• Petrol and diesel reintroduced in 2023
• Comfortable ride
• Adequate, relaxed pace on offer

Nothing about the way the Citroen Berlingo looks screams performance, and sensibly the French marque has limited power outputs to be sufficient rather than speedy.

Citroen Berlingo petrol engines

A 1.2-litre three-cylinder is your only petrol choice, with this turbocharged unit producing 110hp. It’s the quickest non-electric Berlingo and is only available with a slightly rubbery-feeling six-speed manual gearbox.

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This allows the Berlingo to easily keep up with traffic on motorways and accelerate away with sufficient briskness from standing starts at junctions. Just don’t expect fiery performance. Even flat-out acceleration is best described as adequate, with plenty of room needed for A-road overtakes.

The pre-2024 130hp petrol is a better bet if you regularly have a fully loaded car, with appreciably more urgent acceleration and the option of a decent eight-speed automatic gearbox. It can be a little jerky when pulling away but shifts smoothly enough on the move. Both versions of the petrol are refined, proving easy on the ear when being worked hard and settling into the background when cruising.

Citroen Berlingo diesel engines

Originally there were four engine-transmission combinations if you want a diesel Berlingo, all of which are based around the four-cylinder 1.5-litre BlueHDi motor. Post-2024, this has been reduced to a single 130hp engine with an eight-speed automatic gearbox.

It’s not as outright fast as the 110hp petrol, yet the extra muscle low-down means you don’t have to rev the engine as hard, making for more relaxed progress. Like the old petrol auto, the gearbox is fine on the move but can be a little jerky when setting off.

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Entry-point to the range was the BlueHDi 75, fitted with a five-speed manual gearbox, but this unpopular option was discontinued during 2019. Its modest output of 75hp reaches its peak at 3,500rpm resulting in a top speed of 95mph, while maximum torque of 230Nm is available at 1,750rpm. It’s a bit weedy, so we’d avoid it.

Better is the BlueHDi 100, thanks to being that bit more powerful with only a negligible fall in overall efficiency. Peak power of 101hp is again developed at 3,500rpm resulting in a 109mph top speed, while maximum torque of 254Nm is sent to the front wheels at 1,750rpm. It’s slower than the Puretech 110, but pulls more strongly from low revs.

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What’s it like to drive?

• Grippy and secure
• Steering on the light side
• Won’t sate enthusiastic drivers

Unlike many manufacturers that promise a sporty drive from the most sensible of family cars, Citroen does things differently. Comfort is the priority here, with soft suspension delivering a relaxing ride. Severe potholes and lumps do cause the suspension to trip up slightly, but it’s a rare enough occurrence to not cause bother.

That’s not to say that the Berlingo handles badly – far from it. In fact, for a high-sided, van-based car, it’s neat and tidy around corners, with a lot less body lean than you might expect. Even so, the Berlingo doesn’t feel particularly agile or willing, with the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer proving far more enjoyable in the bends.

The Berlingo’s light steering is precise enough but doesn’t give a great sense of connection to the road’s surface. In other words, it’s perfectly capable if not something you’ll be looking for excuses to drive.