Citroen Berlingo Multispace 1.6 16v (95) VT 5dr Car Review - March 2012

Delivering 95 bhp at 6000 rpm and 98 lb-ft of torque, this family car has decent performance credentials and is capable of reaching an impressive top speed of 103 mph. Acceleration is a little slow however and the car reaches 0-62 mph in a lengthy 13.8 seconds – something the diesel option achieves in a quicker time.

The engine is relatively well refined and this means that noise disruption shouldn't be too bad within the cabin.

You get a fairly basic level of standard equipment in this model. Power steering, central locking, electric door mirrors, electric front windows and an advanced stereo system with MP3 connectivity are all available as standard features but this is pretty much the extent of what is on offer.

Those wanting to enhance the model can pay extra to have extra features added. Options such as stability control will cost £370 and air conditioning is priced at £650. A metallic paint finish will set buyers back by £440 but many other options are simply not offered.

There is no climate control or cruise control option and a built-in sat nav, Bluetooth connectivity and leather seats are also unavailable.

Driver and passenger are fitted as standard whilst an immobiliser is fitted to protect the car from theft. There is no option to have an alarm fitted and the fact that buyers must pay for stability control means safety features are not as good as other models. This model also lacks the option for front side airbags which is offered as standard with the 1.6 HDi XTR diesel.

That being said the car performed fairly well in the NCAP crash tests for both occupants and children, scoring four stars in both categories. In terms of reliability a three year warranty is offered for 60,000 miles.

Boot space is fairly large and offers an expansive 675 litres with the seats in place and 3,000 litres when they are folded down.

Priced at £12,645 the 1.6 16v VT Berlingo is fantastic value for money. With a good, practical boot capacity and comfortable seating space for five people it is a reliabale vehicle for families on a budget.

Insurance costs are lower than in the diesel, coming under insurance group 5 rather than insurance group 10. However, the fuel economy is much poorer than in the diesel at a combined 39.8mpg and CO2 emissions of 164g/km put the Berlingo into VED band G.