Citroen Berlingo test drive since 2008 minivan

Citroen Berlingo Trek. Two with a plus

Recently, this rather interesting car has appeared in all Citroen dealerships. He literally made me look at Berlingo in a new way. And if earlier this machine was identified exclusively as a lightly truly van or car on its base, now it is also worth paying attention to this model who is looking for a crossover.


Actually, Berlingo Trek is not a Citroen development one hundred percent. The lion's share of work on converting an ordinary heel into universals of increased cross -country is made by DENGEL. Having accumulated considerable experience in the field of implementing all -wheel drive into serial pickups and station wagons, a small company has turned into a PSA court specialist in a full -wheel drive. That is why you can order a car with a Dangel label on the fifth door exclusively through an official dealer. However, as a rule, manufacturers themselves do not engage in the alteration of their products, but trust this subsidiaries. In Russia, Berlingo is brought to mind by OOO IMS, specializing in the assembly of Great Wall Nover cars and remaking the Jamper and Boxer vans.


Broad movement is not a hindrance

What, in fact, is the alteration of the usual Berlingo and what allows him to become almost a head above his relatives? First of all, the car is increased by road clearance. After installing the appropriate spacers, the clearance becomes 275 mm under the middle part of the body and 215 mm under the rear beam. It is clear that such an increase in clearance can adversely affect the control of the car due to a change in the center of gravity. To avoid unnecessary consequences, the engine on the machine drops a little lower. But even in this case, the distance from the lower point of steel protection to the ground is 200 mm. However, the most important, in our opinion, the acquisition for the car is a self -locking differential. It is thanks to him that the cross -country ability of the machine improves at times. Of course, all -wheel drive even more significantly extended the boundaries of the possible for Berlingo, but so far it is not planned to supply all -wheel drive versions, although they are available in nature. In order to understand this, just look under the car from behind. Under the trunk floor, a place for a different beam and rear gearbox was prudently left. The spare wheel migrated to the trunk.


Useful option for transporting a longer

By the way, the place of storage of the spare wheel along the left side does not seem very successful. If we consider its position as part of the possibilities of transforming the salon, then the location on the right would be much more logical, because it is from this side that the back of the rear seat has the smallest width, which would allow the left, to use a wider part for a large -sized load. And so everything looks somehow illogical. Of course, to overturn this very wheel, if necessary, there are no problems, it is fixed with a belt. But then it will not work to cover the cargo with a shelf: the cutout in it under the non -income part of the wheel is made on the left. Here is such an bad luck.


Nothing remarkable compared to the usual Berlingo

Exploring the car, we stumbled upon one more interesting subject. In the secret boxing, in the legs of the rear left passenger, we found a bar. A sticker with a drawn jack speaks eloquently about his purpose. This is nothing more than a stand under the jack, because the stroke of the standard jack with such a clearance is clearly not enough. Otherwise, Berlingo Trek from the inside from ordinary relatives is no different.


Strange, but, according to our estimates, the reserve could well fit in the basket under the bottom of the car

And outside, nothing but an enlarged clearance, this car is not remarkable. The word is specially taken in quotation marks, because it is the clearance that is what attracts attention to this car. Yeah, this car has no problem with road clearance. Drawing no labor to Berlingo Trek, even if this very border is twice as high as usual. However, not for the assault on artificial obstacles, this machine was primarily created, and therefore, forward, and as far away from the city as possible.


The reserve is clearly not on the wrong side, and the cutout in the shelf noticeably spoils the view

Contrary to expectations, the car is not so strongly prone to pouring. Even rather steep turns on the highway, it passes at quite decent speed. No wonder, nevertheless, the engine was lowered on Dangel just below. It is likely that he remained in the same place, the car would be inclined towards overturning, and well, it was slightly tilted, but not critical. But what a pleasure to look down on everyone, especially when you stand in a traffic jam!

Or imagine a broken road. No, not even the road, but a kind of direction that was once a road, and now a set of Khumtyin and Cardobin is a set. At what speed can you without prejudice for comfort and controllability move along it? Ten, twenty kilometers per hour? Berlingo Trek is able to fly over this outrage at a speed of 60 km/h the suspension is amazingly energy -intensive.


And what about the rise? The lightness with which the car climbed on him is admired. And after all, there was a moment when everything seemed, one of the wheels lost its clutch with the surface, another moment, and the car would rise. But no. A second confusion, then the differential ate, and, raking already with two wheels, Berlingo continued to go upstairs. Everything is simple as twice two. Although in this case the answer is not four, but two with a plus. And with a very big plus.

But still, in this huge barrel of honey was not without a spoonful of tar. The gear rates in the transmission, in our opinion, are not selected very well. We don’t know how it happened, but almost all the programs are quite short, and therefore it becomes uncomfortable to go to Berlingo faster than 110 km/h. It is worth a little stoop, as the speed goes beyond the mark of 3,500 and here the noise from the engine can be drowned only by turning the audio system volume handle significantly higher than the average indicators. Berlingo Trek clearly lacks the sixth gear. As a result, the rest of the time we moved at a speed allowed for these road sections by our traffic rules. So it was much more comfortable both physically and financially.


The difference between the usual version and Trek is visible immediately

Dangel
The French company Dangel is located in the province of Elsas, in the town of Muluz. Since 1980, Dangel has been transforming Peugeot and Citroen cars. The main emphasis of the company is on all -wheel drive versions of cars such as Citroen Berlingo, Nemo, Jumpy and Jumper, Fiat Ducato and Scudo, Peugeot Boxer, Bipper. Starting at one time the low -wheel drive universal universals and pickups Peugeot 504 4x4, and subsequently the Universals of the Peugeot 505 Break 4x4, Henri Danjel turned into a regular PSA specialist in a complete drive. The first customer of the company was the French military and gendarmerie. For them, Dangel prepared 5,000 pagon-twin Peugeot J5 4x4 and Citroen C15 4x4.
 
Our verdict
The general hobby of the population with crossovers today is primarily due to the presence of a rather impressive road clearance. Well, according to this indicator, Citroen Berlingo Trek will give a head start to many of them. And his salon is much larger than many crossovers. We draw conclusions ...
 
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
+
Spacious interior, large trunk, excellent cross -country ability, acceptable price.
-
Insufficient sound insulation, lack of sixth transmission.

Driving
Dynamic riding is not his horse, but it is worth moving off the asphalt, as you literally fall in love with this car.

Salon
Very spacious, with wide possibilities of transformation.

Comfort
The insufficient engine insulation of the engine seriously affects the comfort of the car, but the suspension is exemplary.

Safety
Two Eirbeg and ABS in the database.

Price
Attractive, given the equipment of the car and its functionality.
 
We do not love
Comfortable
The second row of seats can not only be folded, but also dismantled. It is not at all difficult to do.

Interesting
To compensate for the lack of growth of the standard jack, such a stand is called upon.

Untidy
The reserve is clearly not on the other side, and the neckline in the shelf noticeably spoils the view.

SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions 4325x1790x1690mm
Base 2600 mm
Equipped mass 1330 kg
Full weight 1705 kg
Clearance 179 mm
Trunk volume 405 l
Fuel tank volume 55 liters
Gasoline engine, 1794 cm3,
128/6000 l.S./min-1, 168/4200 Nm/min-1
Mechanical transmission, 5-speed,
front-wheel drive
Dynamics 170 km/h
Fuel consumption 8.2 l/100 km in a mixed cycle
Competitors Renault Duster, Chevy Niva
 

Source: Magazine 5 wheel [January 2013]