Citroen Berlingo Dual Fuel Van

Citroen’s Berlingo van makes most sense in the Dual Fuel form we look at here, based on the entry-level 90bhp 1.6-litre petrol engine. The alterations take this variant from being a modest 34mpg performer when it comes to running costs to being stand-out in this respect. Plus the basic product itself is pretty practical too.Other van manufacturers would probably like to know the reasons behind Citroen’s success in this sector across Europe – so they probably ought to be reading this. Indeed, across the continent, one in seven Citroen products sold is a commercial vehicle. The French brand has triumphed through designing, marketing and pricing its commercial products to the needs of end-users. Other manufacturers talk about this but ultimately seem to expect end-users to fit in with them.

"The likely savings in day-to-day running costs that this variant enjoys will dwarf even those of the frugal HDi diesel variants…"

When we first tested the Berlingo van, we remarked that we couldn’t really see why any business would choose the entry-level 1.6-litre petrol version over the HDi diesel unless their mileage were extremely low (unlikely) or they were intending to have a dual fuel conversion. How do you organise such a thing? Well, you just talk to your Citroen dealer.

The technically advanced and apparently very reliable Nicholson McLaren Engines’ (NME) dual fuel conversion fitted to this Berlingo has already been proven in some 2,000 Nemo and Berlingo First Dual Fuel vans. The conversion applied to the second generation Berlingo includes a 59-litre LPG tank mounted in place of the spare wheel, with the LPG filler mounted alongside the petrol filler and under the standard fuel filler flap. Berlingo 1.6i Dual Fuel vans have the same performance characteristics as their petrol-engined equivalents and meet both the new European standard R115 and the existing European standard R6701. They’re also fully European On Board Diagnosis (EOBD)-compliant. The Citroën Ready to Run Dual Fuel vans all deliver major fuel cost savings and meet Powershift Band 4 emissions standards and are thus exempt from London Congestion Charge Zone charge, giving additional savings of up to £1,696 p.a.

The L1 Berlingo van bodystyle that we’re looking at here is 4,380mm in length, that’s 243mm longer than the original Berlingo with 350mm extra in the wheelbase department. The space in the rear is accessed through side hinged rear doors which open to nearly 180 degrees and reveal a compartment that’s 1,800mm long in the L1 version and never less than 1,229mm wide. Sliding side doors are available as options as is a hinged roof flap through which long items can be poked. The loading lip at the rear is nice and low and the load bay gets excellent protection from its contents courtesy of panelling that extends halfway up the sides of the vehicle. The standard bulkhead is a ladder frame behind the driver’s seat only and an unusual touch is the load compartment light that can be detached and used as a torch.

Internally, the Citroen Berlingo is an impressive piece of work with good quality materials and neat design. The storage space is abundant and clever solutions abound ready to swallow up all the paraphernalia of your working day. There are both two and three-seater cab options and in the two-seater Berlingo, the single passenger seat folds down to reveal a desk and cup holders.

The space in the Berlingo’s cabin is immediately noticeable. It’s wide with plenty of room for driver and passenger. Problems start to arise when you specify the three-seat model, a highly unusual inclusion on a van of this size. The protruding dash mounted gear lever makes the middle berth virtually uninhabitable by anyone with legs and Citroen’s claim that this "occasional seat" is ideal for young children seems a moot point. The few remaining chimney sweeps might be interested but in this day and age, taking your child to work on a daily basis is rightfully frowned upon. The real advantage of the Extenso cabin, as the three-seater layout is known, is the ability to fold the outer passenger seat down to increase the load length available. You can also flip the seat cushion up to make a handy storage area on the cab floor.

Citroen now offers the widest range of petrol/LPG fuelled vans available from any LCV manufacturer in the UK. The Berlingo 1.6i Dual Fuel van sells alongside a similar version of the old Berlingo design (called ‘Berlingo First’), plus the smaller Nemo 1.4i Dual Fuel van.

Citroen offers the Berlingo Dual Fuel in two trim levels, X and LX both priced at around the £10,000 mark. Standard equipment includes ABS brakes, a trip computer, a CD stereo, central locking, electric front windows and internally adjustable door mirrors. The LX adds remote central locking, heated electric wing mirrors and an external temperature sensor. There’s also the considerable pulling power of a standard Trafficmaster Smartnav satellite navigation and vehicle tracking system. An interesting option is the All-Road pack which is designed for Berlingos regularly faced with rough surfaces with larger tyres and under body protection.

It’s would be understandable if people who maintain a close eye on the light commercial vehicle market were mildly flummoxed by the Citroen Berlingo. The various small van contenders used to fit into convenient market sectors but Citroen has branched out in offering this larger Berlingo model along with the smaller Nemo which sits below. The Berlingo is tasked with pinching sales from the smaller models in the panel van sector as well as doing battle with direct competitors like Ford’s long wheelbase Transit Connect and the Volkswagen Caddy Maxi.

Citroen’s Berlingo van is already good enough to hold its own in a tough LCV market but this Dual Fuel conversion option adds a further and very useful string to its bow. The likely savings in day-to-day running costs that this variant enjoys will dwarf even those of the frugal HDi diesel variants, so this alternative is one that commercial operators shouldn’t ignore.

And the Berlingo van itself? Well, it’s more car-like than ever before and much bigger than you might expect too. To the extent in fact that it could make more sense than that larger van you might have been considering. Downsizing on costs without compromising on space certainly has its appeal.