Our cars: Citroen e-Berlingo

Citroen e-Berlingo

FINALREPORT We’ve learned to love our pure electric MPV

DarrenWilson

Darren _ Wilson@autovia.co.uk

IT seems that I’ m a fair-weather EV driver. After initial doubts when our Citroen e-Berlingo turned up back in frosty February, I’ ve been well and truly converted by our brilliant boxy electric vehicle.

The Citroen is lovingly referred to as the ‘ice cream van ’ in my family, and its beauty is very definitely in the eye of the beholder. We ’ ve often been reminded by friends and neighbours that “it’ s no looker ” . However, as the temperatures have risen in line with the price of petrol, I’ ve been quietly content to plug in at home and get 165 miles of range for £12-£14. In fact, if I run the e-Berlingo around town using the eco setting and maximise its regenerative braking, I’ m more likely to be getting somewhere close to the official 182 miles of WLTP range.

It seems an age ago since the winter and my worries about the e-Berlingo and its fluctuating range, after an initial 80-mile round trip to my mother ’ s house. However, just a few weeks ago I popped over to see her without bothering to charge in advance for the 40 miles. And that was before heading down to the New Forest in Hampshire (a further 60 miles) for a weekend away. When the range started getting low, I just rolled into a service station and topped up with 20 minutes of charge while sipping a coffee.

My newfound EV confidence extends to watching the range trickle away on the motorway, safe in the knowledge that the Citroen becomes pessimistic when you ’ re driving quickly. If you turn away from motorways and A-roads, the e-Berlingo can often go another 15-20 miles without registering much more than a mile or two drop in range as it balances things up. Only once have I got the range low enough for the sat-nav to kick in, mapping out multiple routes to the nearest chargepoints.

The navigation system is one of the plus points of the e-Berlingo, in fact. It has really

Electric vehicle

Official range/max charging 182 miles/100kW DC

“I can imagine the e-Berlingo being an ideal car for a family with a small business”

Practicality

Boot (seats up/down) 775/2,107 litres

simple, clear directions both on the screen and through the dash display. It also shows snarled-up traffic hotspots on the busiest roads, and the wider range indicator on the UK map gives a trustworthy idea of how far you can get on your current charge.

The head-up display is also great, with info on speed limits, your actual speed, and cruise control settings, which is handy on longer trips (see panel above).

There ’ s really not much that you can ’t throw in the Citroen. With its vast space, folding seats and sliding doors, it’ s extremely easy to load up and use. Factor in the good range and efficiency, and I can imagine the e-Berlingo being an ideal car for a family with a small business. Local deliveries would certainly be straightforward and cost-effective.

Many of the niggles I mentioned in earlier reports have faded with time. The doors are heavy, and there is a knack to opening them, but you get used to it quite quickly; likewise the large tailgate.

But there are a few problems with the car that haven ’t eased. Some of the trim is a bit

flimsy – I’ ve had to reattach a few parts that have dropped off.

Another gripe is that the car only comes with a Type 2 cable as standard. A threepin cable costs extra, but having one as well as a Type 2 cable would make more sense, so that visiting friends and family becomes a chance to charge rather than relying on the UK charging network. It’ s a lot easier to bung someone you know £10 for a top-up.

Mixed We like the choice of driving modes, but not the low-quality trim inside