We review the Mercedes Citan CV van from price to economy and all its features
BATMAN, Spiderman, Superman and now White Van Supervan... the commercial world has a new urban hero.
That’s what Mercedes claim with their new Citan compact light van.
They reckon it gives them the platform to start a massive market battle with the VW Caddy, Vauxhall Combo and Renault Kangoo — the vehicle it is based on.
The Citan is the first new model Merc have launched into the CV market since the Vito in 1995.
It completes their range from “the urban delivery van to the large-capacity van” — from Citan to Sprinter.
Merc claim the light van sector is the fastest-growing market area in Europe, accounting for 700,000 sales annually because of the delivery trade with the boom in online shopping, businesses downsizing due to cost and eco concerns, and the lack of city space for larger vehicles.
It’s aimed at small business users and, in the UK, Merc aim to put a large dent in the domination of the VW Caddy and Vauxhall Combo, which took 13,700 and 10,700 sales respectively last year. In Europe as a whole, the Citan will compete closely with its sister vehicle Kangoo, which takes a 15 per cent market share.
The Citan has hero status thanks to three main attributes.
Badge kudos, the versatility and practicality of three length styles and a price that Merc have said can cost just £6.95 a day — less than two bacon rolls. Add them all together and you really have Supervan. Prices start from £13,095 for the 108 Compact. But for a limited period and availability, the 109 CDi Compact Trade Edition can be bought for £6.95 a day — that’s £48.75 a week.
That’s a superprice. No doubt if Clark Kent was a joiner not a journalist, this is what he’d drive.
I’m no Superman, I’m more The Only Way Is Essex than Clark Kent. And most would say I’m also full of Kryptonite. But I put together a team of my own heroes to put the Citan to the test.
Even with my children Bailey (Spiderman), Melody (Supergirl) and Taylor (Robin — Batman was stuck elsewhere with some joker) in the back with a pallet of rolls, there was still tons of room.
The heroes might be fiction but the facts of the Citan stack up for Merc.
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It will be available in three lengths: compact (3,940mm), long (4,320mm) and extra long (4,710mm). Three 1.5litre turbo-diesel engines will be available with power outputs of 75, 90 and 110hp, and a 1.2litre 114hp petrol engine will also be offered.
But the versatility is underlined bcause the load bay in the extra-long wheelbase Dualiner I drove comes along with five seats.
That comes at £300 more a month, but gives you so many extra options. Fold down the rear bench seat and the capacity goes up from 2.4m3 to 3.7m3 and a payload of 800kg. Not only that but there’s easy access with sliding side doors and the rear bench has a 1/3 to 2/3 split for several combinations, depending on occupants and load to be carried on board.
Merc also say they are looking into extending it to a seven-seater option in the future too.
The rear doors click into position at 90° and can then swing open to 180° to ease loading. However, there is no clip or latch to secure them so there is a danger they may swing shut if it is windy.
The Dualiner I drove was the 109bhp five-speed manual which I picked up from Western Commercial in Govan, Glasgow, and is now on sale. The van I tested also included Mercedes’ Blue Efficiency package.
The stop/start system is one of the best on the road. It contributes to an impressive official consumption figure of 61.4mpg.
The dash and instruments in the cockpit are crisp and clean, but probably a little bit too drab for my liking, it lacks a bit of glitz.
I guess I should remember this Citan is built for plumbers, not P Diddy.
However, it’s got all the stowage needed for day-to-day workers. There are cupholders, large glove compartment, a practical overhead stowage space across the width of the windscreen, and buckets in the doors for 1.5litre bottles.
The ride quality is excellent — firm and true with no swaying in corners, and interior noise is kept to a minimum.
Looks aren’t the main concern in this market, but the Citan might change all that with that kudos-boosting Mercedes badge.
A three-year unlimited warranty, competitive cost of ownership and the promise of 24-hour servicing will add to its appeal. It’s also big on safety and comes with Adaptive ESP as standard — a big winner over its rivals.
It looks like another big hit for Mercedes vans — who are still buoyant after record sales last year, up by 10 per cent.
Sales are also booming in Scotland with Western Commercial in Govan — part of the Eastern Western Group — reporting a 30 PER CENT increase at times in 2012, while it’s also a big success story at Caledonian Truck and Van in Ayr.
This new Merc van really will rock its mainstream rivals. The Cit will well and truly hit the vans.