Citroën Berlingo, Kia Sorento
FORGIVE THE DIVERSION, but I’m going to start this update at my local pub.the landlord of the Fox and Hounds, Steve, is a lovely chap who’s been preparing good food for the elderly and vulnerable throughout our village for years.
That’s all very nice, but how does that relate to my Berlingo, I hear you ask. Well, Steve was recently looking for volunteers to deliver his wares – and there I was, perfectly willing to sacrifice an hour or so of my time to do a good deed. It’s fortunate, then, that mine is easily the most practical car in the area.
And while I was using it to transport Steve’s tasty treats, it quickly became clear to me why the Berlingo is so popular among van drivers. And the same attributes that come in handy in a delivery vehicle also make it a fantastic family car.
I’m not just talking about its most obvious strength, which is the space it offers, but also its cushy ride, which ensures that your cargo or passengers aren’t shaken about. It also has a tiny turning circle, which means fewer three-point turns are needed in cul-de-sacs or outside the school.
Even the dual-zone climate control comes in handy, allowing you and your front passenger to select different temperatures, or in this instance, me to stay cool while the passenger’s side of the car was cranked up to furnace levels to help keep my deliveries piping hot and ready to be enjoyed.
The accurate sat-nav prevented me from getting lost, too, and the wide-opening doors meant it was a breeze to jump in and out (or should that be out and in?) when I made each contactless drop-off.
My only real complaint is that the driver’s seat base is quite short under my thighs, so it’s not very supportive, although my range-topping XTR car does come with adjustable lumbar support.
At a time when so many people are choosing SUVS over MPVS, I feel proud to have gone for the latter. It may not be the most fashionable option, but then I’ve never been accused of taking that. Instead, I’d say that it’s the smarter choice.
‘The attributes that make it a great delivery van help it as a familly car’