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23/03/2009
By EWAN KENNEDY
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Citroen Berlingo is virtually all-new from the ground up and is larger than ever before. Size is important in the light-commercial field and even in the smaller end of the market operators are finding the need for something a size up on last year’s model. Thus the Berlingo is now based on the platform from the Citroen C4 Picasso people mover a vehicle with a solid footprint on the ground.
Interior space in the standard Berlingo is up by 10 per cent, from 3.0 to 3.3 cubic metres. There's also a long-body version that has an interior volume of up to 4.7 cubic metres.
 Both models have the same 2728 mm wheelbase. The larger L2 version of the Berlingo has a 248mm longer rear overhang. Compared with the old Berlingo, the L1 model is 240mm longer at 4380mm overall length and 80mm wider, with a wheelbase that is 350mm longer.
Inside there are plenty of handy storage spaces; including a large locker between the seats and a driver’s side glove box behind the instruments. A useful feature in these small vans is the roof-mounted tray over the occupants’ heads. Even better in the real world is the hook on which to hang the takeaway foods to stop spilling.
Payloads have also increased from the 800 kg of the original Berlingo. The new Berlingo L1 has an 850 kg payload capacity, while the L2 version has a 750 kg payload (the reduction is due to the extra mass of the bigger body).
Two ISO pallets can be carried in either version, thanks to a load compartment length of 1800 mm for the L1 or 2050 mm for the L2. Width between wheel arches is 1229 mm while the maximum width of the load compartment is 1620 mm.
 Citroen Berlingo’s load compartment is fully panelled to the waist rail to prevent damage and has a ladder-frame bulkhead to protect the driver.
In its two-seater format the passenger seat back folds flat onto the seat squab to provide a load carrying platform for longer lengths. At the rear of the vehicle the sill height is 584 mm for the L1 and 612 mm in the L2.
As standard, new Berlingo has glazed twin-hinged rear doors with a heated rear window and wiper. The twin rear doors are an asymmetric design, split 60/40. Both open out to 177 degrees, to enable the new Berlingo to back right into a loading bay.
Citroen Berlingo is offered in Australia with the choice of two engines; a 1.6-litre petrol unit and 1.6-litre turbo-diesel. Both produce 66 kW.
 The Citroen Berlingo range begins with a recommended retail price of $22,990 for the petrol short-body model, and moves up $26,490 for the turbo-diesel, long-body. Those looking for a real bargain may be able to snap up one of the outgoing Berlingo models, which will remain on the market for a time yet to be determined. Now called the Berlingo First it will sell for a recommended retail price of just $17,990. |
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