Founder of its segment
Built from 1996 to 2009, the Citroën Berlingo I succeeded the Citroën C15 and is considered the founder of the high-roof station wagon segment. Since its market launch in 1996, it has been the practical companion for families: year after year, the model has been one of Citroën's bestsellers thanks to its versatility, functionality and spaciousness.
Key features of the first generation included the raised seating position for the driver and front passenger, the sliding door for the rear row of seats and the Modutop®, a multifunctional roof in the Spacelight trim level. The large tailgate and ingenious details made the Berlingo particularly family-friendly.
The panel van version was used in a wide variety of commercial sectors. Thanks to the cooperation with conversion and conversion partners, almost every wish could be fulfilled and the appropriate equipment for pharmaceutical transporters or fire engines, for example, could be provided. Over the years, the Citroën Berlingo was further developed several times and was available in different versions. There were versions with one, two and even without sliding doors, with a tailgate or rear wing doors and panel van versions with metal-clad side windows.
The first Citroën Berlingo Electric (1997/2012)
In 1997, the all-electric van with a range of 95 kilometers and a top speed of 95 km/h was launched on the market. A new version was launched in 2012. Tailored to the needs of tradespeople - such as courier services or small craft businesses in large cities - it had a load capacity of up to 4.1 m3 and a maximum payload of 685 kilograms.
In the Berlingo Electric, parts of the electric drivetrain were located under the hood and integrated into the body. The two-part battery pack was mounted completely under the loading area, which enabled a completely flat loading area. With a total battery capacity of 22.5 kWh, the range of the Citroën Berlingo Electric was 170 kilometers. At the end of 2015, the Berlingo Electric panel van was awarded the "European Transport Prize for Sustainability 2016".
The "lucky charm Berlino"
Citroën has been cooperating with the Federal Association of Chimney Sweeps since July 2000. Over 6,000 of these Berlingos with special, industry-specific interior configurations have been sold to date.
The second generation from 2008: more comfortable and even more practical
Launched in January 2008, the second Berlingo retained its qualities as a practical, versatile family car and placed even greater emphasis on comfort. The equipment details such as the retractable rear windows and three removable individual seats in the second row were typical of the French manufacturer, while the chassis with the increased wheelbase came from the C4 Picasso.
The commercial vehicle version, which was also launched at the beginning of 2008, offered a significantly larger load compartment (3.3 m3), which could be extended to 3.7 m3 with the optional Extenso® cab and accommodated objects up to three meters in length. A third front seat could also be ordered, and hill start assist, height and reach-adjustable steering wheel and ESP were also available.
In March 2015, the revised Berlingo II was presented at the Geneva Motor Show, which manifested itself in a new apron with LED daytime running lights and a redesigned radiator grille. In the Multispace version, the Berlingo offered more comfortable seats and suspension, individual rear seats and an opening rear window.
The model was also equipped with a multifunctional 7-inch touchscreen. The panel van also featured the Active City Break emergency braking assistant, a reversing camera and a parking aid. New engines ensured a reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
The Citroën Berlingo III (2018): Design innovations and more scope
The new edition of the former founder of the high-roof station wagon segment has a new body and has been optimized in terms of design, comfort and modularity. Features such as the independent, fold-down rear seats, which can also be removed in the third row, the Modutop® multifunctional roof and the separately opening rear window still characterize the high-roof estate.
For the first time in its history, the Berlingo is available in two wheelbases. The standard M-length model is two centimeters longer than the previous generation and measures 4.40 meters with a wheelbase of 2.78 meters. The XL version, which is 35 centimetres longer, has an overall length of 4.75 meters and a wheelbase of 2.97 meters. Compared to its predecessor, the trunk capacity has been increased by 100 liters and is 775 liters in the M length and 1,050 liters in the XL length. The Berlingo can hold up to 4,000 liters in the XL length.
