The What Van? Road Test: Citroen e-Berlingo (2021)

Date: Monday, June 20, 2022

Oxford’s decision to introduce a zero-emission zone embracing several streets in its centre is a harbinger of what is bound to come. The council has made no secret of its intention to expand the area, and towns and cities across the UK are sure to copy what the city of dreaming spires is doing over the next few years.

That means urban delivery will be going battery-electric, like it or not. Businesses will need to start thinking seriously about acquiring vans that will comply with this requirement.

The good news is that there is no lack of choice. All the leading light commercial manufacturers and many of the minor players now have electric models available, with global automotive behemoth Stellantis well to the fore.

A series of mergers and takeovers means that Stellantis now owns Peugeot, Citroën, Vauxhall and Fiat Professional. One consequence is that many of the light commercials marketed by these brands are virtually identical to each other, bar their badges and some styling tweaks in order to leverage economies of scale.

Furthermore, Stellantis has developed a close working relationship with Toyota. As a consequence Toyota’s Proace City is pretty much the same as Peugeot’s Partner, Vauxhall’s Combo, and Citroën’s Berlingo; and all four are available in battery-electric as well as diesel guise.

Citroën e-Berlingo van fanciers can choose from one power pack and two lengths with a single roof height, and two different trim levels. A crew van is available on the longer platform.

As good environmentalists we opted to sample the long-wheelbase e-Berlingo Van Enterprise Pro XL. Here’s how we fared.

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