Citroën Berlingo Multispace (2008 - 2018) 1.6 HDi (90bhp) XTR 5d (2008/58) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

Practical rather than overtly stylish; a thinking man's "sports car". Fieldsman rather than fashion victim. Some might say 'grandad' or 'married with kids', but I think of machines like this as real men's cars. Well, except it lacks 4x4 ;)

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

Impressed by the simple understated shape, high stature, big wheels and rugged looking front. Not to mention that pearlescent paint and all that glass! Sure it's boxy, but it's well rounded and sleek. No complaints yet! Even initial critics are soon found to be uttering 'Wow!' when they get inside.

Would you buy this car again and why?

Yes, but I'd probably go for the 110hp version. Shame they don't do something like a 2.0 or 2.2 with proper hp and torque figures. That’s the one thing that would hugely improve the drive in my opinion. It's PSA after all - they can certainly build good engines with punch when they want to!

What are you likely to buy next?

A 2011 Berlingo Multispace; hopefully with a bigger, meatier engine!

Type of dealer you bought from?

Independent

Did you buy this car new?

Yes

What price did you pay?

£0

When did you buy the car?

September 2009

Did you get a good deal and why?

n/a (Motability 3 year lease)

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

Motability vehicle.

What was the dealer like?

Excellent. Very friendly, informative and relaxed. Not at all pushy or rude (unlike some other even more common marques!). Second only to Skoda in my experience.

What's it like to drive?

Even the 1.6 HDi 90hp needs to be driven a little hard (almost like a petrol) to get anything even resembling brisk acceleration from the lights or for overtaking. However despite this it's still returning 48mpg combined and 52+ on a run and not even run in, yet! I should add it's far from gutless, and handles loads perfectly well. Once you're cruising you barely need to be touching the throttle - the car virtually drives itself and has excellent economy. TOP TIP: These are rather high geared. Despite years of only owning diesels, I found that driving them a little more petrol-like (third gear 'til 40, fourth gear 'til 50 or so, then top gear only once settled at cruising speed) returns way better economy than short-shifting and straight to fifth. I get 55mpg or more (as per on

What's it like to park?

Easy. Virtually the entire panorama is glass, and the car's a nice parking space shaped boxy thing. Well, it was a van originally, despite the new car underpinnings! Very light power steering even manoeuvring on the clutch.

Have you had any problems with the car?

After 9,000 miles there's nothing much to report. Bedding in nicely, and not used any oil. Well maybe a mm or two off the dipstick, but not required any topping up. The 'aircraft' trays behind the front seats are woefully weak, but apart from that nothing to moan about.

What's most practical about your car?

It's a Berlingo! Bigger, cleverer and comfier than the previous model (Berlingo First). H-U-G-E boot, with the added bonus of that extra height as well as the massive length and width. A veritable luggage-eating cube! Slab-sided, no moulded bits intruding into your load-space (though yet another handy pocket in the 'wall' next to the rechargeable torch), and a full size lift-up tailgate with no hinges or mount points in the way of your access. Ideal rain shelter at events - just sit on the boot floor under the raised (approx 6ft 3in) tailgate! Also the XTR has three separate rear seats which slide, recline, fold, tumble and can be removed for a cavernous 3,000 litres of load space. We fit dogs, tools, cages, luggage, three kids and two adults (or even five adult men) in ours and e

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

Believe it or not I'd have to say the rear cargo net, I think. Daft sounding choice at first, maybe. But ten seconds to fit (or remove) and the dogs are safely stowed in the rear luggage area / boot for your journey. The parcel shelf is useless to us (we ALWAYS have dogs/tools/gear/rubbish in the boot) so that came straight out and into storage in favour of the versatile net. Tip: Put a cheap plastic tarp down on the boot floor. A Poundland one fits perfectly folded in half, with a few inches moulded up the side-walls to contain any mud or spills. Then if/when the rear seats are folded or removed (eg to carry rubbish) you can just unfold the tarp to fill the floor and fold it back again when you're finished! So yes, cargo net - unless you count the manual air-con (standard on X