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our test drives or view them all

Citroen Berlingo Multispace XTR 110

I DOUBT if there has ever been a more competent all-round family car. The Citroen Berlingo Multispace is a brilliant idea that’s just been brought up to date with an all-new version based on the French firm’s latest Berlingo van floorpan.

The previous model was a great seller – cheap, good to drive and practical. What it wasn’t, was stylish!

But the new Berlingo Multispace that arrived in midsummer is a bit of a headturner – and with all of the appeal of its predecessor. It’s a car with genuine family values.

You can buy one from as little as £11,195 for a modest 90bhp 1.6 litre petrol engine in basic VT trim. But you won’t be strapped for choice. There are 12 models in the range, up to £14,825 with a variety of 1.4 (75bhp) and 1.6 (90bhp and 109bhp) petrol units and three HDi turbodiesel 1.6s with outputs ranging from 75bhp to 90bhp and a top-range 109bhp.

And if you still like the look of the old model, Citroen will sell you a previous-shape Multispace for just £8895 for a 75bhp 1.4 petrol in First trim while a 1.6 HDi with 75bhp is offered for £9700.

The Multispace just makes sense – old model or new. It’s cheap enough to catch the supermini buyer, appeal to the MPV fan, attract families with kids and gear to move, net the outdoor sportsman with bulky equipment to transport and provide older or less fit people with a comfortable general purpose runaround that is easy to get into thanks to its pair of rear sliding doors.

The top-range XTR 1.6 HDi test car packs incredible value for £14,825 – and that’s before what could be a reasonable discount. It drips extra equipment but retains the functionality and appeal of even the most basic model.

What you get is a tall-cabined, front-drive, multi-purpose vehicle that’s based on a low-floored light commercial van. It might sound like a dog’s breakfast but in practice it works well.

The carrying capacity is incredible. Fold away the rear seats and there’s 3000 litres of space – that’s enough to eclipse most large estate cars. The Multispace has more than twice the cargo volume of the new Citroen C5 Tourer flagship estate and leaves the competition gasping.

What’s more, the loading floor is close to the ground so manhandling two bikes into the back is a breeze. But there is a drawback to that vast void and the car’s 1.86 metre-high roof – the huge top-hinged tailgate can be awkward to reach and close, despite its standard strap.

Fill the 1.4 tonne Multispace up to its gills and it’ll carry a combined load of people and luggage up to its maximum kerb weight of 2.3 tonnes – and it’ll still have guts for a sizeable tow.

Recently the Multispace did well in the annual Towcar of the Year Award with a "Best Value" title in the sub-£16,000 category. It’s a tough little mover that can haul a 1.3 tonne load on the hook – so look out for trailer and caravan fans in Multispaces!

In fact with the current gloomy economic outlook, caravanning holidays in the UK are fast becoming a cool and inexpensive alternative to pricey trips abroad. The Multispace’s value for money, good fuel economy and acres of storage options make it the smart choice for families looking to caravan on a budget – but still travel in comfort.

Trundling down the Moray Firth coast to Banff and beyond was an enjoyable drive. The Multispace has large windows so visibility is excellent and, thanks to its vertical rear end and sharp nose fall-off, it’s simple to park despite being much bigger than some might expect at nearly 4.4 metres long.

The 109bhp produced by the 1.6 HDi 110 is enough to give the XTR a good all-round performance. Loaded it copes reasonably well, but with a strong headwind and a hill it needed some swift down-changes and a lot of revs to climb the Cullen Brae.

On the open road the joint-venture Peugeot/Citroen 1.6 turbodiesel is a great little unit. It’s quiet in the cruise and sips fuel at an average 50mpg. With a lightly-laden vehicle it can even be described as brisk and a real delight to throw around on a twisty road.

The Multispace defies all its critics. It’s far from dull, very comfortable, spacious, easy to live with and should be kind to owners on a budget. Citroen sells the vehicle with a reasonable three-year or 60,000 mile warranty and servicing is only needed every 12,500 miles.

The standard equipment list is brilliant on the XTR – but why does Citroen follow the pack and charge extra for electronic stability control? It’s not just the £350 option cost – it’s the fact that this life-saving system ought to be standard on all cars, just like airbags and crush zones, But at least it offers ESP as an option – scandalously some manufacturers don’t even do that on their more affordable vehicles.

For such a bulky and tall vehicle it comes with an impressive four-star NCAP rating for adult and child occupants, but manages only two for pedestrian protection. It also offers ABS braking, four airbags, five lap and diagonal seatbelts, side intrusion protection, pre-tensioned front belts and height adjustable front belt shoulder points.

The XTR’s interior trim is basic with a little too much cheap looking plastic smothering the dash. But the design works well and is easy to use with storage spaces all over the place from twin dashtop lidded bins, to a big central console that’s deep enough to lose stuff! The sliding doors are pure genius – easy to open and close with a good positive stay to prevent them sliding closed unexpectedly during boarding.

Storage and cargo utility includes useful underfloor security bins, overhead front shelf, glove compartment with cup and pen holders, pockets in the front doors and behind the front seats, lashdown points in the boot and roof-rails that stow inside the cabin on the roof.

I’m not sure about the rail stowage – the twin metal rails are sharp and unyielding and could pose an injury risk in a heavy collision. Clever idea – but not thought through.

Citroen is into value. There’s a lot of equipment on all Multispace models, much more on the XTR. It makes sense on so many fronts.

In an ideal world, all cars would be Berlingo Multispaces – the ultimate Mr Sensible, and they’re fun too.

Rating: 9/10

FINAL THOUGHT:

This has to be the most sensible all-round car of the decade. It’s affordable, cheap to run, good to drive, packed with practicality and common sense and comes with a character all of its own. Other manufacturers have followed Citroen’s lead and turned vans into compact MPVs, but none have done it so well. The new Multispace launched this June takes over from a much-respected model and is as practical as its predecessor with a little more style. If you can’t decide between a hatch, an MPV, a small estate or a bigger supermini – this is the answer. Best buy? Undoubtedly the 90bhp 1.6 HDi VTR at £12,575 – but ask for some discount.

CAR FACTS – Citroen Berlingo Multispace XTR 110

• Price: £14,825
• Capacity: 1560cc
• Power: 109bhp
• 0-62mph: 12.5 seconds
  
• Maximum speed: 105mph
  
• Economy: Combined 50.4mpg; Urban 41.5mpg
  
• CO2 emissions: 147g/km
  
• ESP: £350 option
• Insurance: Group 5