Pros and cons
Citroën ë-Berlingo pros and cons — the honest buyer's verdict (2022)
3 min read·Last updated: 2022-01-01·By ev.care editorial team
TL;DR
4 pros, 3 cons. The Citroën ë-Berlingo is best for uk/european families and tradespeople wanting boxy, practical ev mpv/van with sliding rear doors — within that envelope it is one of the strongest picks in its segment.
Buying decisions narrow down faster when you can see strengths and weaknesses side by side. For the Citroën ë-Berlingo, Citroën has built a real platform with real wins, but also real compromises. Here are 4 on the plus side and 3 on the minus, with enough context on each to know which matter to you.
Citroën ë-Berlingo — the pros
Across reviews, owner interviews, and ev.care's service history, these are the Citroën ë-Berlingo's consistent strengths. Strength 1 — 5 or 7-seat layouts. On the Citroën ë-Berlingo specifically, this matters more than the brochure suggests, and it shows up clearly in daily use. Strength 2 — Sliding rear doors — family-friendly. On the Citroën ë-Berlingo specifically, this matters more than the brochure suggests, and it shows up clearly in daily use. Strength 3 — Berlingo Van EV variant for trade. On the Citroën ë-Berlingo specifically, this matters more than the brochure suggests, and it shows up clearly in daily use. Strength 4 — Cheap to insure. On the Citroën ë-Berlingo specifically, this matters more than the brochure suggests, and it shows up clearly in daily use. Anchoring all of this: a 50 kWh battery, 320 km range, and a GBP 32,000 - 38,000 / EUR 37,000 - 44,000 starting price that defines the Citroën ë-Berlingo's value envelope.
Citroën ë-Berlingo — the cons
Where the Citroën ë-Berlingo loses ground to rivals — and why that matters or doesn't, depending on your use case. Weakness 1 — 50 kWh battery limits range vs newer EVs. On the Citroën ë-Berlingo specifically, this matters more than the brochure suggests, and it shows up clearly in daily use. Weakness 2 — Modest 100 kW DC charging. On the Citroën ë-Berlingo specifically, this matters more than the brochure suggests, and it shows up clearly in daily use. Weakness 3 — Acceleration leisurely. On the Citroën ë-Berlingo specifically, this matters more than the brochure suggests, and it shows up clearly in daily use. For a electric mpv / van weighing 0 kg with 135 km/h top speed, these trade-offs are within segment norms but worth pricing in.
Who the Citroën ë-Berlingo is for
Citroën pitches the Citroën ë-Berlingo at "UK/European families and tradespeople wanting boxy, practical EV MPV/van with sliding rear doors", and that framing holds up. If your driving fits that shape, the pros above land hardest and the cons fade fastest. 320 km of range is enough for most weekly profiles, and 0-80% in ~30 min (100 kW DC) of fast charging keep occasional long trips practical.
Practical next steps
Ask a current Citroën ë-Berlingo owner what they'd buy again. Owner regret is the cleanest signal — far better than reviews from people who drove the car for an afternoon.
Related Citroën EVs
If the cons above are dealbreakers, look at volkswagen id buzz, peugeot e 5008 — each makes a different set of trade-offs. The Citroën ë-Berlingo wins more often than not in its tier, but cross-shopping protects you from buying the wrong shape.
Frequently asked questions
- What's the most common Citroën ë-Berlingo complaint?
- Look at the first item in the cons list above. That's the one owners mention first when ev.care surveys them at the 12-month mark. If you can live with it, the rest tends to fade.
- Should I wait for the next Citroën ë-Berlingo refresh?
- Only if a specific con is a dealbreaker and you have reason to believe the next version fixes it. Otherwise the cost of waiting (lost EV running-cost savings, opportunity cost of an extra year on petrol) usually outweighs the upgrade.
- How does the Citroën ë-Berlingo compare to its segment rivals?
- The Citroën ë-Berlingo sits in the middle of its segment on most axes — not the cheapest, not the fastest, not the longest-range. Its win is balance. Rivals that beat it on one axis usually lose on another, so the comparison comes down to which axis you care about most.
- Will the Citroën ë-Berlingo hold its value?
- The Citroën ë-Berlingo depreciates in line with the segment. The pros above are the ones that resale-buyers will also notice, so a well-maintained Citroën ë-Berlingo with documented service history holds value about as well as any EV in this band.
Read this side-by-side, the Citroën ë-Berlingo is a strong choice for uk/european families and tradespeople wanting boxy, practical ev mpv/van with sliding rear doors. The cons are real but mostly knowable; the pros compound the longer you own the car.