside that lift it above the equivalent <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/combo-life/mpv/review/n23859">Vauxhall Combo-e Life</a>. For something more understated, look at the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/rifter/estate/review/n23858">Peugeot e-Rifter</a> with its calmer colour palette. On the whole, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/touran/mpv/review/n17348">Volkswagen Touran</a> feels much more car-like, with a plusher interior.

You sit much higher up in the e-Berlingo compared with the driving position of the Touran. It’s similar in stature to many SUVs, giving a clear view of the instrument panel (XTR also has a head-up display).

The e-Berlingo's flat seats offer little in the way of side support to hold you in place through corners. The driver's seat is height-adjustable, while top-spec XTR trim adds adjustable lumbar support. You can adjust the steering wheel for reach and rake on all version.

The controls on the dashboard are chunky and straightforward to use. What's more (and unlike many recent <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/citroen">Citroën</a> models) there are physical knobs and buttons to control the ventilation system so you don't have to dive into a sub-menu on the touchscreen simply to change the temperature.

Sadly, the infotainment system isn’t as responsive or as easy to navigate as that of the Touran. The menu layout takes some getting used to because there are too many layers you must dive through before you find what you want. The system isn't responsive enough to commands, either.

On the bright side, it&nbsp;comes as standard with an 8.0in touchscreen, a DAB radio, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration and a USB port. XTR trim adds voice activation, TomTom sat-nav and an eCall emergency response button.

Seeing out is easy thanks to the big windows and door mirrors, and you get rear parking sensors as standard to make life easier. It's worth getting the optional Park Assist Pack because you gain front sensors and a rear-view camera, which are particularly helpful with the longer XL model.

Estate

Citroën is probably most famous for its quirky design, and the latest cars from the brand live up to this tradition, featuring paintwork-protecting ‘Airbumps’ and eschewing the sporty looks favoured by most rivals.

Indeed, Citroën tends to keep away from sportiness altogether and instead tries to put comfort first.

Value (but not cheapness) is also key to the appeal of most Citroëns. And the company’s range includes everything from small hatchbacks (such as the C1 and C3) to big, family-friendly seven-seaters (the Spacetourer and Grand C4 Spacetourer).

The C3 Aircross SUV is another of its popular models, while a larger C5 Aircross is planned.

CITROEN

BERLINGO

Electric van-based MPV is peaceful to drive and tough to beat for practicality, but lacks equipment in entry-level form

First, you need to choose whether you want five or seven seats in your Citroën e-Berlingo, because if you want seven you'll have to select the longer XL model rather than the regular-sized M version.

Our favourite is the five-seat M, which still offers a vast amount of passenger space for those with a smaller crowd to carry. There’s so much head room in the front and back that it's hard to imagine anyone struggling, while rear leg room is very generous too. The rear bench is wide enough to accommodate three adults with ease, and the two outer rear seats have Isofix child-seat mounting points.

If you opt for the seven-seat XL model, the third-row seats offer generous head room, but their leg room isn't as good as in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/galaxy/mpv/review/n142">Ford Galaxy</a>.

The rear sliding doors make it a doddle for passengers to get in or out when you’re parked up next to a wall or another car.

You get masses of storage space, particularly in the front, and the cupholder on top of the dashboard is a nice touch – it’s easy to reach and doesn’t obstruct your view of the road. The rearmost windows don’t wind down on the entry-level Feel trim, they simply pop open a few centimetres. You get four electric windows in the XTR trim.&nbsp;

When it comes to clever seating tricks, the e-Berlingo isn't quite as impressive. The five-seater's rear seats split in a 60/40 layout (you get three equal-sized seats with the XTR trim) and can fold down flush with the floor of the boot thanks to a nifty hinged seat base. You can’t slide them back and forth or recline them as you can in many conventional MPVs, such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/touran/mpv/review/n17348">Volkwagen Touran</a>.&nbsp;

As for boot space, there’s loads of it. Even the regular five-seater has nearly 775 litres below the parcel shelf (1050 litres for the XL). That's massive – more than the Touran and, indeed, pricier large SUVs such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/5008/estate/review/n17369">Peugeot 5008</a> can offer.

In the XL, the rearmost two seats can be completely removed from the car to add boot space, and you get 4000 litres of cargo room with all the rear seats down. To put that in context, there'll be no need to hire a van when taking your kids to uni.

The boot is square&nbsp;with no obstructive lip at the entrance and the opening matches the width of the boot floor. The only annoyance is how enormous the tailgate is because, being top-hinged, it can only be opened when there’s a large gap behind the car. The XTR gets around that by providing a rear window that opens independently, which is more usable.

We are yet to try out this variant

Feel

feel

Top-spec XTR trim has a head-up display, privacy glass, an opening tailgate window, a panoramic sunroof and 17in alloy wheels.

flair-xtr

The Citroën e-Berlingo electric van-based MPV is streets ahead of the outdated Nissan e-NV200 in terms of both range and performance. It’s peaceful to drive and few others can beat it for practicality. Just be aware that its van origins mean it won’t have as fancy an interior as some rivals, and that the Vauxhall Combo-e Life is better value overall.


Need to load up several people and all of their luggage for a big road trip? A van-based MPV could be the answer to your prayers. Although these vehicles are heavily based on commercial vehicles, most will include higher quality materials than their working siblings, and creature comforts designed to keep everyone comfy. Most are spacious, too, with a boot large enough to accommodate multiple large suitcases – even if every seat is also filled.

Van-based MPV

<h2>What we're looking for </h2><ul><li>Long range and ultra-fast charging capability</li> <li>Luxurious and comfortable interior</li> <li>Smooth ride and capable handling</li> <li>Lots of high-tech driver aids</li> <li>Strong performance and great refinement</li></ul>

Large Electric

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Sufficient range between charges to fit in with most people’s lifestyles – and in the real world, not on some far-fetched official test </li> <li>Quick charging times and compatibility with the most ubiquitous types of public charging points </li> <li>Priced to be within the grasp of more than just the privileged few </li> <li>As with any car, ride comfort, practicality and ownership costs can’t be ignored</li></ul>

We define an electric car as one that runs purely on battery power and has no tailpipe to puff out nasty chemicals. These cars qualify for the maximum plug-in car grant (PICG) of £1500.

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/zoe/hatchback/review/n152">Renault Zoe</a> is one of the most affordable options and has a surprisingly long range of between 120 and 180 miles (depending on the weather and the road type). However, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/leaf/hatchback/review/n17338">Nissan Leaf</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/id3/hatchback/review/n21832">Volkswagen ID.3</a> are more practical and more accomplished to drive, even if the latter doesn't have a particularly long range between charges.

At the other end of the scale, Tesla’s ground-up EV philosophy – and the American brand’s network of super-fast chargers – makes the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-s/hatchback/review/n150">Model S</a> a tempting choice. It has a classy interior, loads of tech and a long enough real-world range to make inter-city travel a real possibility.

Electric

Citroën e-Berlingo review

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Buying advice for the Citroën e-Berlingo covering running costs, MPG, Fuel Economy, Reliability and Safety, from the expert What Car? review team.

While the entry-level Citroën e-Berlingo undercuts the Peugeot e-Rifter and Vauxhall Combo-e Life on list price, its top-spec XTR version doesn’t look quite as good value as the SE-spec Combo-e Life. ,The e-Berlingo’s list price is lower than those other two electric MPVs but the Combo-e Life isn't much more expensive and will be worth more after three years, giving you a better trade-in value for your next purchase.,Fortunately, it should be exceptionally cheap to run because there’s no yearly VED road tax to pay, and home charging on an Economy 7 tariff will cost significantly less than filling up with petrol or diesel.Entry-level Feel trim comes with all the basics, including air-con, automatic lights and wipers, cruise control, electric front windows and electrically operated door mirrors. It also includes the 8.0in infotainment system and rear parking sensors.That said, we wouldn't blame you for going for the top XTR trim. It gives you 16in alloy wheels, electric rear windows, dual-zone climate control, picnic tables in the back and the convenience of the adjustable driver's lumbar support.,You also get lots of safety features, including automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane-keeping assistance and traffic sign recognition. It missed out on a five-star Euro NCAP rating, though, scoring four stars out of five because it was deemed that the AEB system wasn't especially effective. There were few quibbles over its structural integrity, though. ,As a brand, Citroën ranked 11th out of 30 manufacturers in the 2021 What Car? Reliability Survey – higher than (in order) Volkswagen, Peugeot, Vauxhall and Ford.All new e-Berlingos get a good but not exceptional three-year/60,000-mile warranty, although that increases to a Toyota-rivalling five-years and 100,000 miles if you buy it online. The battery pack is covered for eight years or 100,000 miles to retain 70% of its capacity.Charging the e-Berlingo will take a little over seven hours from a wall charger, or roughly 30 mins from 10-80% on a 100kWh rapid charger. ,For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter here

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