ELECTRIC SENSE FOR FAMILIES (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

Introductionword count: 81

The electrified version of Citroen's Berlingo small MPV has remarkably few compromises if you're looking for a family EV. So if you can afford the price premium and cope with the 174 mile driving range of the 2021-2023-era models we look at here, it might be a tempting option if you're looking for a full-electric compact family car and don't want a compact SUV. Here, there's the option of a 7-seat cabin too, which is rare to find in an EV.

Modelsword count: 3

5dr SUV (EV)

Historyword count: 155

Throughout this century, brands from what's now known as the Stellantis Group have doggedly continued to sell small MPVs, even as sales in this sector have declined. From 2021 onwards, the marques involved switched to EV power for these models and it's one of those we look at here, the original 2020-2023-era version of Citroen's e-Berlingo. It sold alongside two identically-engineered rivals, the Peugeot Rifter and the Vauxhall Combo Life. Like those two in-house rivals, it got the 50kWh battery that back in this period Peugeot, Citroen and Vauxhall seemed to fit to every EV they made, even the biggest MPVs. Here of course, a battery of that size is far more appropriate and with the e-Berlingo, it was built into the car in a way that didn't compromise cabin space. The e-Berlingo was significantly facelifted and given a longer driving range in early 2024, but it's the earlier 2021-2023-era models we look at here.

What You Getword count: 727

There's very little outward differentiation to identify this particular Berlingo's all-electric status. Unless you notice the lack of tailpipes and the addition of a charging flap, blue badging and trim accents are the only giveaways. This third generation Berlingo did a better job than its Peugeot Rifter and Vauxhall Combo class counterparts in visually differentiating itself as an MPV rather than a van with windows. You get a choice of wheelbases - 'M' (for 'Medium'); or 'XL', the latter enabling the fitment of a third row of seats. At the wheel, at first glance anyway, it's much as in the old combustion-powered conventional Berlingo (or indeed a Citroen Berlingo van). Once you've got used to that, if you look a little closer around, you'll start to see some of this EV variant's model-specific differences. This little EV drive toggle switch, for instance, that takes the place of the usual gear selector. And of course there are EV-specific features on both of the provided displays. Starting with the 10-inch instrument screen, which in its standard layout has a speed readout on the left and a 'Power/Eco/Charge' drive meter on the right. Using the little rotary controller on the left hand steering wheel spoke, you can alter what is displayed on the small rectangular screen between those dials; choose between a digital speed readout, a compass, an assist graphic, an energy flow monitor, road signs, trip computer or a miles per kWh reading. The resolution is sharply defined and easy to read. Which can't really also be said for the central 8-inch infotainment display. Still, at least it has a physical volume dial and, more importantly, it's not burdened with the climate controls (which are separated out further down the centre stack). We've saved arguably the best bit though, until last: cabin practicality. If you were to add up the capacity of all the 28 different nooks and crannies available within the interior of this e-Berllingo, you'd arrive at a figure of 167-litres - about as much as you'd get in the entire boot of some city cars. Enough on what the front of the cabin's like: what about the second row? Both short and long wheelbase e-Berlingo models offer access to this part of the car via sliding side doors. The sliding doors are rather heavy to close from the inside and this format means you can't have door pockets either. Still, on the plus side, the second row offers enough space to suit a wide variety of passenger shapes and sizes. Because the battery pack is mounted beneath this MPV model's floor, cabin space is not compromised. So there are vast standards of headroom and because the centre transmission tunnel is virtually non-existent, it's straightforward to accommodate three fully-sized adults if need be. Three individual rear seats back here are standard with the top trim levels. All e-Berlingos get aircraft-style seatback tables with cup holder points, but you don't get the useful under-floor storage compartments that used to feature on the old combustion models; blame the bulky EV powertrain below you for that. You get a separate climate control if you've a model with the dual-zone system fitted. Were we to be buying this Citroen though, we'd be tempted to choose the 'XL' body style, with its two extra boot-mounted chairs. The fact that these sit within a spacious 4.75m body shape means that they can, at a pitch, be quite comfortably used by adults on short-to-medium-length journeys. It's just another example of this Citroen's flexibility. There's no storage space beneath the boot floor, but you don't really need it because there's plenty of room in the cargo area - in the standard five-seat version anyway - and in the 'XL' lengthier variant too if you fold or take out the third row chairs, in which case up to 1,050-litres of space can be freed up. The five-seat short wheelbase 'Standard' length variant can swallow 775-litres in its boot. Fold down the 60:40-split rear bench and up to 3,000-litres can be freed up in the standard model; with the 'XL' version, it's up to 4,000-litres with both the back seating rows folded. In addition, with either body style, if you're taking really long items, the front passenger seat can be folded flat, allowing items like surfboards of up to 3,050mm long to be taken inside 'XL'-spec models.

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