After the petrol and diesel variants, the Citroën Berlingo is available in an electric version which makes no sacrifice in terms of roominess and modularity. However, this vehicle is aimed at customers for whom the range limited to 280 km will not be a constraint.
Test car: Citroën ë-Berlingo M Shine
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From€ 39,650
€ 6,000 bonus
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Appeared in 2018, the third-generation Berlingo MPV inherits the electric powertrain of the Stellantis group (ex-PSA) and becomes the third 100% electric model in the Citroën range after the compact ë-C4 and the ë-Spacetourer van ( without counting the Ami quadricycle). Like its thermal counterpart, the ë-Berlingo shares its technical base with its cousins Peugeot e-Rifter and Opel Combo-e Life. We therefore find the electric motor of 136 hp and the battery of 50 kWh, the latter having the good taste of do not encroach on the interior volume because located under the floor. The cargo capacity then remains particularly generous for the compact size of the vehicle, with still 597 l of boot space under the shelf, expandable to 2,126 l once the rear seats are folded down.
Aesthetically, only a few details make it possible to distinguish the ë-Berlingo from the thermal versions, such as the “ë” logos on the grille and the tailgate or the blue rims surrounding the fog lights and the side airbumps (from of the Feel finish). The recharging socket is located in the same location as the fuel flap on thermal models. Finally, remember that this ë-Berlingo is one of the very few electric vehicles to be able to suit large families, since it is capable of to take seven passengers on board. On the long XL version (4.70 m long), the two third row seats are standard and mounted on rails, while they require a supplement (700 €) and are removable on the M version.
Citroën ë-Berlingo price
The Citroën ë-Berlingo asks for a minimum of € 35,300 for the Live finish and € 39,650 with the top of the range Shine. If we compare it to the petrol model with automatic transmission of equivalent PureTech 130 EAT8, both in Feel Pack finish, we can estimate the additional cost of this electric version at 10,150 € (€ 38,150 against € 28,000). This difference is however reduced to € 3,252 if we take into account the bonus of € 6,000 from which the ë-Berlingo benefits, but also the minimum penalty of € 898 which affects the gasoline vehicle. The long XL version is for its part only available in the Feel Pack finish, at € 39,150.
The standard equipment of the Live finish includes only the essentials, including air conditioning, cruise control and automatic low beams. We recommend paying an additional 1,500 € to access the Feel level, which allows to gain in modularity and practicality with in particular the second sliding door, the folding front passenger seat or even the rear parking aid, particularly useful on this type of vehicle. The Feel Pack level adds the three independent rear seats, the opening rear window or digital instrumentation. Among the most interesting options, we will mainly retain the two additional seats to benefit from seven seats in size M (700 €) and the Modutop panoramic glass roof with storage arch and roof box (750 €).
Autonomy and charging time
If the ë-Berlingo has the same 50 kWh battery as the other electric models of the group, its stature close to a utility does not favor it in terms of aerodynamics. This is naturally felt on the range, announced by Citroën at 280 km in the WLTP combined cycle, when an ë-C4 with the same technical attributes displays an extension of 70 km. The large mass of the MPV does not help either, with 1,880 kg announced. At the end of our test, the average consumption established by the on-board computer was 19 kWh per 100 km. A value quite close to that claimed in the combined cycle (18 kWh / 100 km) and which makes it possible to estimate real autonomy around 240 km. This without taking too many highways and expressways …
Charging at 100% would require less than 15 hours on a reinforced 16 A domestic socket or 5 hours on an 11 kW Wallbox if we have taken care to choose the optional three-phase 11 kW on-board charger (400 €). Finally, on a fast terminal, recharging to 80% would only take 30 minutes with a power of 100 kW.
Driving
Once you get behind the wheel of this ë-Berlingo, you are not really out of place. Apart from the dial to select the “speeds” P, R, N and D, the interior layout remains identical to that of the thermal models. It is only with the first acceleration that one really becomes aware of the revolution operated on the ludospace. More than on another vehicle, electrification truly transforms the driving experience and offers an unexpected nervousness to the Berlingo, rather placid at the origin. The performance appears more than honest, even surprising with the Power driving mode which provides the driver with all 136 hp and 260 Nm. Of course, if you want to optimize the range for a long trip, the modes Normal (109 hp, 210 Nm) and Eco (82 hp, 180 Nm) will be preferred, without the Berlingo becoming listless.
The steering, very flexible and multiplied, is ideally calibrated for the city and maneuvers. And if we regret once on the secondary network a certain lack of feeling, things improve again by selecting the Power mode, which offers better consistency. In terms of comfort, the ë-Berlingo does not fail Citroën’s reputation. Its suspensions filter the vast majority of the roughness of the road without ever shaking the passengers. Unfortunately, this flexibility of the damping is a little excessive, the vehicle revealing a certain tendency to take of the roll in the turns and to dive frankly on the strong braking. As if the suspension settings of the thermal versions had been kept without taking into account the significant overweight of the batteries.
Finally, the MPV is not immune to one of the recurring complaints made to many electric cars, with particularly difficult braking to control. Indeed, if its power seems very sufficient in view of general performance, the consistency of the pedal seems to change constantly, and you never really know how much pressure to exert to obtain the desired effect.
On board
Competetion
For the moment, the electric MPV segment remains very limited. The Citroën ë-Berlingo only finds on its road its cousins Peugeot e-Rifter and Opel Combo-e Life, as well as the Toyota Proace City Verso Electric. All these models share the same technical platform and display similar characteristics, distinguished only by a few aesthetic details. Price wise, the ë-Berlingo remains the most accessible of the quartet with the Combo-e Life (from € 35,300), while the Proace City Verso is barely more expensive (from € 35,820). For its part, the e-Rifter requires a slightly greater financial effort (from 36,400 €), but it stands out from the others by its specific interior presentation with its i-Cockpit.
In spring 2022, the Kangoo Van E-Tech Electric will enter the market. He will present fairly similar characteristics those of the models of the Stellantis group, with a 122 hp engine and a 45 kWh battery for a range announced at 300 km. Clones of this Kangoo Electric will also be offered at Nissan (NV250) and Mercedes (EQT).
Find the test report, prices, equipment and technical sheet on the next page.