LAUNCH | MERCEDES-BENZ CITAN
MERC PUTS STAMP ON NEW CITAN Mercedes-Benz has revealed details of its new Citan small van with increased safety systems, better on-board tech and all-new design. George Barrow reports.
T
he new Citan will continue to be based on the Renault Kangoo, but Mercedes has gone further in adapting the new van to its own customer’s needs and expectations. Visually it is in keeping with the larger Vito and Sprinter vans, with a threebar grille, and differentiates itself from the Kangoo with altered headlights that include LED daytime running lights, revised front bumper and new rear light cluster. The interior consists of a number of parts taken from both the Mercedes van range and its passenger cars, while the suspension and stabilisers have been tuned to give “brand-typical driving characteristics”. Power comes from a choice of three diesel engines or two petrol options with the same power outputs as in the Kangoo with up to 116hp for the diesel range and 131hp for petrol powered vans. A six-speed manual transmis-
sion will be standard, but there’s also the option of a seven-speed dual-clutch auto. All models are front-wheel drive, and an eCitan all-electric van will also be available in the UK when the model goes on sale next year, with a 44kWh battery and claimed range of 177 miles. Safety systems have been enhanced in the new Citan which now uses a combination of radar, cameras and ultrasonic sensors. Standard safety features include hill start assistance, Attention Assist and Crosswind Assist as well as six airbags. There’s also Active Lane Keeping Assist, Blind Spot Assist and Speed Limit Assist with traffic sign detection, all of which will be standard features on the Tourer passenger car version of the European specification model, with full UK spec still to be decided. Adaptive cruise control (also known as Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC which can automatically take over
“
The dash adopts typical Mercedes vents, buttons and switches
driving in traffic jams) will also be added to the options list and may feature on high-end UK spec models along with other driving assistance features.
Interior Inside, the Citan gets a new interior which is largely unique and of Mercedes’ own design. Shared components with the Kangoo are limited to the heater controls, with the rest of the dash adopting typical Mercedes vents, buttons and switches. Mercedes say they tried to make 80-90% of the items a driver interacts with most their own and have achieved this by using shared passenger car and commercial vehicle components. The instrument cluster is a carry-over from the Sprinter van, and like its larger sibling the Citan will also be equipped with MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) infotainment system Continued overleaf SEPTEMBER 2021 • VANUSER 17
