Rutger Middendorp tests cars in the Bright Endurance Test. Follow also our YouTube channel.
After a week at the campsite with the Citroën and Berlingo suspicions are confirmed and new insights crystal clear. First of all: there really is a lot you can do with the ë Berlingo XL that we drive. We have left the two rear seats at home and this creates a bucket of space where you could throw a party. The regular Berlingo is 4 meters 40, the XL is 35 centimeters longer. Partly in front and partly behind the rear wheel. Only the XL is available as a seven-seater. Those two extra seats don’t disappear into the floor, but into your garage. That has advantages and disadvantages. Pros: they fit better, they don’t take up space in the car when you’re not using them. Cons: They do take up space in the garage and you don’t have them with you if you unexpectedly need them.
Whether you choose the 5 or 7 seater: the three seats in the middle row are all of the same size and I suspect that you can fit three child seats next to each other if you choose wisely: not too wide and with belts in the seats themselves.
The sliding doors ensure that you can easily air the car before leaving, without taking up too much space. If you are on a slope, you run the risk that your children will not be able to open or close them from the inside and because they have to be closed quickly, you want clear instructions for your children where they have their fingers.
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A boost I found the tailgate of which the window can be opened separately. Super handy to pack the last things without having to roll out all your luggage again.
At the supermarket, a young couple with a pram stood behind their Subaru Forester, looking at our electric Berlingo. They seemed to like that too. A box of space, fully electric. But then of course the question ‘what about the range?’ The honest answer to that is: it goes, but it doesn’t last. If you heat up to 100 km/h, you can drive for two hours and then you have to charge for 40 minutes. With daily use you will not have that much of a problem. During a holiday trip in a busy week, you have just that little margin to continue to the next charger when it is busy. If you want to use it as a holiday car for long distances, it pays not to drive at the weekend. I would not recommend going on winter sports with this car.
Under the floor is the same battery as in the electric Opel Corsa and Peugeot e-208. Due to the lower weight and less air resistance, they come 90 kilometers further with the same powertrain. The young couple had no intention of heating for more than 1.5 hours at a time because of the little ones. For a holiday within the Netherlands, this powertrain is therefore also fine.
The Berlingo was fantastic for our week in Drenthe. A possibility to use the battery as a power point would be a welcome improvement. A few hooks on the flap where you can attach a tent would also be an addition. Then we are halfway to a camper. You will read my conclusions next week.
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