Car Statistics: Citroen - Berlingo Multispace Series 08 (3 stars)

Styling (3 stars)

It's smarter and better looking than its predecessor, but it's not a stunner and the interior has been designed to be robust rather than stylish.

Handling (2 stars)

It's easy to drive and reasonably competent around corners, but road behaviour is still more van- than car-like. Its height also produces a fair bit of body roll, and extra weight in the roof-mounted interior compartments could make it worse.

Comfort (4 stars)

The interior is spacious and bright with good all-round visibility. The driving position has plenty of adjustment and front and rear seats are comfortable too. Wind and road noise has been reduced, thanks to acoustic dampening and improved aerodynamics.

Quality (3 stars)

The build quality of most Citroens has been greatly improved of late, and the same is true of the new Berlingo. There are a lot of plastic compartments in the interior which is practical, but could develop minor creaks and rattles over time. Reliability shouldn't be an issue however.

Performance (3 stars)

Of the engines available, the real peach is the 1.6 HDi 110 - new to the range - offering a good balance of economy and performance, but its only available with XTR trim. Most of the other engines are sluggish; the 90bhp petrol and diesel units take over 14 seconds to 62mph, and the 75bhp HDi takes over 17 seconds - making it one of the slowest vehicles on the road.

Roominess (4 stars)

Thanks to that high roofline there is plenty of head space and both leg and elbow room are adequate too. There are loads of compartments and cubby holes throughout the cabin and the rear seats can be removed completely to give the car a total of 3,000 litres of storage space.

Costs (4 stars)

Based on the diesel variants, running costs are quite good. They will all manage a frugal 50mpg, and CO2 emissions of 150/km - putting them in VED band C, costing £125 per year. The petrol models however sit in road tax band F (£190 per year) and only manage 34.5mpg on the combined cycle.

Value (3 stars)

There's a decent amount of equipment with the entry-level Berlingo VT. The VTR trim adds even more standard features for approximately £500 more. The original Berlingo - named Berlingo 1 - is being sold alongside this new one at a reduced price, so could represent even better value.

Stereo (3 stars)

The stereo system is easy to use and the speakers are ample for this vehicle. An Auxiliary input can be fitted to the car as an optional extra and a colour satellite navigation system can be added in VTR and XTR trims for £700.