What Van? Awards 2019: LCV of the Year – Citroen Berlingo, Peugeot Partner, Vauxhall Combo

Date: Thursday, December 13, 2018

 

Combo1

The three vans also benefit from the latest driver assistance features such as traffic sign recognition, driver attention alert, cornering lights, keyless entry, trailer stability control and distance alert, which warns of a possible forward collision.

The interiors are smart, well put together and above all else spacious, with different environments for each of the brands.

Two- and three-seat options are available, with the centre seat in a three-seater also doubling up as a fold-down table for use as a mobile office.

There’s also a new design of the Extenso collapsible seat that allows 0.5m extra length to be carried thanks to a load-through bulkhead.

The standout interior is perhaps the Partner’s i-Cockpit. A reworking of Peugeot’s passenger car-designed interior, the i-Cockpit means the instrument cluster is mounted higher with different dials and gauges.

The steering wheel is also flattened top and bottom, giving the cabin a more modern feel.

Overall, the interiors of the new Berlingo, Partner and Combo, which previously shared a platform with Fiat Professional’s Doblo Cargo, are more comfortable and technologically advanced than their predecessors, while the engine and transmission combinations represent a step up in quality.

Light Van of the Year

Having captured the Light Commercial Vehicle of the Year prize, it follows that the Berlingo, Partner and Combo also topped their Light Van of the Year category.

Prices for Vauxhall’s new Combo, excluding VAT, will start at £15,630 for the entry-level Edition trim, rise to £17,705 for Sportive trim, and step up to £18,905 for LE Nav trim (a Crew van variant will be available for £18,605).

Entry-level Citroen Berlingo X models will cost £15,825 and £17,800, Worker trim derivatives are priced from £17,075 to £18,700, Enterprise models go from £17,425 to £20,350, and the new flagship Driver trim starts from £19,970 and rises to £22,970.

Like the Berlingo, the Peugeot Partner will start at £15,825 and climb to £17,800 for Standard and Long versions respectively in entry-level S trim, Professional trim goes from £17,425 to £19,400, prices for Grip increase from £17,075 to £18,700, and flagship Asphalt prices range from £19,970 to £21,820.

Highly Commended: Ford Transit Connect

With the blue oval badge on its nose it’s no surprise Ford’s Transit Connect tops the light van sales chart. The facelifted model is a sector heavyweight, with a new 1.5-litre diesel Ecoblue engine available offering an eight-speed automatic transmission and the 1.0-litre petrol Ecoboost getting a six-speed manual gearbox.

The Connect sports a revised front end with a new three-bar Transit grille, improved aerodynamic performance and a reworked cabin with a new instrument panel, improved connectivity and driver assistance features, and better storage provision. If it’s sheer driveability you’re after then the Connect remains the leader of the pack.

Available in short- or long-wheelbase modes the usual Base, Trend and Limited trim levels
are now complemented by the flagship Sport version.

HC Transit Connect



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