INNOVATIVE and multi-faceted are words that accurately describe the climb to fame of Citroen's light commercial range.
The company is riding high on achieving record commercial vehicle sales of 23,204 during 2002.
The year saw the high-value Berlingo van become the UK's best-selling small van.
It is amazing to witness the company's affinity with LCVs. Citroen manages to get them right and at very attractive prices, without skimping on either comfort or style, a fact proved by a drive in one of its ingenious Dispatch models.
Dispatch is the vehicle that opened up a new niche in the light commercial vehicle market. Its clever design and compact size made it a truly versatile vehicle which offered no-compromise transport solutions for a wide range of business applications.
Dispatch fits into the range between Berlingo and the larger Relay panel van. To provide optimum operational versatility the Dispatch, which is equally suited for both urban and long distance operation, combines all the best features of a microvan, a high cube van and a panel van.
This unusual recipe has a host of applications, and one of them is for the small business user who wants one vehicle for all needs.
The beauty of Dispatch is that it can be used for deliveries in the week and be a weekend wagon as well, because it drives as smoothly and as sweetly as an MPV.
The overall length of Dispatch is the same as a medium sized car but it does look longer. It gives a 4.0 cu.m load compartment which is accessed through rear and two side (sliding) doors. Floor height is low for easy loading and operators are offered a choice of either 815 or 900Kg payload, depending on model.
Dispatch prices are one of its most attractive features. They range from £11,090 for the 1.9D815 to £13,335 for the 2.0TD HDi 110hp Combi 6. These prices are exclusive of VAT.
Standard safety equipment includes driver's and outer passsenger's seats fitted with height adjustable, three point seat belts with pyrotechnic pre-tensioning devices.
These retract the belts by 110mm within 25 milliseconds in the event of an impact.
Headrests are fitted as standard to all three front seats.
One of the major features of Dispatch is that it is so silent. Unlike the smelly rattly diesel vans of years past, this model give car-like silence and remarkable handling.
Quite a surprising number of non-busines buyers are choosing vans like this if they have a lifestyle that involves a lot of load lugging.
One celebrity acquaintance who had bought a van said that he enjoyed it so much that he had dispensed with the services of his car. A sign of the times indeed
FAST FACTS
Citroen Dispatch HDI
Price: £12,515
Mechanical: 110bhp, 1,997cc 4 cyl turbo diesel engine
Gross vehicle weight: 2315kg
Payload: 900kg
Load capacity: 4m3