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By Jonathan Crouch

Citroën's Berlingo still comes in combustion form. Jonathan Crouch checks out the improved version of the third generation model and wonders if families really need to pay more for pricier mid-sized five-seat MPVs.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 113

Try and picture a van-based compact people carrier. Bet you weren't imagining anything quite as nice as this. The improved version of the MK3 model of Citroën's remarkably civilised third generation Berlingo people carrier was further distanced from its predecessors' basic commercial roots in third generation form and in 2022 was put back on sale in combustion form, before in early 2024 getting the useful package of updates we look at here. With smart styling, plenty of equipment and efficient PureTech petrol and BlueHDi diesel engines, this value-for-money five-seater is still a vehicle that demands to be taken very seriously indeed. If you're after a budget family carry-all, it's well worth a look.

Backgroundword count: 193

Some cars aren't too precious about the lives they need. Take Citroen's classic post-war 2CV. You could drive it across a ploughed field, hose it clean, subject it to a fearful leathering, then pass it on like a family heirloom. It was uniquely French, uniquely Citroen and its modernday successor was the first generation of this car, Citroen's Berlingo. The Berlingo has been on sale as both a van and a van-based MPV for over two decades now, the MPV version previously badged 'Berlingo Multispace'. This third generation model, first launched back in 2018, is known simply as 'Berlingo'. Whatever you want to call it, this model line has been a successful one for Citroen (and for Peugeot whose previous Partner Tepee models and current Rifter MPV have been and are effectively a re-badged versions of the same design). So much so that there had only been two iterations of people-carrying Berlingo in 22 years until this MK3 model arrived. It left the UK market in 2021 in combustion form, only the full-EV e-Berlingo model remaining. But a year later the petrol and diesel Berlingos were back and here have been usefully updated.

Driving Experienceword count: 271

You'll probably be very pleasantly surprised by how the combustion Berlingo drives. The old bump, thump and reverberations that characterised much older versions have well and truly gone. We know it's a bit of a cliche when discussing this sort of MPV but there is a lot of truth in describing this boxy Citroen as 'car-like'. For what is quite a tall, high vehicle, there's none of the tippy feeling that characterised the pre-2018-era generation version of this design, helped in no small part by beefier anti roll bars. And a much improved suspension set-up. Which in turn has made possible the kind of ride quality you'd like to expect from a Citroën: in other words absorbent and very well tuned for our terrible roads. It's an important thing to consider, for we reckon that aside from safety and practicality, ride quality needs to be one of your key criteria when making a decision on an MPV-style vehicle. Too firm and you'll never manage to get the kids off to sleep on a long journey at night: too soft and they'll get car sick. The Berlingo strikes a good balance because it's a little softer than you might expect in compression and rebound - in other words, over the bumps - but a little firmer than you'd think in roll - in other words, around the corners. Engine-wise, combustion Berlingo MPV customers get to choose between a 1.2-litre three cylinder Puretech petrol unit with 110hp and 6-speed manual transmission; a 1.5-litre BlueHDi diesel with 100hp and 6-speed manual transmission; or a 1.5 BlueHDi diesel with 130hp and EAT8 8-speed auto transmission.

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