Buying a sensible fuel efficient car for family use with the potential to carry luggage and loads easily is becoming more important day by day.

The latest forecast from the industry that new car prices will inevitably rise due to the increase in cost of raw materials and transportation is a further blow to consumers and manufacturers alike.

People and load carrying in affordable, compact lightweight bodyshell versatile seating cars with fuel-miser engines will be the future for mainstream models. Many of these cars are already with us and the new Citroen Berlingo Multispace is a good example of people and load space packaging.

‘Bigger and better’ is how Citroen describe their new Berlingo range.  Their new compact Berlingo van variants are now able to carry two Euro pallets - Euro pallets being the measuring criteria for commercial vehicles and the Berlingo Multispace MPV is just as roomy.

But the latest Multispace is no longer a Berlingo van with windows. Both the commercial and passenger Berlingo ranges use the floorpan and running gear from their award winning C4 Picasso mid-sized MPV or people-carrier so the whole range uses passenger car architecture and therefore benefits from more sophisticated ride and performance qualities.

Citroen are big sellers of vans and MPVs of all sizes and as usual all these models benefit from the choice of fuel efficient, low CO2 emitting petrol and diesel engines and being Citroen – attractive competitive pricing.

The new Berlingo Multispace is such a vehicle. Its square boxy shape maximises interior passenger and load space, it seats five people with ease yet it remains compact in length, just 4,380mm long. Load capacity ranges from 675 litres with the three rear seats in position and up to massive 3,000-litres with the rear seats removed. Rear side sliding passenger doors makes it easy to get in and out of and the high and wide tailgate means it is easy to load. There is even enough headroom to fit the optional internal roof bars for long items such as skis eliminating the risk of theft and not impacting on fuel efficiency.

To go under the bonnet there is the choice of 1.6i 90 and 110bhp petrol and 1.6HDi 75, 90 and 110bhp diesel fuel efficient engines depending on whether VT, VTR or XTR specification levels are chosen.

Prices range from £10,995 up to £14,625 but heartland models are close to £12,000. As is the current trend from manufacturers there is a wide range of extra cost options and option packs so the Multispace can be tailored to meet the exact needs of the wide range of customers who buy this type of vehicle, including the less able who need space for a wheelchair. 

Unfortunately the very important safety function of an Electronic Stability Programme is a £350 extra cost option when it should be fitted as standard. Air conditioning is also an extra cost option for VT and VTR models costing between £620 and £750.

The original Berlingo Multispace was launched in the UK in 1998 and over 50,000 have been sold since then.   Citroen is Europe’s number one manufacturer of MPVs and next year their Picasso people carrier range will be further expanded with the introduction of the ‘supermini’ sized C3 Picasso.

The all-new bigger and better Citroen Berlingo Multispace went on sale in the UK from the 12 June with attractive and competitive pricing starting from just £10,995.

In a world where low running costs and practicality are prime considerations for buying a sensible vehicle for active families, or a car that doubles as a workhorse, the Multispace fits the bill.

Because the Berlingo van and people carrier models use the same construction architecture and running gear as the award winning C4 Picasso MPV it not only performs and handles like a modern passenger car, rather than a commercial vehicle, it looks smarter and it is larger, but still not too large to be classed as a ‘compact’ people carrier.

It may not be totally stylish with Citroen’s usual passenger car flair but it has a certain practical charm and will appeal to people who buy a car with their head not their heart.   Everything about the Multispace is practical.

Its longer wheelbase but compact overall 4.3 metre length combined with easy to use rear side sliding doors makes it family friendly and very spacious. Add to that the huge load area and the option to fold or take out the rear seats and the load space is at worst, large and at best huge, up to 3,000-litres.

So from a wheelchair to a bicycle, family luggage to the household pet or even use as a taxi the Multispace fits the bill. There are lots of internal storage areas, including the roof section, so the practicality of the vehicle seems endless.
My test car, which I happily used for a hard week’s motoring up and down motorways and some city travel, was the Berlingo Multispace 1.6HDi 90bhp VTR priced at £12,375. This is expected to be the main selling model but the 1.6i 90bhp petrol engine is looking a better option for private buyers as diesel fuel gets more costly and this version costs £11,465.

But to those prices most customers will add the cost of the £620 air conditioning and they should take the Electronic Stability Programme at £350. So for £13,345 you have a really good cost effective package and you just know there will still be a deal to be had with your local Citroen supplier.

OK so it looks like a smart box on wheels but it drives much better than that. Thanks to using a passenger car platform and running gear the new Multispace handles pretty well and above all it is very comfortable thanks to the passenger car derived suspension and the stability is fine thanks to the wide front and rear tracks.

Strong headwinds I suspect could take the edge of cruising performance and side wind gusting was felt but the vehicle cruised effortlessly at top motorway speeds and very economically as well. My test car returned a very realistic 47.8mpg and that was generally hard driving or sat in motorway traffic.

From the driver’s seat the Multispace, for me, was less pleasing. The visibility was excellent but I just couldn’t get the seat at the right height in relation to the height and reach adjustable off-set steering column.

I also found the room for my left foot limited. There just wasn’t enough space to get my foot on the rest which is too close to the clutch. I guess this is down to the left hand drive initial design which for the driving position doesn’t convert so easily to right hand drive. I have to admit I’m six feet tall so it will not apply to all buyers.
Thankfully there was plenty of headroom. The level of specification with the VTR model is generally good, except for not having ESP, air conditioning, side curtain airbags or alloy wheels as standard.

But owners do get anti-lock braking with electronic brakeforce distribution, front airbags, Isofix child seat mounting points, front fog lights, stereo radio/CD player with MP3 compatibility, electronically operated and heated door mirrors, electric windows, rear split folding seats and armrests for the front seats plus lots of storage pockets.

It is an old and well used saying but the Multispace ‘does what it says on the tin’.

Engine/transmission: 1.6-litre, four-cylinder, high pressure common rail direct injection turbodiesel, 90bhp, 215Nm of torque from 1,750rpm, five speed manual gearbox. Performance: 100mph, 0-62mph 14.3 seconds, 49.6mpg (47.8mpg actual), CO2150g/km, VED Band C £120.

For: Totally practical, best use of space for its compact size, bigger and better than before, car not van driving performance and refinement, well priced, cheap to run.
Against: Electronic Stability not fitted as standard, styling will not appeal to everybody, optimum driving position not easily obtained.