Citroen Berlingo Estate 1998 - Present

There is clearly something in the DNA of the French that likes vans. No nation has done more to bring the van into home transport than our neighbours from across the channel. The Berlingo is Citroen's latest version of the van/car model and it nostalgically harks back to the classic 2CV, offering a high roof and plenty of storage space. As with must of the Citroen range it's keenly priced and reliable, if something of a plain Jean.

Sitting in the Berlingo you can't help but feel like you're on a delivery run, but it's tastefully, if a little cheaply, furnished. The seats are comfortable with good room (especially head room), for all of the passengers. The furnishings inside the Berlingo are put there more for practicality than anything else and the result is a car that is pretty basic. This is likely to appeal to some but not to anyone who likes refinement. Driving at speed feels like travelling in a much older car owing to engine, wind and road noise.

Driving the Berlingo is a functional affair and little more. None of the engines offer any great level of performance, only one model goes faster than 100 mph (the 1.6L 16v petrol engine), and nothing gets to 60 mph in less than ten seconds (again the 1.6L weighs in with 10.9 seconds). Fast miles are not really the point of the Berlingo, reliable efficient miles are and to that end most models hold their own. Many of them offering economy in the forties mpg with a couple of the oil burners in and around the fifties. Insurance is low as are company car tax rates, although if you got the offer of one as your company car you may want to get a new job (unless you're a florist).

The handling is eventful, even at such low speeds. The tall body being susceptible to both bodyroll and the desires of the wind. The steering is remarkably precise and offers better feedback than you'd expect. The option of a full length sunroof opens the car up beautifully for summer driving and doesn't make the cabin much more noisy.

More a practical small van than a true family car the Berlingo offers a lot of kilometres for the money but may be a little too functional for many families.

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