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Citroen's Berlingo van has long been one of the market's best selling compact LCVs and was rejuvenated in this third generation K9-era form. Operators got clever technology that aimed to set a fresh commercial segment benchmark in this class, plus there was a more efficient BlueHDi diesel engine range - and the option of petrol power too. The larger of the two body shapes gained a longer wheelbase for extra space and owners appreciated the clever cabin configurability. A full-EV e-Berlingo variant arrived in 2021. Potentially then for the used buyer, there's lots to like here.
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History
Think of a compact but spacious van and it's really quite likely that you'll find yourself considering Citroen's Berlingo. It is, after all, the model most people think of when considering this category. Here, were looking at the more sophisticated third generation K9-era version launched in 2018.
Like its predecessors, this design shared almost everything with a rival Peugeot Partner and in this MK3 form, those same EMP” chassis-based fundamentals were also shared with Vauxhall's Combo Cargo, Fiat's Doblo and Toyota's Proace City.
It's Citroen though, that has the most heritage in this sector. This was the first brand to introduce a diesel powered LCV, the first to launch a van with an integrated load area and the first to launch an LCV model with three seats in the cabin. Compact vans of this kind from this French brand go all the way back to the C4 Fourgon model of 1928, which was succeeded in 1951 by arguably the most iconic small LCV of all time, the 2CV van, the world's first mass produced front wheel drive commercial vehicle. Nearly one and a quarter million examples of it were sold over 27 years of production and though successive models, the Arcadiane of 1978 and the C15 of 1984, sold quite well, they never attracted quite the same kind of following.
The Berlingo model line though has, with 1.5 million sales accumulated by 2018, though it's hard to imagine examples of it ever becoming collector's items in the way the 2CV van now is. The Berlingo nameplate first arrived in the LCV segment in 1996, with a second generation version launched in 2008, then updated in 2015. Building on this strong heritage, this MK3 Berlingo Van - launched in late 2018 - marked a thorough renewal of this best-seller. There was a new 1.5-litre BlueHDi diesel engine, the fresh option of PureTech petrol power and the availability of a slick-shifting new EAT8 auto gearbox that suited urban-based users. The stiffer platform was paired with electric power steering. And new technology included a clever onboard weighing system and a surround rear-vision camera. Plus, as before, there were a couple of body lengths and two or three seat options.
A full-electric version arrived in 2021. Diesel and EV versions of this Berlingo sold in this form until early 2024, when this design was updated with a facelifted model.
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What you get
You expect a bit more when it comes to the look of a Citroen van. With this K9 design, the front end differed significantly from that of the alternative Berlingo passenger car design. The headlights on this LCV model were incorporated into the two-tier front lighting signature rather than being separated out from it below.
The completely re-designed cabin featured a more horizontally-orientated architecture and smarter materials on the dashboard, the centre console and the doors. There was a bit of extra optional high-tech - a head-up display and a 'Surround Rear Vision' screen for instance - plus customers got a much more sophisticated centre-dash infotainment screen, which grew to 8-inches in sizes and sat high and proud on top of the fascia. The seats were much improved too - particularly the driver's chair, which could feature Citroen's particularly supportive 'Advanced Comfort' design. And there was plenty of cabin practicality. If you were to add up the capacity of all the different nooks and crannies available within the cab of this Berlingo, you'd arrive at a figure of 113-litres.
Time to focus on practicality. There are two K9-era Berlingo body shapes to consider - the standard 4.4m-long standard-length version and a lengthier 4.75m 'L2' variant which has a proper long wheelbase platform, so can take significantly more inside. Even the standard-length Berlingo model has a load area big enough to swallow a couple of Euro pallets (thanks to a useful 1,229mm of width between the wheel arches) and can offer 3.3m3 of carriage capacity and 1,817mm of load space length. The bigger 'L2' version can increase those figures to 3.9m3 of capacity and 2,167mm of load space length. There's a minimum of 1,236mm of interior height. With both body shapes, you can extend the capacity by an extra 0.5m3 by using the clever 'Extenso' modular bench seat package that was an important option with this K9-series model. Find a Berlingo fitted with it and this will enable you to flatten the outer passenger seat into the floor and push through longer items into the cab.
What else? Well payload capacity is rated at either fractionally above or fractionally below a tonne - which is class-competitive. And from new, a clever optional 'Overload Indicator' could be fitted in the cargo bay to inform a Berlingo van operator when the vehicle's maximum authorised payload had been exceeded. As for efficiency, well with the volume 100hp diesel powerplant that most Berlingo van buyers will choose, you're looking at between 66 and 68mpg on the combined cycle and somewhere between 109 and 112g/km of CO2. There's a three year / 60,000 mile warranty. And Citroen's vast network of specialist LCV dealers to look after you.
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What to look for
This K9-era Berlingo generally has a strong reliability record, but our ownership survey did throw up a few issues to look out for. We are going to concentrate on the diesel model here, because that's the most common version most used vehicle buyers will be looking for. The exhaust gas recirculation valve commonly fails on black pump-fuelled models. Signs from include rough idling, increased fuel consumption and reduced power. Regular cleaning can alleviate this issue. We also come across timing belt issues. The timing belt requires replacement at specific intervals, usually 60,000 miles. If the previous owner hasn't done that, this can result in huge engine damage. Check the service history to see whether the timing belt has been changed when it should have been. We've also come across gearbox problems with the manual transmission, which can develop synchromesh wear, particularly in 2nd and 3rd gears. On your test drive, look out for grinding noises when changing gear - and for difficulty were engaging reverse.
We've come across various electrical system faults, particularly regarding the battery management set-up and the alternator. Look out for dashboard warning lights that are illuminating randomly. We also came across diesel particulate filter blockages, usually with versions of this van that have mainly been used in town. And there have been a few turbocharger failures, usually caused due to oil starvation or excessive carbon build-up. Signs of this include loss of power, blue smoke from the exhaust and whistling noises. The front suspension arms and bushes sometimes wear prematurely - look out for knocking sounds going over bumps. And we've heard of fuel injector problems - the injectors can become clogged or fail completely. If the Berlingo you're trying runs roughly, starts poorly and exhibits excessive smoke, this could be why.
We've heard of clutch wear - watch for slipping, juddering and high biting points. And there have been issues with door mechanism failures, the braking system, the air conditioning, the oil pump, the starter motor and the windscreen wiper mechanism. Insist on a full service history and negotiate on the price if the cargo area is scraped and dented. The electric version has got a reasonable reliability record, but has exhibited software faults. Test drive very carefully. And make sure the vehicle charges as it should and that the charging lead is not damaged.
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Replacement parts
(approx prices, based on a 2019 Berlingo van BlueHDi 1.5 102hp - ex-VAT - autodoc.co.uk) As with most Citroen models, spare parts are reasonably priced and very plentiful. Front brake pads sell in the £21-£30 bracket - rear pads are from around £17. Front brake discs range in the £28-£65 bracket (rears are priced from around £25). An air filter is in the £7-£32 bracket, a fuel filter is around £12-£27 and an oil filter is around £6-£21. A wiper blade is in the £5-£43 bracket. A water pump and timing belt kit is in the £80-£152 bracket. You'll pay in the £110-£240 bracket for a starter motor.
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On the road
Citroen products, be they car or van-based, have always been associated with comfort and this third generation Berlingo van continued that approach with particularly supportive seats and supple suspension that showcased the brand's damping know-how. The ride was also helped by the installation of car-derived underpinnings that at the front end featured the EMP2 platform that Stellantis Group brands used in this period for all their mid-sized models. Engine-wise, the range was primarily based around diesel power, with a new slightly smaller 1.5-litre BlueHDi unit developed for this model offering either 75hp, 100hp or 130hp. There was also a 1.2-litre three cylinder PureTech petrol option with either 110 or 130hp. The most powerful diesel got the option of the brand's new EAT8 auto gearbox, a mandatory fitment on the top petrol unit.
Talking of transmission, the shift quality of the manual box could be slicker but from launch, we did appreciate the improvements in highway refinement brought about by the installation of a full-height bulkhead in the cab. We also really liked the optional 'Surround Rear Vision' system which can function as a rear view mirror and improves passenger-side visibility. Further peace of mind came with the addition of the extra-cost camera-driven safety kit that was provided with this K9-era design. And for those operators needing to deliver in places like slippery building sites, Citroen provided the option of its clever 'Grip Control' system for extra front wheel traction.
What about the EV version? Well of course, an e-Berlingo van isn't any different to drive than its e-Partner, Combo Electric, E-Doblo or Proace City Electric Stellantis Group EV cousins. Start up and there's the usual beep as you get the sign that all is ready to pull away; which you do in the default 'Normal' drive mode. The other selectable drive settings are 'Eco' and 'Power'. You'll need the 'Power' mode to unleash the electric motor's full 134bhp output, though if you drive like that, you will of course get nowhere near the 50kWh battery's WLTP-rated best driving range figure of up to 175 miles. Obviously that'll fall with heavy loads in the back.
For day-to-day use, it's better to stick to the 'Normal' mode, which restricts output to 108bhp; or possibly around town to 'Eco' mode, though that gives you just 81bhp and restricts the climate system. 'Normal' mode should be fine for realistic maximisation of range, particularly if you select the 'B' transmission setting that increases brake regeneration. As usual with EVs, if you do need performance, it's only a right foot jab away; 62mph from rest occupies 11.2s, but the instant response you get to 30mph makes this LCV feel quicker than that. Overtakes are easy too; 50-75 mph takes 8.9s.
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Overall
Citroen's extensive heritage in the compact van segment remained in good hands with this third generation Berlingo, a product that was usefully refreshed in almost every major area. The looks and the cabin were much more modern, as was the infotainment and safety provision. As ever with a Berlingo, you get very class-competitive payload and carriage capacity figures, which were further aided this time round by the extended length of the longer 'XL' version. Plus as before, there was the flexibility of the Extenso modular seating system and an unbeaten set of running costs if you opt for a BlueHDi engine. Add in a very comfortable ride and one of the widest choices of factory-built models in the class and you've a strong business proposition.
Of course, you could argue that pretty much everything that's on offer here is also available from this model's Peugeot Partner, Vauxhall Combo, Fiat Doblo and Toyota Proace City Stellantis design stablemates - and you'd be right. But loyal Berlingo buyers reckon that this Citroen provides it all with just a bit more Gallic flair - and we can understand their perspective.
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