Citroen's improved e-Berlingo van is often a go-to choice in the market for small full-battery LCVs. Jonathan Crouch finds out why.

Ten Second Review

Citroen's e-Berlingo aims to set the standard for small EV vans. All the figures seem to stack up - and it's a little more affordable than some obvious rivals too. But the price premium to switch to electric still requires serious thought. This Citroen though, might reward operators prepared for just that. Especially in this improved form.

Background

For decades now, Citroen's Berlingo has been one of the market's go-to choices when it comes to small vans. Appropriately then, it was one of the very first to be offered in full-electric form, the resulting e-Berlingo model matching the usability of its diesel counterpart. This Stellantis Group shared design replicates what you can also have with full-electric versions of the Peugeot Partner, the Vauxhall Combo, the Fiat Doblo and the Toyota Proace City. But Citroen hopes that decades of LCV experience with its dealer network will give it an advantage when operators are making up their minds. It's billed as an electric van with no compromise. Is it? Let's check this improved model out and see.

Driving Experience

So what's it like? Well you sit quite high and pressing the start button gets you a beep and a green ready message on the display ahead. You're ready: for van motoring electric-style. As usual with Citroen EVs, the e-Berlingo offers three driving modes - 'ECO', 'Normal' and 'Power'. You won't want to spend too long in 'ECO', unless you really are eeking out battery capacity because it reduces the powertrain's normal 134bhp output to just 80bhp and also restricts the climate system to conserve power. Citroen recommends that you do most of your driving in the 'Normal' setting, which increases the motor output to 107bhp. The top 'Power' mode isn't really intended for sporty driving but for situations when you're carrying heavy loads. The powertrain also has a 'B' setting which increases the level of regenerative braking to a point where the car slows so much when you come off throttle that you'll very rarely need to use the brake, unless you're coming to a complete stop. And there's a regenerative braking system that can now be activated at three different levels using steering wheel paddles. You need that B setting to get anywhere near the now-improved official driving range, which thanks to an enhanced 52kWh battery is now claimed at 205 miles. Like all electric vehicles, this one has a bit of a weight problem - that drivetrain adds over 300kgs of bulk, but that arguably helps the e-Berlingo when it comes to ride quality; you'll feel things like speed humps keenly, but at speed on the open road, it handles tarmac tears a little better than its diesel cousin. This e-Berlingo feels really at home in an urban environment and you'll feel really confident in it because the steering is light and the suspension deals with poorer surfaces quite well. Even with the 'Power' mode engaged, the rest to 62mph sprint takes 11.7s and the top speed is restricted to just 81mph, so this EV won't be as good as its diesel counterpart for extended motorway runs.

Design and Build

There's very little outward differentiation to identify this particular Berlingo's all-electric status. Unless you notice the lack of tailpipes and the addition of a charging flap, the badging is the only real giveaway. The updated version of this e-Berlingo adopts the more distinctive stubby front-end style the brand first showed us with the E-C3 supermini. That sees the company's new logo on a more overt front-end grille. The result is a look that's a little more expressive and distinctively Citroen than before. As in the combustion range, there's a choice of standard M or long wheelbase XL body styles, which both have a sliding door (the XL has two). At first glance, the cab doesn't seem much different from the diesel version, but closer inspection reveals different instrumentation and an e-Toggle drive mode selector in place of the gearshift. The drive modes are selected by a switch alongside. There's the usual two-person passenger front seat. In the cab, all e-Berlingo vans now benefit from the brand's 'Advanced Comfort' seats, which include specially engineered lateral supports that are enveloped in high-density memory foam. Apart from that, if you happen to be familiar with the original version of this model, the main change you'll notice once inside plusher variants is the addition of a larger 10-inch central screen, accompanied by a digital instrument cluster of the same size. As previously, you can have your E-Berlingo fitted out with a load-through bulkhead and a dual passenger bench with under-seat storage. There is no lack of storage space in the cab: 16 storage points according to Citroen, these including a 15-litre area in the centre console.

Market and Model

After deduction of the available £2,500 Plug-in van grant, Citroen now wants from around £25,500 from you for this e-Berlingo Electric excluding VAT. This undercuts most comparable rivals and is only around £3,000 more than an equivalent BlueHdi 130 EAT8 auto diesel model. A sliding door on the left side is standard with the M body shape, while twin sliding side doors are standard with the lengthier XL version. At the back, the unglazed asymmetric rear doors open to 180-degrees. There's also a Crew Van variant with a second fold-out seating row, only available in 'Enterprise' trim for around £28,000- ex VAT after grant deduction. Citroen offers two e-Berlingo van trim levels - 'Enterprise' and 'Driver'. You'll need plusher 'Driver' spec if you want the useful 'Extenso' opening bulkhead and the latest 10-inch central infotainment screen. But all e-Berlingos get rear parking sensors, cruise control with a programmable speed limiter, remote control central locking with deadlocks, an overhead storage shelf in the cabin and air conditioning. Across the range, there are two USB ports in the cab and your dealer will offer you accessories like rubber floor mats and ply lining for the load space. Plus there's plenty of standard safety kit, including airbags for the driver and front passenger, lane keep assist, an advanced emergency braking system, driver attention alert, high beam assist and intelligent speed assistance speed limit information.

Practicalities and Costs

If you're thinking of making the switch to an e-Berlingo, you'll be pleased to learn that the EV powertrain doesn't compromise practicality. Total capacity depends on your choice between standard M (4.4-metres long) and long XL (4.75-metres long) body styles. There's the usual side-opening siding door and twin side-hinged rear doors that open to 180 degrees. The M version offers 3,090mm of cargo area load length, with a maximum load height of 1,200mm and a maximum load width between the wheel arches of 1,229mm. The XL body shape offers 3,440mm of cargo area load length. Yet more space can be freed up with the clever 'Extenso' feature. This uses a folding front passenger bench to add an extra 0.4m3, while also increasing the maximum load length by 1.3m. Maximum load volume including the 'Extenso' system on the M version is 3.8m3; on the XL model, it's 4.4m3. The maximum payload is up to 800kg (750kg for the XL) and there's a 1-tonne towing capacity - all figures being the same as with the diesel version. We gave you the range figure - 205 miles - in our 'Driving' section: bear in mind that with any extended high-speed driving, you'll see that figure plummet very quickly. You can charge the 52kWh battery from a 100kW public rapid charger from 0-80% in 30 minutes. When connected to a 7kW garage wallbox, you'll need seven and a half hours to fully replenish the battery; or five hours with an 11kW onboard charger. This Citroen can't match the 10 year warranty cover you get on a comparable Toyota Proace City Electric but there's the usual 3 year/60,000 mile warranty and the battery gets separate cover up that promises to retain up to 70% of its capacity over 8 years or 100,000 miles.

Summary

If you can justify the price premium over the diesel model, there are lots of reasons to like the e-Berlingo van over its diesel counterpart, especially with this LCV in this improved form. It's better to drive than the black pump-fuelled model and the capacity figures are just as good. The range is now more class competitive too, though you'll need to be aware that the real world driving mileage figures may not come quite as close as you'd like to the official stats. Of course, you can get much the same package with full-electric versions of the Peugeot Partner, the Vauxhall Combo, the Fiat Doblo and the Toyota Proace city. But Citroen's dealers are often particularly competitive on price - and well versed in the needs of commercial operators. If that's enough to persuade you into a new EV era for your fleet's small vans with this e-Berlingo, you shouldn't be disappointed with what you get here.