Berlingo Series 1

CITROEN scored a surprise hit with the Berlingo everywhere it has sold.

Based on the Xsara small car’s front-wheel drive platform (itself derived from the 1993 Peugeot 306), the Berlingo is exactly the sort of basic, roomy, supply suspended and simple work vans the French are famous for.

Only the single 1.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine model has been available in Australia, in two-seater panel van-only guise. Elsewhere the Berlingo is also a four-door windowed wagon called Multispace, with rear seats and many extras included.

The powerplant produces 58kW and 111Nm, and is mated to a five-speed manual only gearbox.

Power steering, a trip computer and radio-cassette player are standard, with an immobiliser and a driver’s airbag added from November 2000 and air-conditioning in May ’03.