Test drive Citroen Berlingo, Opel Combo and VW Caddy: good mood

When you realize that you just need more space, then it's time for the high roof van. Unpretentious, practical and not very expensive. Something like a new Opel Combo that rivals the Citroen Berlingo and VW Caddy.

The high-roof station wagon models have been called “byproducts of the transition,” “baking,” the transformation of a craft van into a family car with many possibilities. It's all over now. Today, volumetric "cubes" successfully compete with vans and colorful crossover fauna.

Passenger vans are not only getting bigger, they are getting bigger. They are taller, longer and wider than their predecessors. For example, the Fiat Doblo-based Opel Combo is 16 centimeters taller and six centimeters longer than the previous model, which used the old Corsa platform. Unsurprisingly, fans of the nimble first Combo are already lamenting the loss of the old sense of something tricky and small - in those years when Kangoo, Berlingo and company seemed larger on the inside than on the outside.

Today, both inside and out, they have become quite impressive. Under the high roof, whose designers probably imagined clients as basketball players, you feel almost lost. And what of it - where else can you get such a volume of cargo at a relatively reasonable price?

Obedient

The Combo Edition costs around €22 and is the cheapest, but it doesn't have standard air conditioning. The most popular representative of the breed in Germany, the VW Caddy, offers standard air conditioning as standard, while automatic customers pay an additional 000 BGN. Citroen Berlingo Multispace in the Exclusive version for 437 euros (in Bulgaria the most luxurious option is "Level 24" for 500 levs). It actually costs a little more, but the equipment lives up to the name.

Whether it's automatic air conditioning, a stereo system, light and rain sensors, cruise control, rear park assist, sunshades, tinted rear windows or attic storage, it's all exclusive. In general, the French model with multi-colored upholstery and surfaces has the most colorful and artful look, which should inspire children above all. Its Modutop ceiling, with its small luggage compartments and vents, is reminiscent of the interior of passenger planes and offers so much space for small items that, once folded up, are unlikely to ever be rediscovered.

On the other hand, the Opel model appears to be firmly aimed at pragmatic buyers. How painlessly they changed the label from Fiat Doblo to Opel Combo, so practical is the feel of a cubic van. He no longer seeks to shine with a colorful spectacle, but awakens a hidden cycle in the father of the family. Hard, slightly shiny, washable plastic, huge windshield and side mirrors, vertical fit behind the adjustable steering wheel with wide adjustment range and above all, plenty of room. With the rear seats folded down and upright, the maximum load capacity is 3200 liters.

Therefore, if you keep only the size, you can safely read on. However, then you will not know about the Combo's very small payload of 407 kilograms. VW Caddy is allowed to carry 701 kg, which sounds very different. And it has the features of a light truck with a lot of hard plastic, but gives the impression of a higher quality than the Opel model. The Caddy's tools and controls look like golf or polo and are tactile.

And the technique?

In keeping with the desire to be like a car, the 1,6-litre TDI runs smoothly, but is weakened by precise shifting, but with the five-speed gearbox's overly long gears. Only Opel offers six gears, which keeps the revs low (around 3000 rpm at 160 km/h), but that can't change the metallic knock, typically diesel engine sound. However, when stopped at a traffic light, silence reigns thanks to the start-stop system. But be careful when starting - if you get the clutch and throttle choreography wrong, the car freezes in place and can only start after turning the ignition key - it's really annoying.

VW has the same equipment working more reliably, while Citroen does not have it at all; In addition, the gearbox, the lever of which seems to be moving in a thick mess, makes a bad impression here. Her specialty is to lure a negligent driver into the trap of sixth gear. This is done as follows: in fifth gear, the engine is running at relatively high speeds (3000 rpm at 130 km / h), and the gear lever can be freely moved to potential sixth gear. In its place, however, is the rear end, which at high speeds on the highway could make an excellent batch in the gearbox, and in any case can be pretty annoying to the driver. The advantage of the "short" final drive is the impression of dynamics and mobility, as well as good elasticity.

What is the end result?

None of the tall vans move very quietly, and the first reason for this is the ubiquitous aerodynamic noise. There are big differences in the chassis, especially in the rear axles - the VW relies on a simple rigid axle, in the Berlingo the rear wheels are steered by a torsion bar, while the Opel relies only on a multi-link suspension.

And this brings him success - Kombo most comfortably absorbs bumps, but allows himself the most powerful body movements. Caddy and Berlingo generally achieve a decent level of comfort and handling superior to Opel. They counter the Combo's phlegmatic understeer with neutral, precise and little on-road dynamics - despite Berlingo's patchy, lightweight steering system, which also requires the longest braking distance.

In the end, Caddy's lucky balance wins out ahead of the slightly chic Berlingo and the big Combo.

text: Jorn Thomas

Evaluation

1. VW Caddy 1.6 TDI BMT Trendline – 451 ball

It is not the largest, but it has the most balanced qualities in its segment. Thus, in all sections of the test, Caddy scored enough points, and with them the final victory.

2. Citroen Berlingo Multispace HDi 115 Exclusive – 443 points

A powerful engine and good brakes put the colorful, well-equipped Berlingo in second place.

3. Opel Combo 1.6 CDTi ecoflex Edition - 418 points

In terms of cargo volume, the Combo is in the lead, but the unevenly running engine and low payload cost him considerable points.

technical details

1. VW Caddy 1.6 TDI BMT Trendline – 451 ball	2. Citroen Berlingo Multispace HDi 115 Exclusive - 443 points.	3. Opel Combo 1.6 CDTi ecoflex Edition - 418 points
Working volume	-	-	-
Power	102 k.s. at 4400 rpm	114 k.s. at 3600 rpm	105 k.s. at 4000 rpm
Maximum torque	-	-	-
Acceleration 0-100 km / h	13,3 with	12,8 with	14,4 with
Braking distances at a speed of 100 km / h	39 m	38 m	40 m
full speed	170 km / h	176 km / h	164 km / h
Average consumption fuel in the test	7 l	7,2 l	7,4 l
Base Price	37 350 levov	39 672 levov	36 155 levov

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