Review of the Citroen e-Berlingo

The Citroen e-Berlingo is a small electric van that's small and mighty. With decent load space and up to 171 miles of range, the e-Berlingo is perfect for businesses looking for a sustainable and nippy van. 

Rivals to the e-Berlingo include the Peugeot e-Partner, Vauxhall Combo-e, Toyota ProAce Electric, and Nissan Townstar Electric. 

Our Citroen e-Berlingo review covers:

• Modern exterior design
• Comfortable interior 
• Up to 4.4m3 of load volume
• 136bhp electric motor paired with a 50kWh battery 
• Two trim levels 

Pros:

• Excellent performance around town 
• Fast charging available 
• Low running costs

Cons:

• Cabin is a bit cramped for three people 
• Only one powertrain is available 
• Poor performance at higher speeds 

The e-Berlingo is one of those vans that looks like it belongs on the road. It's got a horizontal front grille that emerges from the Citroen badge, a large black bumper, and slick headlights.  

There's enough room for three passengers inside the e-Berlingo. The driver and passengers will have no issue with head and legroom; however, the passengers will rub shoulders regardless of their size. 

There's also a decent amount of storage space in the cabin, such as door bins, storage on the dashboard, and a large storage compartment under the passenger bench. 

The e-Berlingo is available in two lengths: M and XL. You'll get between 3.3 and 3.8m3 in standard M form, while in XL form, it has 3.9 to 4.4m3. You'll also be able to carry a payload of up to 800kg, which is very impressive. 

If I had to describe the interior of the e-Berlingo in three words, I'd choose smart, relaxing, and simple. The dashboard is good to use and features high-quality materials, and everything is within reach of the driver.  

Sitting on the dash is an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment screen with a DAB radio and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. Upgrade to the range-topping Driver Pro trim, and it adds built-in navigation. The screen is clear and easy to use and features physical buttons around the side, which is always a nice touch. 

Two trim levels are available for the e-Berlingo: Enterprise Pro and Driver Pro. 

Enterprise Pro comes with 16-inch steel wheels, automatic headlights, electrically operated folding door mirrors, rear parking sensors, an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and cruise control with a programmable speed limiter. 

Driver Pro adds 16-inch 'starlit' black alloy wheels, a body-coloured rear bumper, side rubbing strips, an infotainment system with navigation, surround rear vision, and front and rear parking sensors. 

The e-Berlingo has a 136bhp electric motor paired with a 50kWh battery pack to return up to 171 miles of range. It goes from 0-62mph in just under 12 seconds and tops out at 81mph. It can also charge from 0-80% in just 30 minutes using a 100kW rapid charger. 

In terms of range, the e-Berlingo is on par with its rivals, albeit falling slightly short of the Kangoo E-Tech and Mercedes-Benz eCitan. 

Around town, the e-Berlingo is fantastic to drive. The electric motor is smooth and responsive and returns an impressive torque of 260Nm, which is available right away to make accelerating a breeze. Combine this with agile handling and good ride quality, and the e-Berlingo is one of the best small electric vans to drive. 

You also get a range of driving modes to play with, such as Eco, Normal and Power. Eco restricts the electric motor to around 82hp to eke every mile out of the battery. Normal is the default, providing around 110hp, while Power uses the motor's full 136bhp. We'd recommend using power if you're driving uphill with cargo in the rear. 

Increase it to motorway speed, and the e-Berlingo has reached its limits. The electric motor has to work seriously hard around 70mph, and you'll find that real-world range will drop significantly. 

Prices for the new Citroen e-Berlingo start from £33,546.00 OTR* or to lease from £257.24 per month.

Looking to get behind the wheel of the Citroen e-Berlingo? Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is one of the UK's largest van leasing brokers and offers a range of leasing deals to suit your every need.

Leasing may be cheaper than an outright purchase, thanks to a low initial deposit and fixed monthly rentals.

*' On the road' price correct at time of publication and includes one year's road fund license, DVLA first registration fee and number plate fee. Prices are subject to change; always check with your nearest retailer.