• Petrols and diesels 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 pegged power outputs to be sufficient rather than speedy.

Petrol

A 1.2-litre three-cylinder is your only engine choice, although this turbocharged unit comes in two flavours. The cheapest option is the 110hp Puretech 110 with a punchier Puretech 130 also available.

Even the 110 allows the Berlingo to easily keep up with traffic on motorways and accelerating 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 130 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 smooth enough on the move. A six-speed manual is also available with a light and easy shift albeit one that’s a bit rubbery. Both are refined, proving easy on the ear when being worked hard and settling into the background when cruising.

Diesel

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. We’ll run through them all here.

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.

However, we’d recommend spending a little extra for the BlueHDi 130 versions, with a choice of a six-speed manual gearbox or the eight-speed automatic, with a rotary selector rather than a conventional lever. It doesn’t feel as brisk as the Puretech 130 flat out (because it isn’t), yet the extra muscle low-down means you don’t have to rev the engine as hard, making for more relaxed progress.

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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 and Ford S-Max 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.