Citroen Berlingo

Every so often, a car comes along which manages to avoid falling into a specific social class. The Citroen Berlingo Multispace is one such motor. Launched in 1998 and based on the manufacturer's Berlingo van, it might not have had the most promising start in life. But that utilitarian base helped it establish the budget MPV sector and laid the foundations for its success.

Auto Express Car Reviews

July 2003

Every so often, a car comes along which manages to avoid falling into a specific social class. The Citroen Berlingo Multispace is one such motor. Launched in 1998 and based on the manufacturer's Berlingo van, it might not have had the most promising start in life. But that utilitarian base helped it establish the budget MPV sector and laid the foundations for its success.
By designing a commercial workhorse which drove and performed as if it was a standard car, Citroen quickly realised that its small-van design could easily be turned into a family-friendly car for everyday use.
The result was the quirky yet im-mensely practical Multispace. Costing no more than an ordinary supermini, its interior space rivals that of a full-size MPV. Inside, there's acres of leg and headroom, a massive boot and bargain-basement running costs.
To some it looks a bit odd, but those characterful features are simply part of the Berlingo's appeal for others. Citroen doesn't try to hide the fact it's a van with windows and a back seat - that's exactly what it is. And to the growing army of Berlingo converts, that's more than enough.
Checklist
* Those large front doors are prone to car park dents. Sliding side doors fare better, as they're well protected and don't get opened into things.
* Check the fixing points for the rear seats, which are removable. If any of them don't latch properly, it'll be a failure point at MoT time.
* Some Berlingos are plagued by minor but irritating electrical faults such as duff interior lights and stereos.
* Don't worry if the door locks feel loose and fiddly - it's a Berlingo trait. Later cars have remote central locking, which gets round the problem.
* Many examples double up as working vehicles, so look for those that have hard a hard life. Tell-tales are scuffs around the rear loading hatch and knocks from the rear suspension.
Glass's View
Although it's a budget choice, the Berlingo is very much in demand, says trade bible Glass's Guide. It resists depreciation far better than any other Citroen and is regarded as practical and competent. Even base-spec models are easy to sell, but don't expect strong residuals to continue. Fierce dealer discounting and the arrival of a facelifted edition mean the old model's value will decline more quickly.
Life With A Berlingo...
Police officer Caroline Masterson of Hastings, East Sussex, is a huge fan of the Berlingo. However, initially, she'd been less than impressed. "When my husband first pointed it out to me at the British Motor Show, I said that I'd never drive one," 35-year-old Caroline revealed. "I thought it was nothing more than an ugly van with windows." But when she had to replace her car 18 months ago, the Berlingo became a much more attractive proposition.

She said: "I didn't want a big MPV such as a Ford Galaxy, and couldn't see the point of paying more for a car which was less practical than the Citroen." Since buying her 1.4 Forté, Caroline has become a Multispace devotee. "I absolutely love it," she explained. "It's so functional. Because the doors slide, the children don't open them into anything. And as they can stand up in the back, getting them in and out is very easy, while their bicycles fit behind the back seat." The only problem has been a slight water leak, which was fixed by the dealership the day it was discovered. Otherwise, the car has been totally reliable and Caroline will replace it with another. "I'll probably go for a diesel," she told us. "I want a bit more power and the fuel saving will be a huge benefit."