New Citroen Berlingo on sale now: petrol, diesel and EV options from £23k

• Electric e-Berlingo gets an improved range
• New infotainment system
• Still available as a seven-seater

This is the facelifted Citroen Berlingo, a versatile van-based people-carrier that’s now available to order in the UK. With a new look inside and out, as well as fresh battery technology for the electric model, the Berlingo builds upon the outgoing model’s unique combination of versatility and affordability.

Designed to rival other MPVs, such as the Ford Tourneo Connect and the Peugeot E-Rifter, the Berlingo is offered with either a petrol or diesel engine, or in fully electric e-Berlingo form. While the former starts from just over £23,000, you’ll have to hand over around £31,000 for the e-Berlingo.

What’s new about the exterior of the new Berlingo?

Starting with the exterior of the new Berlingo, the most obvious changes have been made up front. The split-element headlights of the outgoing model have been replaced by new units with three separate lighting segments, a design shared with the new Citroen e-C3. Like the new supermini, the Berlingo also features a black trim strip across the front, with a chevron pattern to mimic the iconic Citroen logo. 

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There’s a redesigned front bumper with small red accents, the same colour also found on the side ‘airbumps’. These plastic trim pieces at the base of the sliding doors are carried over from the outgoing model and help to protect the Berlingo from scrapes and dings, as well as adding to its rugged appearance. Buyers will be able to choose from five paint colours, including new additions Sirkka Green and Kiama Blue, both also available on the Berlingo’s sister car, the Peugeot E-Rifter.

What’s changed inside the new Berlingo?

Inside, you’ll find a new dashboard, complete with a 10-inch central infotainment touchscreen compatible with both wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The driver sits behind a new steering wheel, now optionally heated, with button controls for the audio system and cruise control instead of the previous model’s stalks.

Behind the wheel you’ll find a new digital instrument display. As standard, this screen is black and white – you have to pay more for a colour display. There are new seats too, which Citroen claims offer improved comfort over the outgoing model.

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Otherwise, the Berlingo retains the roomy, van-like interior space of the outgoing model. There is still a choice of two lengths – M at 4.4 metres long and XL at 4.75 metres – the longer option offering seven seats across three rows. However, the XL model is only offered for the fully-electric e-Berlingo – petrol and diesel models are strictly M-sized only.

Regardless of which length you choose, the seats can be folded down individually, offering great interior flexibility – boot capacity soars to 4,000 litres in the XL model with the seats flat.

Has the electric e-Berlingo been updated?

As well as the exterior and interior changes, the electric e-Berlingo model has received some useful powertrain upgrades. The battery pack is a new 52kWh (50kWh usable) unit, powering the same 136bhp motor but now delivering up to 205 miles of range (WLTP tested) – a 20% improvement over the outgoing model. There’s a regenerative braking system to recover waste energy during braking which is fed back to the battery, improving range. Buyers can option a heat pump too, which heats the cabin efficiently without compromising range.

A 100kW maximum charging speed means the new e-Berlingo is rapid-charger compatible – a 0 to 80% charge should take roughly 30 minutes if you can find a suitable public charger. Those who prefer to plug in at home can expect charging times of 7.5 hours from a 7.4kWh wall box or, if you option the 11kW onboard charger, 5 hours from an 11kW wall box.

What about petrol and diesel engine options?

If you like the look of the Berlingo but aren’t quite ready to make the jump to an electric car, Citroen will still offer a range of petrol and diesel engines in the UK. The petrol offering uses a 110bhp three-cylinder engine with a six-speed manual gearbox, while the diesel has 130bhp and can be ordered with an eight-speed automatic, as well as the manual.

How much will it cost and when can I order one?

Prices start at £23,090 for the petrol Berlingo in entry-level Plus trim. Swapping petrol for diesel commands another £1,100, while the automatic diesel costs from £26,790. Out of the combustion-engined Berlingos, only the automatic diesel can be ordered in higher-spec Max trim, costing £29,305.

The e-Berlingo starts from £30,990 in M length, increasing by £900 for the XL. The e-Berlingo in Max trim costs £33,505 and is only available in M length.

All models are available to order now with first deliveries slated for April. If you need something even larger than the Berlingo, Citroen offers the e-SpaceTourer, which has also been updated for 2024.

What does it mean for car buyers?

People-carriers are few and far between these days, with most manufacturers ditching them in favour of taller SUVs. If you’re in the market for a new family car with plenty of interior space, but don’t want the added bulk of an SUV, the Berlingo could be an option for you. The updated exterior and interior will bring the Berlingo right up to date in 2024, and the choice of petrol, diesel and electric models should cater to all buyers.

If you're interested in a spacious family car but don't want an SUV, read our list of the best people carriers and MPVs...