A used Citroen Berlingo might be the van your business needs
Review
Anyone expecting a vehicle based on a light van to offer a syrupy ride will be disappointed. Having said that, the Berlingo has the ability to convert all but the most skeptical. Especially in 1.8i guise, the Citroen is genuinely good fun to drive, with an acceptable amount of body roll in corners, and a fair amount of poke.
Performance
Rest to 60 in 12.2 seconds may not worry the hot hatch brigade, but it feels much quicker in a Berlingo, especially with the roof open.The 1.8i will see 100mph under favorable conditions, although at this speed you’ll need ear defenders. The Berlingo is slightly under geared, and you may find yourself reaching for another gear whilst barreling along in fifth. This contributes to the Multispace’s surprising thirst. The 1.8i will return a combined fuel consumption figure of 31.7mpg, and to put that in perspective, that’s less than some sporting cars such as the Honda Integra Type-R or Audi TT Roadster. For the most accomplished engine, buyers must turn to the post-facelift cars and the 2.0-litre HDi. Furthermore by using van leasing or van contract hire, you can rest assured your money is wisely spent.
Buying a Citroen Berlingo
As with all cars that get used to ferry children back and forth, check for rips, stains and other damage to upholstery and minor trim parts. Despite being reinforced to cope with heavy loads, the Berlingo’s rear bumper is only spray painted, and a good slide of, say, a washing machine over it will rub it bare. Check the integrity of the fitments inside as, unsurprisingly, the plastics quality used in the Berlingo probably wouldn’t find their way into an Audi. On some of the cubbies it’s possible for coins, keys and the like to slip between ill-matched mouldings and down into the fascia innards. The mechanicals are proven technology and shouldn’t cause any significant worry. Despite this, check for its service history but otherwise what you see is pretty much what you get with a Berlingo Multispace whether you are using direct payment or van lease hire. Even though if you want this car, for business purposes we strongly suggest you use van contract hire.
Citroen Berlingo Typical Pricing
Used prices for the Berlingo Multispace have settled now after initial market confusion. A 1998 S registered Multispace 1.8i can be bought for £1,180, making it a very cost effective means of family transport. Whilst a 1999 T plate 1.9D will require £1,680 to get your name on the registration document. Five door models arrived with the 2000 W-plate and around £2,825 will secure you a Multispace Forte with the 1.9 Diesel engine. Petrol fans had to hang on until the 2000 X-plate to get five doors so the earliest 1.6 Forte models are around the £2,950 mark. The van leasing options was involved in the game at that time as well. Insurance is a reasonable Group 4 for the 1.4i and 1.9D models and Group 5 for the surprisingly zippy 1.8i. The post-facelift cars look much prettier, if pretty is a term you can attach to a van-based MPV, and the vehicle’s commercial vehicle origins are better disguised. The 1.4-litre models are available from £3,450 on a 52-plate and the pick of the range is the 2.0-litre HDi diesel which starts from £3,575.If you are looking for cheap vans, Van lease hire is available for used vehicles as well.