Citroën Berlingo practicality and boot space

• Well-executed packaging means loads of room inside
• Van-like body provides a van-like boot; XL even longer
• Masses of storage areas around the cabin

As a practical family car, the Citroen Berlingo takes some beating, with plenty of room for five to seven adults, depending on which version you go for. Until 2019 both the short Berlingo M and longer XL could be had with either five or seven seats, but the range was rationalised to make the M only a five-seater, with the XL solely a seven-seater.

It’s not quite perfect, though, but it comes rather close. For instance, if you want seven seats, you can’t have the Modutop roof-mounted storage system, which also loses you the glazed panel. Similarly, with no footwell for third-row passengers, adults are forced to sit slightly knees-up.

The remainder, however, is deeply impressive, not least with up to 186 litres of cabin storage in 28 different compartments. Particularly useful are the bins under the feet of middle-row passengers, the storage shelf above the windscreen and the air-conditioned dash-top glovebox.

It feels wide to drive and manoeuvre, bit in reality it’s only a little broader than a conventional mid-sized family hatchback, while the shorter M version's compact footprint allows it to slip into parking spaces with ease.

Height-wise you may encounter problems at some multistorey car parks designed not to allow vans to enter.

Up to the window-line, the shorter Berlingo M will swallow 775 litres, extending to 3,500 litres with the seats folded. For the XL those numbers are an even more impressive 1,050-4,000 litres.

The contents of the boot are covered by an easily removed semi-rigid parcel shelf, which can also be installed at a lower height, while accessing the loadspace can be via a large top-hinged tailgate, or an optional separate opening glass screen where there’s less available space.

Opt for the seven-seater Berlingos and the rear-most seats can be folded forwards or removed completely, while the middle-row ones have a Magic Flat function allowing them to fold forwards and effectively become an extension of the boot floor. All three can fold individually, and remotely from the boot, a function that went into production during 2019, so earlier cars won't have it.

Long loads can be accommodated by a forward-folding front passenger seat, while the dashboard has been reinforced to help support heavy objects that might be rested upon it. 

Safely does it

• Four-star crash-test rating by Euro NCAP
• Credentials excellent on paper
• Rivals don’t have such an array of tech

While the Citroen Berlingo's four-star Euro NCAP crash test score might not be headlne-grabbing, it's a step up from its predecessor's three-star rating.

This is in large part because it features 19 safety systems – some of which aren’t available on competitor models, barring the Peugeot, Toyota and Vauxhall versions – in addition to its more robust safety cell.

Not all are standard equipment, but the full array of available safety technology comprises of:

• Adaptive cruise control
• Adaptive headlamps
• Advanced Grip Control
• Autonomous emergency braking
• Blindspot monitoring
• Coffee break alert
• Colour head-up display
• Cornering lamps
• Driver attention alert
• Electronic parking brake
• Flankguard – sensors monitor the sides of the Berlingo for obstacles
• Hill-start assist
• Keyless entry and starting
• Lane-keeping assist
• Post-collision braking
• Reversing camera with top-down view
• Self-parking function
• Traffic sign recognition
• Trailer stability control

How many Isofix points does it have?

All three positions in the Berlingo's middle row (back row on five-seat versions) have Isofix points, giving the Citroen a distinct advantage over many family hatchbacks, estates and SUVs of a similar size and price.

Watch: Citroen Berlingo's sister car Euro NCAP crash test video