VAN LEASING LIVE!

Robert from Van Leasing Quotes asks if the ever-popular Citroen Berlingo is worthy of its position at the top of the small panel van tree.

First launched in 1996, the Berlingo has proved to be a huge success for Citroen and it has long since been the most popular small panel van on the market. A lot has changed since then though and the newest Berlingo includes a raft of improvements both inside and out – all aimed at keeping Citroen at the top of the list in the, extremely competitive, small panel van market.

So is the new Citroen Berlingo worthy of its position at the top and could a brand new Berlingo be the perfect van lease for your business? Let’s find out:

Size Matters

The new Citroen Berlingo is not only longer and wider than its predecessor; it’s also more flexible with 2 length options offering differing capacity and payload configurations. The L1 option has a 3.3m3 capacity, (up to) 750kg payload, 1229mm width and 1800mm length. The L2 option has a 3.3m3 capacity, (up to) 850kg payload, 1229mm width and 1800mm length. A nearside side-loading door comes as standard, which makes loading and unloading a breeze. There is also an additional option to include an offside side-loading door but to be honest; in most cases this isn’t required. Another nice feature is the collapsible passenger seats, which give you that additional load length when carrying those one-off or rare larger items.

Creature Comforts

Comfort and quality inside the cab has improved tenfold in the newest Berlingo range. The cabin is roomy and comfortable for both driver and passenger – even on long journeys. The standard seating configuration on the Berlingo is driver and 1 passenger but there is the option to upgrade to the ‘Extenso’ configuration, which adds room for an additional passenger. Well that’s the idea anyway but in reality we don’t think the Berlingo is big enough to comfortably cope with 3 passengers. It’s fine for short journeys but things do get a bit cramped on the longer ones! The driver’s seat is height adjustable with armrest and lumbar support. The steering wheel is also adjustable by height and reach, which allows the driver to find the perfect driving position. There are plenty of storage compartments within the Berlingo including a roomy glove box and a very handy dashboard-mounted clipboard for those easy-to-lose documents.

One of the best things about the Berlingo range is the fantastic features that come as standard including Air Conditioning, Bluetooth Connectivity, CD Player and even Sat Nav (on most models).

On the Road

There are a few engine configuration options on the newest Berlingo range including a 90bhp, 1.6litre, petrol option and two 1.6litre TDI, diesel options offering either 75bhp or 90bhp. As is almost always the case when it comes to vans, the diesel options are the ones to go for. The 90bhp diesel option in particular offers the strongest performance with plenty of torque and speed – even when carrying a full load. Considering the Berlingo has a relatively high centre of gravity, we were astonished at how well it holds the road and handles. The direct feel of the steering is a particular strong point. As is always important but not always the case, engine and road noise in the cab is pretty minimal. ABS also comes as standard on all models.

The Verdict

So, is the Citroen Berlingo the perfect van leasing or van contract hire deal for you? If it’s a small panel van you’re after then you’ll struggle to find anything that’s a better all rounder than this. The latest Citroen Berlingo range is a marked step up on its, already fantastic, predecessor – it’s bigger, more comfortable, has some great additional features as standard and is even more flexible. One small point to remember is that the Berlingo is better in the 2-seater configuration than it is in the 3. Overall this truly is a great van leasing deal.

Lorraine from Van Leasing Quotes takes a look at the Volkswagen Caddy to see how the highly acclaimed small van compares to some of its competitors:

The new Caddy bolts onto to VW’s already impressive range of vans that includes the much loved Transporter, Crafter and Amarok. But does the Caddy perform quite as well as its bigger siblings? On the face of it, the Caddy certainly displays the modern and refined design that we’ve come to expect from VW and I’m sure all business owners would be more than happy to see their logo shining on the side of a brand new Caddy. But what else can it offer and could a VW Caddy be the perfect van lease for you? Let’s find out:

Size Matters

The Caddy range has a number of options and the CaddyMaxi versions represent the larger size configurations. Load capacity varies between 3.2 – 4.2m3 depending on the model. This is very slightly less capacity than is available on the Ford Transit Connect and Peugeot Partner but it’s there or thereabouts when comparing it to others in its class. All models come with both side sliding doors and twin rear doors, which make loading and unloading a breeze.

Creature Comforts

For a van of its size there’s a surprising amount of space in the cab with ample leg room and seats with great support even for longer journeys. As you would expect with VW everything in the cab is of a high quality and built to last. There’s plenty of storage space with drink holders, cubby holes and document holders in abundance – all within easy reach. Bluetooth Connectivity is also a fantastic standard feature along with Remote Central Locking and a CD Player.

Safety and Security have also been given serious consideration by VW who have included front and side airbags for driver and passengers, Thatcham immobiliser and an alarm as standard.

On the Road

The VW Caddy comes with 4 engine options; two 1.6 TDi’s offering 74 and 106bhp and two 2.0TDI’s offering 108bhp and 138bhp. These are fantastic engines that are quiet, efficient, Euro V compliant and can go up to 735 miles on 1 tank of fuel. The 5-speed gearbox is standard on most models but some of the higher spec variants do come with the VW’s 7-speed DSG gearbox and patented 4-motion technology – fantastic additions and well worth the small extra cost in our opinion.

The Caddy is a joy to drive. Its small footprint gives it the feel of driving a car more than a van. It is extremely manoeuvrable and the refined suspension makes for great cornering and a smooth and comfy ride – even with a full load in the back.

There are also a huge number of additional features and functions that come as standard including ABS, ESP, Traction Control, Electronic Differential Lock, Engine Drag Torque Control, Daytime Running Lights and an automatic hazard light function under heavy braking. These all make for a safe and comfortable drive.

The Verdict

So, is the VW Caddy the perfect van lease or van contract hire deal for you? If you’re in the market for a small van then it has to be a big YES! Ok, so the Caddy is millimetres smaller than some of its closest competitors, but when you weigh this up against all the benefits of the Caddy this really no big deal. The VW Caddy is economical, looks fantastic, drives well and comes with so many great features as standard. Overall it really is a great van leasing deal.