Used Car Test - Citroen Berlingo

12:31pm Wednesday 11th July 2007

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Behind the wheel : OK, so it's a van with extra windows. From behind the wheel, it feels a bit agricultural if you've just stepped out of a Scenic or a Zafira. But the high roofline means the Berlingo has both those cars licked for practicality. ***

Quality : Lots of engine noise and wind roar at motorway speeds make a Berlingo tiring on long trips. The plastics are strong, however, and the interior can take a lot of stick. **

Reliability : Forget the petrols and opt for a diesel. Although there's nothing inherently wrong with the 1.4 and 1.6 the larger 2.0 turbodiesel performs so much better and beats the others for fuel consumption. The under stressed engine should last longer too.

Handling : This is no hot hatchback but some owners seem to take pride in driving a Berlingo to the edge of disaster. Take care on sharp corners and treacherous country lanes and you should be fine. **1/2

Costs : Cheap to buy and cheap to run. Parts are in plentiful supply and a service shouldn't cost more than £100. ***

What to pay : Berlingo ownership starts from little more than £1,500. A cheapie is likely to be on its last legs, though. Steer clear of cars with mileages that wouldn't disgrace the Starship Enterprise - almost anything could go wrong. A minter with less than 5,000 miles will still cost less than £10,000.

Speedy Verdict:

For: Very practical, cheap

Against: Not a very satisfying long term ownership proposition.