Drive with us: Citroen Berlingo MPV Review

Join us as we take a closer look at the Citroën Berlingo, the van-based MPV that makes an unapologetic case for function over form

The Citroën Berlingo MPV is an oft-overlooked van-based car that makes no apology for what it is.

It looks like a van. It's built on a van platform. But alas, it's a car — and in fact, it's one of the most enjoyable, practical, liveable cars you can lease right now. A 2024 facelift brought a fresher face to proceedings, but the Berlingo's character remains firmly intact.

It might not be the most attractive package on the road, but the question isn't whether it's cool. It's whether cool even matters when a car does this much, this well, at this price point.

And if you want to take things electric, there's the Citroën ë-Berlingo too, bringing everything you love about the Berlingo with zero tailpipe emissions.

So does the Citroën Berlingo deserve its place on your shortlist — or is it a case of substance over style? We got behind the wheel to find out.

What we drove:

Model: Citroën Berlingo Feel M PureTech 110 S/S 

Body style: Small MPV (5-seat) 

Fuel type: Petrol 

Engine: 1.2-litre PureTech 110 (3-cylinder) 

0–62mph: 11.6 seconds 

Fuel economy: 38–46mpg 

CO₂: 143–165g/km 

Colour: Black 

OTR: £24,185

Or watch our video review over on YouTube:

Form follows function

It looks like a van, because it once was. Citroën made no attempt to hide its origins. Upright, boxy, utilitarian — this is one handy machine.

But Citroën did more than most to inject personality. The front end is distinctive, with C-shaped LED daytime running lights and chevron detailing around the headlights.

After we got our hands on it, Citroën gave it a facelift in 2024 which brought a new corporate face with an oval-framed logo medallion. Subtle, but noticeable up front.

Colourful details along the flanks and around the fog lights add character without trying too hard, and the sliding rear doors rather than conventional hinged ones more than prove their worth in tight car parks, keeping door dings at bay. It's worth noting that the sliding door windows only wind down on higher trims; on Plus they're fixed vents.

At the rear, the enormous top-hinged tailgate gives unobstructed access to the boot, though it needs serious clearance behind to open fully — tight garages and multi-storeys are a tad difficult.

The deep unpainted body mouldings along the sides are, let’s face it, unfashionable. But they’re genuinely useful; minor scrapes are cheap to fix.

The Berlingo is available in five colours: Icy White, Sirkka Green, Kiama Blue, Perla Nera Black and Cumulus Grey. It wouldn't win any beauty contests, but it carved out its own niche as the funky MPV, and it really wears it well.

More space than you'll know what to do with

Step inside and there’s space galore — so much so that you probably won’t know what to do with it all. It’s hard to believe just how big it is until you’re physically sat in it.

The high driving position gives excellent visibility, and the vast windows reduce blind spots considerably.

The dashboard uses hard-wearing plastics throughout — definitely not premium, but the layout is thoughtful and it doesn’t feel cheap either.

Physical controls for the air-con and ventilation mean no diving into submenus just to change the temperature, which is a welcome touch.

Storage is where the Berlingo really makes its case. 

A full-width overhead shelf above the front seats proves to be genuinely useful rather than just a gimmick, and the dashboard-mounted cupholders sit within easy reach without obstructing the view. In total there are 28 storage compartments: Under-seat drawers, lidded cubbies, centre console, top of the dash…

The list goes on.

The optional Modutop roof on Plus trim brings a panoramic glazed roof with an illuminated storage shelf and overhead locker; well worth knowing about.

Heading into the back, the rear sliding doors open up to a genuinely spacious second row, making access easy even in tight parking spots. The rear bench is wide enough for three adults with ease, and head and leg room are generous throughout. Tray tables on the back of the front seats come as standard on both trims too — a small detail that families will appreciate.

Boot space stands at 775 litres to the parcel shelf, opening up to 3,000 litres with the rear seats down. The large square boot opening and low loading lip also makes loading and unloading genuinely easy.

Surprising from the first roundabout

We drove the 110hp 1.2-litre PureTech petrol — modest on paper, but more than capable in practice.

It performed confidently in everyday driving. The 0–62mph time of 11.6 seconds tells only part of the story: It never felt sluggish where it mattered.

The light steering made it surprisingly manoeuvrable for its size, and the boxy shape actually helped with spatial awareness, making parking and tight urban streets a breeze.

The soft suspension soaked up bumps and potholes well, feeling pleasant without ever becoming floaty. Body roll through corners was noticeable, but this wasn't a car that pretended to be sporty and it was better for it.

In town especially, the Berlingo was genuinely enjoyable to drive; the kind of car that made busy roads feel less stressful rather than more. It didn't excite, but it consistently impressed with just how easy it was to live with.

Fuel economy was reasonable too. 

During a stop-start test drive we averaged 41mpg, which sat comfortably within the official WLTP combined figure of 38–46mpg — not bad at all for a petrol in predominantly urban conditions.

What's good, and what's not

The Citroën Berlingo brings serious space to the game, but it does have some drawbacks:

The good bits:

• Cabin space that genuinely surprises — arguably the best for the money at this size
• 28 storage solutions; practical details clearly designed with families in mind
• Sliding rear doors reduce car park dings — a small thing that makes a big difference day to day
• Drives better than its shape implies — light, manoeuvrable, and stress-free around town

The not-so-good bits:

• Van aesthetics won't appeal to everyone 
• Enormous tailgate needs serious clearance to open which is awkward in tight garages and multi-storeys
• Sliding doors are heavier than expected, especially for younger passengers 
• Body roll through corners is noticeable 

What's the verdict? 

The Citroën Berlingo is one serious space machine.   

And no, we don't mean a UFO.

This is a car that rewards those willing to look past its shape — or maybe you actually like it, in which case, this is the perfect car for you.

The tech is functional rather than exciting. It does the job, but competitors often dazzle in this department. Where the Berlingo will be hard to beat, though, is space.

Pure, unapologetic, cavernous space.

Rivals like the Volkswagen Touran and Ford S-Max feel more car-like, but cost more and offer less room. The closest alternatives are the Peugeot Rifter and Vauxhall Combo Life — worth cross-shopping, but cosmetics aside they're essentially the same car. If seven seats are a priority, the ë-Berlingo is the one to consider. It’s the same brilliance, but electrified. 

This is a car you won't outgrow.  

It suits family, personal, and light business use in equal measure. The Berlingo doesn't ask you to love it — it just gets on with being brilliant.  

And the amount of space you get in this package makes it grow on you.

Top 5 reasons to consider the Citroën Berlingo:

1. The boot space is genuinely jaw-dropping: 775 litres with seats up, 3,000 with them down 
2. 28 storage compartments — because families always need somewhere to put things 
3. Sliding rear doors that save your paintwork in car parks 
4. Drives better than a van-shaped car has any right to 
5. Affordable to insure, run, and repair 

Would we recommend leasing a Citroën Berlingo?

Absolutely.

If you can look past the van-based shape — and we'd argue it's easier than you think with all that space — the Berlingo is one of the most rewarding cars you can lease right now.

The space alone is worth the price of admission, and the fact it's comfortable, affordable to run, and genuinely enjoyable to drive makes it a very easy recommendation.

It's particularly well suited to families, those who cover varied mileage, or anyone who simply needs a car that gets on with the job without drama. And if zero emissions are on your radar, the ë-Berlingo takes everything that makes this car great and electrifies it.