FRENCH SENSE? (some text hidden) SECTIONED_new_citroendispatch_2016

By Jonathan Crouch

Introductionword count: 70

Want to know just how far mid-sized vans have come in the last few years? You'll get a real feel for that at the wheel of this one. Citroen's third generation Dispatch is comfortable to drive, practical to use and supremely efficient to run, plus offers some clever equipment options. Your right hand van? Quite possibly. Let's check the 2016-2024-era versions of this MK3 model out as a used buy.

Modelsword count: 5

Medium-sized van (1.5, 2.0 diesel/Full-Electric)

Historyword count: 354

Citroen is a major player in the UK van market, but in recent years, the brand has primarily been known in commercial circles for either fairly small vans or very large ones. Launched in 2016, this third generation Dispatch model was a mid-sized design that aimed to change things in that regard. This MK3 model was produced as part of a design collaboration that claimed to have brought us what its makers reckoned was the only model in this class that was really new from the ground up. They were referring to the fact that back in 2016, if you looked beneath the skin of direct segment rivals like Renault's Trafic, Ford's Transit Custom and Volkswagen's Transporter, you'd have found that structurally, all borrowed from an awful lot of older generation technology. In contrast, this Dispatch model, like its initial design stablemates the Peugeot Expert and the Toyota Proace, was built around the then-PSA Group's lighter, stiffer and more modern 'EMP2' 'Efficient Modular Platform'. We were told at launch that we'd be able to feel the difference that made on the road and it was certainly evidenced on the spec sheet, with a kerb weight that saw this design weigh up to 150kgs less than its predecessor and up to 300kgs less than some of its direct rivals. It all sounded quite promising, especially since the proposition was backed up by safety technology, media connectivity and running cost returns that seemed difficult to beat. The resulting recipe though, would still be of limited interest to likely business buyers if this Dispatch couldn't match its competitors in terms of the size and weight of the cargo it could carry. Operators with longer memories might remember that the original MK1 Dispatch model of 1995 struggled in this regard, sized rather awkwardly between the compact and mid-sized van segments. The second generation version of 2006 was much better though, progress further underlined at the launch of this MK3 model in 2016 by its class-leading maximum payload capability of around 1.4-tonnes. This LCV was updated in Spring 2024, but it's the pre-facelift 2016-2024-era Dispatch we concentrate on here.

What You Getword count: 859

We can't help thinking that many will find this third generation Dispatch model to be more appealingly styled than its various design stablemates, more friendly and less aggressive than a Peugeot Expert, more distinctive than a Toyota Proace. Visually, it's sized correctly in MK3 form too. Previous generation versions never looked quite big enough for the role they were supposed to have been designed for, but this MK3 model was different. In place of its predecessor's elongated nose, it got a short, high bonnet and compact overhangs that provided for a more powerful streetside presence that feels properly substantial, with a rugged, workmanlike appeal. In the cab, as usual in a mid-sized van from this segment, your position is high and commanding and the driver is properly looked after with height and lumbar adjustment, along with an armrest. Look around and you'll find an interior that's pretty well built but one which can feel a little sober with all its dark greys and blacks. More of an issue though, lies with the front A-pillars: they're rather thick, so you have to peer around them occasionally when pulling out of tighter junctions. Otherwise, there's very little to criticise. On the previous model, the handbrake lever was awkwardly positioned between the driver's seat and the door, but thankfully with this MK3 model it was moved to a more conventional position between the seats. Four large air vents help keep the cab cool and through the smart three-spoke wheel, you view two clearly-presented dials separated by an information display screen. Fitted as standard was the dual front passenger bench that most users will want. The middle-seated person will obviously be slightly restricted in terms of stretch-out space, but because the gearstick has been taken from its conventional position on the floor and mounted in an extended section of the lower dash, an adult could cope here, provided the journey in question wasn't too long. There's less restriction if you opt for an automatic model because there, the gearstick is mounted off the steering wheel. Avoid a Dispatch with entry-level trim and as standard, this bench comes in so-called 'Moduwork' configurable form. That enables it to be raised to accommodate bulky items pushed through a provided hatch from the cargo area. Or, if you want to use your Dispatch as a mobile office, the backrest of the middle seat can be folded forward to create a desk that'll be an ideal position for your laptop when you stop between deliveries to check up on your emails. Another key cabin feature you get if you're able to avoid entry-level trim is the centrally-positioned 7-inch 'Citroen Connect' colour touchscreen. It includes a 'Mirror Screen' feature, so you can duplicate your smartphone's display onto the monitor via either the 'Apple CarPlay' or the 'MirrorLink' 'Android Auto' systems. What about the cargo area? There was an initial super-small XS short body style - but that was quickly discontinued. The standard 'L1' body shape offers a 5.3m3 cargo capacity and 2,512mm of floor length. Go for the lengthier 'L2' body style and you're looking at 6.1m3 and 2,862mm of floor length. The height from floor to ceiling is set at 1,397mm for all variants. Another stat that all MK3 Dispatch models share is the 1,628mm load area width, which narrows to 1,258mm between the wheel arches. Don't make your decision between these two body shapes until you've taken into account the potential extra capacity that can be freed up by the optional 'Moduwork' load-through bulkhead, should your chosen Dispatch have it. Whichever body style you choose, this can add a useful 1,162mm to the overall loading length and 0.5m3 to the overall carriage capacity You'll need to know about payloads, which of course will vary according to your choice of engine, body style and, most significantly, Gross Vehicle Weight, which starts from 2695kg for the 1.5 diesel, is from 3,100kg for the 2.0-litre diesel and from 3,025kgs for the e-Dispatch. There's a broad spread of payloads. The base 1.5-litre models can take only 1,109kgs, so you might want to stretch to the 2.0-litre diesel, which can take up to 1,446kg in 145hp form. With the e-Dispatch, the 50kWh battery version can take up to 1,226kgs, but the 75kWh battery model, the one most will want, is limited to one-tonne. So, we've established that this Dispatch is a very practical proposition, but what about its running costs, claimed by Citroen to be very difficult to beat in this class? You'd expect this model's relatively light weight and its efficient Stellantis Group-sourced 'Euro 6d TEMP 6.2-series' engines to pay dividends here - which is how it pans out. For the most efficient possible figures, you'll need the 1.5-litre engine, which in both 100PS and 120PS forms manages up to 43.5mpg on the WLTP combined cycle and 170km of CO2. You might actually get better real-world efficiency from the base 145PS version of the 2.0-litre diesel unit, because it'll handle higher payloads so much more easily. The official WLTP figures don't necessarily reflect that, suggesting that the base 2.0-litre model can manage up to 38.7mpg and up to 190g/km of CO2.

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