Citroen BerlingoMultispace 7-seaterWith the economy the way it is, and the world at large seeking to go down a size or two in their carbon footprint, new car buyers are thinking small, and bypassing the big thirsty machinery. But what about big families, or those who regularly carry half the school football team to their practice sessions, don’t they need a gas-guzzler to do the job? Well no, 7-seat cars are one of the growth sectors in the UK car market, and Citroen’s new entry is about as small as they come – the Berlingo Multispace with the £800 Family Pack.The Multispace has been well received by press and public alike ever since its launch in 1998, and the latest model is based on the company’s C4 Picasso floorpan. This new Berlingo is as practical as they come, with a tall body that’s happy to carry basketball players and the odd old fridge. Most models have five seats, which are spacious enough for children and adults wherever they sit, but when you insert an extra row, well actually two individual seats to match the three in the second row, which is what happens with the Family Pack, leg room inevitably becomes something of an issue. The seats themselves are a triumph of MPV seat design. Time was when MPVs all had the removable type of seat, but in latter years the folding variety has become the norm, and part of the reason for that is the back-breaking weight of the average removable seat; 20 kilos isn’t unusual, and that’s not a lump you want to heft on a regular basis. The Multispace ones weigh in at a very reasonable 12 kilos or so, and removal is easy and quick.With the two rear seats removed there’s a cavernous amount of luggage space, and thanks to the flat low sill it’s easy to stack with suitcases, or that problematic fridge. When you want to shift all the building materials for your new house, simply take out the middle three seats as well, and you’re left with van-like capacity. However, with all seven seats back in, there’s precious little room for your stuff; you’ll have to slot things around the seats, for behind the back ones you’ll not fit in much more than a handbag. On the positive side, the Berlingo has loads of neat storage spaces scattered around the cabin, including the very useful front overhead one that will happily swallow documents, sunglasses, sandwiches and more, and safely hang onto them.Engine choice for the Berlingo range runs from 75 to 110PS – three diesel and two petrol, and all five are of 1.6-litre capacity. For the Family versions however we’re limited to the 90PS diesel. Our diesel test car, whilst it couldn’t be accused of setting the pulse racing, was nevertheless easy to drive thanks to the reasonable dose of low down torque, and it sounded pretty refined. The Berlingo ride is on the bouncy side, but not uncomfortable, and noise levels – which can always be a problem in one-box cars – are not sufficient to require passengers to raise their voice on the motorway. The five removable seats are very comfortable, and unlike most Berlingos the Family Pack comes with front lateral airbags as standard. Also included is a luggage cover for when the two rear seats are removed from the car, it stores neatly under the floor when those seats are back in.Entry to rear seats is via either of the sliding side doors, which work well and are of course a godsend when parking in tight spaces. The interior is colourful thanks to the coordinated seat trims, and the facia robust and seemingly built to last, though it is rather angular, possibly betraying the Berlingo’s van origins. View out for the driver is good, with a sensibly low rear window that aids parking.The Berlingo 7-seater is only available with the mid-placed spec, known as VTR. Standard with that are what’s called the ‘Look Pack’ ( front fogs, body coloured rubbing strips, door handles and bumpers), remote locking, electric mirrors/front windows, height adjustable driver’s seat, CD stereo system, and very useful storage drawers under the front seats. Reasonable kit, but curtain airbags and ESP come only if you stump up extra for them.The Multispace has been phenomenally popular for Citroen, which really should cause no surprise, for it offers near ultimate practicality whilst managing to look attractive……..in a functional sort of way. I was really sorry to see it go.Berlingo Multispace with Family PackSize: 4.38 x 1.81mEngine: 1.6 litre dieselGearbox: 5-speed FWDConsumption: 47.9mpgPrice at Sept ’09: £13,615Full details of the Berlingo Multispace 7seater available on the manufacturer’s website: www.citroen.co.ukPeter Cracknell – Sept 2009
Citroen Berlingo
Multispace 7-seater
With the economy the way it is, and the world at large
seeking to go down a size or two in their carbon
footprint, new car buyers are thinking small, and
bypassing the big thirsty machinery. But what about big
families, or those who regularly carry half the school
football team to their practice sessions, don’t they need
a gas-guzzler to do the job? Well no, 7-seat cars are
one of the growth sectors in the UK car market, and
Citroen’s new entry is about as small as they come – the
Berlingo Multispace with the £800 Family Pack.
The Multispace has been well received by press and
public alike ever since its launch in 1998, and the latest
model is based on the company’s C4 Picasso floorpan.
This new Berlingo is as practical as they come, with a
tall body that’s happy to carry basketball players and the
odd old fridge. Most
models have five seats,
which are spacious
enough for children and
adults wherever they sit,
but when you insert an
extra row, well actually two
individual seats to match
the three in the second
row, which is what
happens with the Family
Pack, leg room inevitably
becomes something of an
issue. The seats
themselves are a triumph
of MPV seat design. Time
was when MPVs all had
the removable type of
seat, but in latter years the
folding variety has become
the norm, and part of the reason for that is the back-
breaking weight of the average removable seat; 20 kilos
isn’t unusual, and that’s not a lump you want to heft on a
regular basis. The Multispace ones weigh in at a very
reasonable 12 kilos or so, and removal is easy and
quick.
With the two rear seats removed there’s a cavernous
amount of luggage space, and thanks to the flat low sill
it’s easy to stack with suitcases, or that problematic
fridge. When you want to shift all the building materials
for your new house, simply take out the middle three
seats as well, and you’re left with van-like capacity.
However, with all seven seats back in, there’s precious
little room for your stuff; you’ll have to slot things around
the seats, for behind the back ones you’ll not fit in much
more than a handbag. On the positive side, the Berlingo
has loads of neat storage spaces scattered around the
cabin, including the very useful front overhead one that
will happily swallow documents, sunglasses,
sandwiches and more, and safely hang onto them.
Engine choice for the Berlingo range runs from 75 to
110PS – three diesel and two petrol, and all five are of
1.6-litre capacity. For the Family versions however we’re
limited to the 90PS diesel. Our diesel test car, whilst it
couldn’t be accused of setting the pulse racing, was
nevertheless easy to drive thanks to the reasonable
dose of low down torque, and it sounded pretty refined.
The Berlingo ride is on the bouncy side, but not
uncomfortable, and noise levels – which can always be
a problem in one-box cars – are not sufficient to require
passengers to raise their voice on the motorway. The
five removable seats are very comfortable, and unlike
most Berlingos the Family Pack comes with front lateral
airbags as standard. Also included is a luggage cover
for when the two rear seats are removed from the car, it
stores neatly under the floor when those seats are back
in.
Entry to rear seats is via either of the sliding side doors,
which work well and are of course a godsend when
parking in tight spaces. The interior is colourful thanks to
the coordinated seat
trims, and the facia
robust and seemingly
built to last, though it is
rather angular, possibly
betraying the Berlingo’s
van origins. View out for
the driver is good, with a
sensibly low rear
window that aids
parking.
The Berlingo 7-seater is
only available with the
mid-placed spec, known
as VTR. Standard with
that are what’s called
the ‘Look Pack’ ( front
fogs, body coloured
rubbing strips, door
handles and bumpers),
remote locking, electric
mirrors/front windows, height adjustable driver’s seat,
CD stereo system, and very useful storage drawers
under the front seats. Reasonable kit, but curtain
airbags and ESP come only if you stump up extra for
them.
The Multispace has been phenomenally popular for
Citroen, which really should cause no surprise, for it
offers near ultimate practicality whilst managing to look
attractive……..in a functional sort of way. I was really
sorry to see it go.
Berlingo Multispace with Family Pack
Size: 4.38 x 1.81m
Engine: 1.6 litre diesel
Gearbox: 5-speed FWD
Consumption: 47.9mpg
Price at Sept ’09: £13,615
Full details of the Berlingo Multispace 7seater available on the
manufacturer’s website: www.citroen.co.uk
Peter Cracknell – Sept 2009
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