2018 Citroen Berlingo Brings Bold Styling To The Van Segment

Developed concomitantly with the new Peugeot Partner and the Opel/Vauxhall Combo, the revamped Citroën Berlingo has arrived to bring that love/hate Cactus styling to the van segment. Essentially developed from the ground up, the third generation of the double chevron's LCV is a significant departure from the model before it, not just in terms of styling, but also as far as the underpinnings are concerned.

Indeed, the 2018 Berlingo makes the transition to the PSA Group's EMP2 platform bringing among others a shortened and higher front overhang, a more forward-set windscreen, as well as improved maneuverability thanks to an optimized electric power steering and a reduced turning circle. Like with some of the other recent Citroën models, the new Berlingo has received air bumps at the bottom of the doors for a more rugged look and to provide extra protection.

As you would come to expect from a vehicle in this segment, there are multiple versions you can choose from. Available in two sizes, the Berlingo can be ordered in an M flavor measuring 4.4-meters long and joined by the bigger Berlingo XL spanning at 4.75 meters, with both five- and seven-seat configurations available. Regardless of size, the new van benefits from a completely flat floor making it ideal for loading a multitude of items, with Citroën promising a best-in-class cargo capacity.

The M version with its 2.7-meter load length can swallow up to 775 liters, which is a whopping 100 liters more than its predecessor. Should that not be enough, there are a total of 28 extra storage spaces throughout the cabin able to accommodate an additional 186 liters of your stuff. There's even a nifty storage compartment in the ceiling, dubbed Modutop, accessible from the second row of individual seats or from the trunk.

If you need to carry even more, you'll have to step up to the bigger XL model, which has a load volume of 1,050 liters for the five-seat model and a generous load length of 3.05 meters. In the seven-seat XL specification, the new Berlingo benefits from two removable seats that are installed on a rail and can move through 130 millimeters – a feature you can't have on the M model.

As far as engines are concerned, buyers will get to pick from a 1.2-liter gasoline unit available with 110 hp and 130 hp or a 1.5-liter diesel offered with 75, 100, and 130 horsepower. Depending on engine, these are hooked up to either a six-speed manual gearbox or an eight-speed automatic.

On the safety side, it has everything from active safety brake and post collision safety brake to driver attention alert and even a coffer break alert. The 2018 Berlingo can also be had with an extended traffic sign recognition system and adaptive cruise control benefitting from a stop function if you go for a version equipped with the automatic transmission. Blind spot monitoring is also offered, as are hill start assist, trailer stability control, and smart headlights that automatically turn on the high or low beams depending on traffic and the lighting conditions.

Connectivity with a multitude of devices is granted by the 8-inch infotainment system with support for Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and MirrorLink. Charging cables are a thing of the past as the new Berlingo can be had with wireless charging, along with other gadgets such as a panoramic camera and grip control (with hill assist descent) bundling five selectable driving modes: standard, snow, mud, sand, and ESP off.

We will get to see the 2018 Citroën Berlingo next month at the Geneva Motor Show, ahead of a market launch scheduled for the second half of the year.