The new Citroen Berlingo van has made its public debut at the 2018 IAA Commercial Vehicles show – where it also received the 2019 International Van of the Year award in combination with the closely related Peugeot Partner and Vauxhall Combo.
Keep reading for full details of the third-generation Citroen Berlingo, including pricing and trim details, and to view pictures live from the IAA show.
Parkers Vans and Pickups will bring you the first review of the new Berlingo in October 2018.
Highlights of the 2018 Citroen Berlingo van
The first Citroen Berlingo van arrived in 1996 – 22 years and 1.5 million examples later, the brand new third-generation Citroen Berlingo van is on sale in the UK in late 2018, and you are able to order one now.
Together with its Peugeot Partner and Vauxhall Combo cousins, it instantly becomes one of the most advanced vans we’ve ever seen in the small van sector.
Highlight features include payload ratings up to 1,000kg (1.0-tonne) and an Overload Indicator that can automatically tell you if you’ve exceeded its payload capacity – which should prove handy for staying on the right side of the law.
But that’s just the tip of the high-tech iceberg here, as there are no less than 20 driver assistance systems available. Keep reading for full details of the 2018 Citroen Berlingo Van.
Citroen Berlingo van 2018 – new design and engineering for improved efficiency and driveability
As with the 2018 Combo and Partner, the new Berlingo is built on a mashup between the old Berlingo/Partner van platform and PSA Peugeot–Citroen’s modern EMP2 car platform.
The EMP2 bits come at the front, reducing weight and a promising car-like driving experience. This includes an upgrade to electrically assisted power-steering, which replaces the old hydraulic power-steering, and contributes to improved fuel efficiency as well as easier handling.
The front of the new van is noticeably shorter and higher, bringing a tighter turning circle for better manoeuvrability. It also has very distinctively Citroen styling, clearly separating the Berlingo from its Peugeot and Vauxhall cousins; the sides and rears of all three vans are much more clearly related.
Citroen Berlingo van 2018 – body variants and trim levels
Citroen has announced the new Berlingo van will come in two distinct versions: Worker and Driver.
The Citroen Berlingo Worker is a more rugged device, designed to cope with a tough life on building sites and the like.
Hence it has 30mm extra suspension height, a protective plate under the engine, and a Grip Control enhanced traction system that includes a selection of driving modes for tricky surfaces, plus mud and snow tyres and Hill Descent Control, all fitted as standard.
You also get a plastic covered floor for easy cleaning, a higher payload rating (up to that headline 1,000kg), and in the load area extra lighting, a 12v socket and mid-height load-lashing rings.
The Citroen Berlingo Driver is designed for long-distance driving in comfort. As such it has ‘meticulous acoustics’ (translation: extra sound deadening) and additional driver-assistance systems.
Highlight features include dual-zone climate control, automatic lights and wipers, cruise control, an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and clever Surround Rear Vision camera setup (on which more below).
Beyond these specification differences, the 2018 Berlingo is available in two panel van versions – short-wheelbase (SWB) M and long-wheelbase (LWB) XL – seating up to three, and as a Crew Cab with a second row of seats, seating up to five (XL only).
The Crew Cab comes with folding rear seats and a movable mesh bulkhead so you can balance safety and space as required.
The full trim details are as follows:
The Citroen Berlingo X is the entry-level model, and it and all the other versions come with the following kit:
- Full bulkhead
- Hill start assist
- Remote central locking with separate locking for the cab
- Electric windows and door mirrors
- Auto lights with Daytime Running Lights
- DAB digital radio
- Bluetooth, USB and audio sockets
- 12V socket in dash area
- Citroen Connect SOS system
- Unglazed asymmetric rear doors
- Nearside sliding door (L1 model only)
- Twin sliding side door (L2 model only)
The Citroen Berlingo Worker gets the same kit as the X, plus the following:
- Higher ground clearance (+30mm)
- 16-inch wheels with mud and snow tyres
- Advanced Grip Control traction control system with specific settings for slippery surfaces
- Driver’s seat with armrest and lumbar support
- Multi-Flex folding passenger seat with load-through bulkhead
- Plastic-coated floorpan for extra under-body protection
- Payload uprated to 1,000kg (max)
- Four mid-height lashing rings
- Extra load-area LED lighting
- Overload indicator
- Tyre pressure monitor
- Front fog lights with cornering function
The Citroen Berlingo Enterprise also builds on the X trim and adds the following:
- Air conditioning
- Rear parking sensors
- Cruise control with speed limiter
- Electronic parking brake
- Alarm
- One-touch electric windows and heated electric folding door mirrors
- Tyre pressure monitor
- Driver’s seat with armrest and lumbar support
- Multi-Flex folding passenger seat with load-through bulkhead
- Steering wheel infotainment controls
- 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Mirrorlink
- Hard plastic flooring in load bay
- 15-inch wheel trims (650 models)
- 16-inch wheel trims (950 and 1000 models)
- Front fog lights with cornering function
The Citroen Berlingo Driver is the top-of-the-range model so gets everything that the others come with all and more, with the following added to the Enterprise’s trim:
- Increased soundproofing for quieter long-distance travel
- ‘Comfort’ driver’s seats
- Surround Rear Vision camera system
- Front parking sensors
- Satellite navigation
- Automatic wipers
- 16-inch alloy wheels
- Body-coloured bumpers and exterior details
Citroen Berlingo van 2018 – dimensions and load area
On the outside, the 2018 Citroen Berlingo has the following basic dimensions:
- Exterior length: 4,400mm M / 4,750mm XL
- Exterior height: 1,850mm M / 1,850mm XL Worker
- Exterior width: 2,100mm (with door mirrors)
Citroen has released the following load area diensions info:
- Load length: 1,810mm M / 2,160mm XL
- Width between the wheelarches: 1,230mm
- Load volume: 3.3 cubic metres M / 3.9 cubic metres
- Load volume with Extenso Cab: 3.8 cubic metres / 4.4 cubic metres
- Maximum payload: 1,000kg M / 950kg XL
The Extenso Cab has space for three passengers up front, but also a fold down passenger seat and a load-through bulkhead, creating more cargo space – hence the additional load volume where fitted. It also includes a pivoting mobile office desk built into the back rest of the middle front seat.
The width between the wheelarches is the same as the previous Berlingo, but that’s wide enough to accommodate a Euro pallet. There’s enough floor length for two Euro pallets in total.
A roof hatch option means that longer loads can be carried without needing to leave the rear doors open. So long as they and anything else in the van doesn’t mind getting wet if it rains.
A choice of one or two sliding side doors is offered on the 2018 Berlingo in the UK; continental buyers get the option to delete the side doors altogether.
Load volume in general is competitive rather than outstanding among rival small vans. That 1,000kg payload rating, however, places the new Berlingo right near the top of the small van class.
Minimum payload on less heavy duty Berlingos is in the region of 650kg, with particularly fuel-economy focused models likely to drop back to around 600kg.
Maximum towing capacity is 1,500kg (braked).
Citroen Berlingo van 2018 – engine choice
The new Berlingo will be offered with a choice of both petrol and diesel engines. The latter will be more economical on longer journeys, but increasing environmental concerns about diesel means that petrol may prove more popular than ever with those who do fewer miles.
All the petrols are 1.2-litre PureTech models equipped with stop-start technology as standard. A 110hp version paired to a six-speed manual gearbox will be available from launch, with a 130hp model complete with standard-fit eight-speed automatic transmission arriving in the second half of 2019.
The initial announcement suggested the diesels would all be 1.5-litre BlueHDi, offering 75hp, 100hp and 130hp – however it appears that in the UK at least, the two lower power outputs may be based on the older 1.6-litre BlueHDi initially.
All but the 75hp model will have stop-start in the UK as standard, while the 130hp model gets a choice between a six-speed manual gearbox or the eight-speed automatic.
The other diesels get a five-speed manual gearbox only.
Citroen Berlingo van 2018 – Overload Indicator and Surround Rear Vision
The 2018 Berlingo – together with its Peugeot and Vauxhall cousins – has two van technology firsts: Overload Indicator and Surround Rear Vision.
The Overload Indicator is exactly what it sounds like – a system that alerts you if the van is over its maximum payload limit. Hit 80% and a white LED warning light comes on; go over the full amount and the warning light turns orange. Simple, and very smart, and we can’t believe no-one had fitted one to a van before.
What’s more, the system activates whenever you turn the van on or press a button in the load area.
Surround Rear Vision consists of two cameras – one at the rear of the van, one in the passenger side door mirror, pointed backwards.
The rear one functions not just as a reversing camera but as a replacement for a traditional rear view mirror. The side one comes on whenever you indicate in that direction, counteracting the blindspot on the far side of the van.
Both can be used to help negotiate tight parking spots as well.
Citroen Berlingo van 2018 – high-tech features
On top of those two headline features, all of the following are also available on the new Berlingo van:
- Colour head-up display
- Automatic electric parking brake
- Adaptive cruise control (with stop and go function on automatic models)
- Active Lane Departure Warning System – actively tries to steer you back into lane if you don’t indicate
- Driver Attention Alert – uses a camera to compare the road to the drivers response to it, in an effort to spot loss of concentration
- Coffee Break Alert – comes on automatically after two hours of driving at over 40mph
- Extended Traffic Sign Recognition and Recommendation
- Blind Spot Monitoring System
- Distance Alert – warns you if you’re getting too close to something in front
- Active Safety Brake – autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection
- Intelligent Beam Headlights – automatic high-beam function
- Cornering Light Function
- Keyless Entry and Start
- Hill Start Assist
- Flankguard – uses the front and rear parking sensors to memorise the location of objects around the van to warn you if you’re going to turn into something you haven’t seen
- Reversing Camera
- Trailer Stability Control
- Grip Control with Hill Descent Assist – as fitted to the Worker version as standard
- Magic Wash – windscreen wipers that apply water to screen via the blade
- SOS button for contacting emergency services or Citroen support
Infotainment options include Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and sat-nav with 8.0-inch touchscreen and TomTom Traffic alerts.
Wireless phone charging is also available.
Citroen Berlingo van 2018 – cab interior
Citroen is placing a great emphasis on comfort, ranging from the suspension to the seats, which are available with height and lumber adjustment, plus armrests.
As well as a clear and straightforward looking design, the cab interior also features a vast number of storage solutions – apparently totalling 113 litres of space.
By repositioning the passenger side airbag in the roof, for example, there’s now space for a ‘Top Box’ glovebox in addition to the traditional lower glovebox. There are also overhead bins, large door pockets and up to four cupholders.
You can also have two USB sockets, two 12v sockets and a 220v socket.
Citroen Berlingo van 2018 – price and UK on-sale date
The Citroen Berlingo will start at the same £15,825 (excluding VAT) price as its Peugeot Partner sibling. The full details of each model and its pricing is below:
X
Berlingo BlueHDi 75 manual M 650 X – £15,825
Berlingo BlueHDi 100 S&S manual XL 950 X – £17,800
Worker
Berlingo BlueHDi 75 manual M 1000 Worker – £17,075
Berlingo BlueHDi 100 S&S manual M 1000 Worker – £17,800
Berlingo BlueHDi 100 S&S manual XL 950 Worker – £18,700
Enterprise
Berlingo BlueHDi 75 manual M 650 Enterprise – £17,425
Berlingo BlueHDi 100 S&S manual M 1000 Enterprise – £18,500
Berlingo BlueHDi 130 S&S 6-speed manual M 1000 Enterprise – £19,450
Berlingo BlueHDi 130 S&S EAT8 Auto M 1000 Enterprise – £20,600
Berlingo BlueHDi 100 S&S manual XL 950 Enterprise – £19,400
Berlingo BlueHDi 130 S&S 6-speed manual XL 950 Enterprise – £20,350
Driver
Berlingo BlueHDi 100 S&S manual M 1000 Driver – £19,970
Berlingo BlueHDi 130 S&S 6-speed manual M 1000 Driver – £20,920
Berlingo BlueHDi 130 S&S EAT8 Auto M 1000 Driver – £22,070
Berlingo BlueHDi 130 S&S 6-speed manual XL 950 Driver – £21,820
Berlingo BlueHDi 130 S&S EAT8 Auto XL 950 Driver – £22,970
We’ll bring you more info and a full review very soon.
Also read:
>> 2018 Peugeot Partner van – first official details and pictures
>> 2018 Vauxhall Combo van – first official details and pictures
>> Ford Transit Connect and Transit Courier 2018 facelift – big changes for small vans
