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MOTORING W
offers a huge tailgate and boot, sliding rear doors, petrol or diesel engines and manual or auto gearboxes. there is also the option of seven seats on some models. Prices start at £12,355 though the
ROAD TESTS BY NICK FLETCHER
ouR MotoRING CoLuMN, BY tHe eXPeRIeNCeD AND AWARD WINNING MotoRING JouRNALIst NICK FLETCHER HeLPs ouR ReADeRs CHoose tHe Best oF tHe LAtest CARs.
CITROEN BERLINGO MuLTIsPaCE XTC BLuE
hile many people want a car offering plenty of space and versatility, they don’t always want a
large MPV which can be unwieldly to park and have higher running costs. The answer lies in the smaller van-based MPVs, neater, more nimble, cheaper to buy and run, yet still surprising capacious. one of the most popular in this niche sector is the
Citroen Berlingo Multispace, which shares its platform with its group stablemate the Peugeot Partner tepee, both vehicles visually very similar. the Berlingo, like its main rivals, is van-based and
DESPITE ITS VAN ROOTS, THE RIDE
entry version is short of standard equipment and most buyers will opt to move up the range. the mid-range Feel models offer best value, though my recent test model was a top-spec XtC Blue priced at £18,725. For that you get a wealth of features which include 7-inch touch screen, cruise control with speed limiter, 16 inch alloys, air-conditioning, DAB radio, usB, Bluetooth with media streaming, roof bars, body cladding, rear parking sensors, aircraft style folding tables and integral roof storage. the 1.6 litre 120 hp diesel engine is reasonably nippy with a 0-60 mph in 11.4 seconds and top speed of 109 mph. Fuel economy - the Blue version also features stop-start - is very good at 64.2 mpg combined. the raised driving position and large glass areas give
QUALITY AND COMFORT IS EXCELLENT THANKS TO REVISED SUSPENSION.
excellent all-round visibility, the steering provides good feedback, the six speed manual gearshift is slick. And despite its van roots, the ride quality and comfort is excellent thanks to revised suspension. While the exterior looks rather boxy,
the Berlingo does manage to deliver a certain amount of style and presence,
mainly due to its smoothed-out frontal design. Inside, the cabin is impressive, with supportive seating, lots of occupant space and a 675 litre boot which increases to a massive 3,000 litres with the seats folded. there are also lots of stowage places in the doors, dashboard, under the seats and even in the floor, plus a central roof box and above-windscreen shelving. In my view it is the most versatile car in the compact MPV sector. I concede it may not be the prettiest model you’ll see but it when it comes to functionality, cabin space, running costs and value for money, it’s hard to think of anything that truly compares.
MERCEDEs-BENz B CLass 180 sE
The Mercedes-Benz B Class is essentially a family hatchback but it offers more space than most, a more impressive cabin and a more exclusive image. In fact, Mercedes describes the car as a ‘compact sports tourer’ and there are petrol and diesel options, with prices starting at £21,825 and the sporty flagship AMG versions topping £30,000. the B Class is more distinctive in appearance than class rivals. While perhaps not as svelte as some, it has a lot
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