CITROEN

Citroen celebrates 30th birthday of practical and versatile Berlingo

The first Berlingo arrived in 1996. Primarily conceived as a reliable and grateful partner for transporting various loads, it has since become one of the most common choices for families who prefer practicality and spaciousness.

This is the Citroen e-Berlingo. That little ‘e’ stands for electricity, but more on that in a moment. In a stroke of mild genius, the Berlingo was the first van-based car on the market back in 1996, bringing a noisy lack of refinement but immense practicality and loads of space to the family market. It lured people in with bright interiors, sliding doors and did we mention loads of space? It had loads of space.

Over 1.5 million since the car was first launched back in 1996, but you meant how many generations. The third iteration of the Berlingo was revealed in 2018 – roomier, rounder, more refined – with the electric variant launched in 2021.

Citroen followed this up with a facelift in late 2023, which brought with it the brand’s new logo and design signature, a much welcome updated interior with improved tech and – crucially – more range than before.

Officially you’re looking at 213 miles, up from 171, thanks to a new 52kWh (50 kWh usable) battery, which reads much healthier on paper but is still going to be a lot lower in practice. Generally account for two thirds of quoted range real world.

Citroen is celebrating the 30th birthday of the practical Berlingo model, a distant heir to Citroen's modest and tireless "workers" whose (farmers and traders loved the van bodies for transporting goods) were built on the basis of the 2CV, Dyane 6 and Visa passenger models.

Primarily conceived as a light commercial vehicle with two seats and a separate cargo area behind the sheet metal panels, the first-generation Berlingo, which was introduced in 1996, was also offered in combination with a glazed body, second-row seats and sliding doors on both sides, which placed it in the category of passenger cars from the MPV segment (Multi Purpose Vehicle).

Available in combination with four petrol and four diesel engines, with a redesign in 2002, the first Berlingo lasted until 2008, when the next generation arrived on the scene.

The passenger version of the second-generation Berlingo brings even more space and comfort in the cabin with better soundproofing, and significant improvements have also been made in the segment related to passenger safety.

The petrol engines develop from 98 to 120 hp, and the (turbo) diesel power options from 75 to 120 hp. With the second generation, which underwent two refresh treatments, the Berlingo could also be obtained in a combination powered only by an electric motor with 67 hp, and the battery capacity ensured a range of up to 170 kilometers on a single charge.

The current (even more comfortable, safer and better equipped) third generation, which was introduced in 2018, brings with it two body versions for the first time, and with a longer body and an increased wheelbase (XL), Berlingo becomes an excellent partner for above-average large families, because with the optional third row of seats, the cabin can now accommodate seven people. 

In addition to two turbocharged gasoline engines (110 and 130 hp) and one turbodiesel engine (130), an electric version with an electric motor developing 136 hp remains an option. After the redesigned edition in 2024, in addition to the aforementioned electric version with batteries that provide a range of up to 339 kilometers, Berlingo is only offered in combination with a 1.5-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel engine with two power levels. The weaker version (102 HP) is combined with a 6-speed manual transmission, while the 130 HP version comes with an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Called the e-Berlingo, the new model retains the familiar body shape of previous generations, but with a more modern design. The front abandons the twin headlights, very similar to those of the current C4 Cactus, and adopts the brand's new European identity, with simpler and straighter lines.

With its modern and expressive style, stemming from the new front, the Berlingo offers an onboard experience worthy of a sedan in terms of driving pleasure, comfort, and technology. More than ever, it meets the expectations of customers with active lifestyles, providing optimized comfort thanks to Citroën Advanced Comfort seats, along with a state-of-the-art infotainment system and connectivity. The new Berlingo maintains its practicality and modularity, as well as its capacity to carry up to 7 people.

The Berlingo is only available in an electric version, whose range has increased to 320 km (WLTP combined cycle currently under certification) thanks to a new 50 kWh LFP battery (usable capacity). An ideal solution for customers and families with a variety of leisure activities, concerned about the environmental impact of their choices. This option is particularly suitable for those living in suburban or provincial areas, who have the ability to recharge at home and wish to control their operating costs.

Autonews