Item: Mercedes Citan
Rating: 3
Author: What Car? Team

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Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

Unsurprisingly, the Citan will cost you more than its <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/kangoo/van/review/n18460">Kangoo</a> sister, but it does of course have superior badge appeal.

In addition, it’s possible to get close to the 62.8mpg and 61.4mpg that the 94bhp and 114bhp models managed respectively in official tests.

We would suggest specifying the Appearance Pack to make the Citan look a little less basic – it adds body-coloured bumpers and door mirrors – along with the Comfort Pack.

For all the latest van reviews, news, advice, and videos visit our dedicated van section&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/class/vans">here</a>.

The steering is one of the best features of the Citan, because it’s light yet responsive. However, in other respects the drive is a little rough around the edges.

Mercedes has tuned the Citan to its own preferences rather than relying on Renault’s suspension settings, but the result still isn’t as dynamic or smooth-riding as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/transit-connect/van/review/n18510">Ford Transit Connect</a> or the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/citroen/berlingo-cv/van/review/n18480">Citroen Berlingo</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/partner/van/review/n20209">Peugeot Partner</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/combo-cargo/van/review/n18391">Vauxhall Combo</a> sister vans.

More positively, the six-speed gearbox has a smooth action&nbsp;and feels well matched to both the 94bhp and 114bhp engines.

We’d choose the latter, because the greater amount of torque that it produces helps you pull away more smoothly.

When the Mercedes Citan was first announced there were more than a few raised eyebrows. Why would a premium brand like Mercedes partner with Renault to make a van? The answer is simple: the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/kangoo/van/review/n18460">Renault Kangoo</a> on which the Citan based is one of the best-selling vans in Europe.

Mercedes is an expert in the large van segment where its <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/sprinter/van/review/n18217">Sprinter</a> is among the class leaders, while its mid-sized <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/vito/van/review/n18152">Vito</a> is also a fine choice. But although both are Mercedes’ own creations and not shared with any partners, the brand does have form when it comes to tapping into the expertise of others when entering a new sector; it’s <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/x-class/pick-up/review/n186">X-Class pick-up</a> truck is closely related to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/navara/pick-up/review/n17169">Nissan Navara</a>.

Power for the Citan comes from a 1.5-litre engine available as a 109 CDI producing 94bhp or 111 CDI with 114bhp. Both are paired to a six-speed manual gearbox and meet Euro-6d emission standards.

Citan vans come in two lengths – standard (L2) and long (L3) – but are only available at a single roof height. There is also a crew van version with up to seven seats, which Mercedes calls the Citan Tourer. Payloads of up to 932kg can be carried, while load space is up to 3.8 cubic metres.

As well as competing against the Renault Kangoo, the Mercedes Citan is also in the same small van segment as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/transit-connect/van/review/n18510">Ford Transit Connect</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/combo-cargo/van/review/n18391">Vauxhall Combo</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/caddy/van/review/n18482">Volkswagen Caddy</a>.

Due to the ageing nature of its underpinnings, the Citan does without some of the latest safety and driver assistance features, but on a purely cosmetic and functional basis it still feels relatively up to date.

Its interior is smart, with a decent amount of room for a small van. Plus, there’s a useful storage area between the driver and passenger seats&nbsp;and enough space for A4 document stowage in the centre of the dash.

Standard equipment includes cruise control, a speed limiter and a Bluetooth-enabled radio. But we’d consider adding the Comfort Pack, which includes simple things like an armrest, as well as air conditioning, rear parking sensors and electrically adjustable door mirrors.

Other options include a navigation system with DAB radio and a reversing camera.

Mercedes’ line-up is vast – ranging from the A-Class family hatchback through to staple saloons such as the C-Class and E-Class, and onwards towards multiple SUVs, luxury saloons and even sports cars. Coupés and convertibles are thrown into the mix as well.

As one of the ‘big three’ German brands, Mercedes most often finds itself competing with Audi and BMW but more recently has found itself fending off Jaguar and Volvo, too.

Mercedes models are known for comfort. One example of this is the E-Class, because while the Audi A6 has a plusher interior and the BMW 5 Series handles better, the E-Class is probably the most comfortable for a long motorway journey.

MERCEDES-BENZ

Citan

Good fuel economy and competitive cargo space, but equipment feels a little basic and some rivals are better to drive.

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/kangoo/van/review/n18460">Renault Kangoo</a>’s status as the best-selling small van in Europe has helped define the sector, so it’s little surprise that most vans in the segment are about the same size as the Kangoo – and therefore its Citan sister.

The L2 Citan measures 4321mm and can swallow a load up to 1753mm long if the additional 370mm of space is used beneath the front seat, while the L3 measures 4705mm in length and can move cargo up to 2137mm in length.

Width in the rear is 1460mm, with up to 1219mm between the wheel arches, while the van’s height allows for cargo up to 1258mm tall. In total, an L2 van has a maximum load volume of 3.1m3, while an L3 can transport 3.8m3.

The Citan is available at 2.0, 2.1 or 2.2-tonne gross vehicle weights, with&nbsp;payloads varying quite significantly from as little as 515kg for a 2.0-tonne L2 van up to 661kg for a 2.2-tonne L3 version.

Access to the load space is via twin rear doors that open to 180deg, but sliding doors for side access can be specified on the options list.

The Mercedes Citan offers good fuel economy and competitive cargo space, but equipment feels a little basic and some rivals are better to drive.

Small Van

Mercedes Citan review

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Buying advice for the Mercedes Citan covering running costs, MPG, Fuel Economy, Reliability and Safety, from the expert What Car? review team.

Unsurprisingly, the Citan will cost you more than its Kangoo sister, but it does of course have superior badge appeal.,In addition, it’s possible to get close to the 62.8mpg and 61.4mpg that the 94bhp and 114bhp models managed respectively in official tests.,We would suggest specifying the Appearance Pack to make the Citan look a little less basic – it adds body-coloured bumpers and door mirrors – along with the Comfort Pack.For all the latest van reviews, news, advice, and videos visit our dedicated van section here.

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