Back in 1948, Citroen came out with the iconic 2CV which is arguably the most iconic Citroen model of all time. The 2CV went on to become the best-sold car of its era as more than 3.8 million units were produced. It was also the first FWD car in history to shift more than 1 million units worldwide.
The Citroen Fourgonnette is somewhat of a tribute to that car and we will tell you all about the new Citroen Fourgonnette. The Fourgonnette is based on the current Citroen Berlingo which means that it shares most of its underpinnings with the Berlingo. The body is designed and made by an Italian couch builder Caselani.
Engine-wise, you can choose between three different engines, a turbodiesel, gasoline, or even a fully-electric model. Probably the most attractive aspect of owning the Fourgonnette is exterior design as it features a retrofuturistic iteration of the original 2CV and is available in either MPV or van form.
Reliability-wise, you can expect the Fourgonnette to be as reliable as the Berlingo which means that it should be okay for the most part. Value-wise, you can expect the Fourgonnette to cost around 15,000 – 20,000 euros more than the regular Berlingo while practicality remains the same as in the Berlingo.
Citroen Fourgonnette – The Powertrain
As mentioned in the intro, the Fourgonnette is going to be offered with three different engines, a 1.5L BlueHDi turbodiesel 4-cylinder engine with either 100hp or 130hp, a 1.2L gasoline engine with either 110hp or 130hp, or a fully electric e-Berlingo version with a 50kWh battery and 136hp respectively.
These engines are mated to either a manual or an automatic transmission and permanent FWD. You can expect to get around 275km of range with the e-Berlingo while charging from 20% to 80% should take around 30 minutes.
Efficiency-wise, you can expect the Fourgonnette to do around 55MPG with the diesel engine, and 40MPG with the gasoline engine, but manual versions ought to be a bit more efficient as well. It’s safe to say that the Fourgonnette is not made to be fast as it is primarily intended for commercial use.
Citroen Fourgonnette – Design
Now it’s time to talk about design which is surely the most exciting part of the new Fourgonnette. From the front, the Fourgonnette shares little to no resemblance with the Berlingo as it now employs a pair of rounded headlights with an unmistakable 2CV-inspired grille.
The side profile is primarily characterized by horizontal lines all over the body of the car while the rear end houses two round rear windows as an homage to the original 2CV. The side windows on the people carrier version are also made to look like those in the 2CV while the cargo version does not have windows on the side.
The wheels are designed to mimic those found on the original 2CV, exterior colors are blue and green which, once again, remind you of the original 2CV. The entire car is a carefully designed tribute to the original 2CV which means that 2CV enthusiasts are going to love the new Fourgonnette.
Citroen Fourgonnette – Reliability and Driving
Reliability-wise, the Fourgonnette shouldn’t be any different from the regular Citroen Berlingo which tends to offer mediocre reliability results as a whole. Most prominent car magazines and independent testers have said that the Berlingo sits either in the middle or slightly on the lower end of the “most-reliable car” list.
The driving experience also remains relatively unchanged from the Berlingo which means a comfortable ride, decent sound insulation, and good fuel economy. The Berlingo is a bit on the stiffer side, especially the van version as it is able to carry a decent amount of cargo as well.
Citroen Fourgonnette – Value and Practicality
Pricing is not yet disclosed, but most insiders state that you will have to pay around $15,000 to $20,000 on top of the original Berlingo price if you want the Fourgonnette. If these rumors are true, we can wholeheartedly say that the Fourgonnette is only going to be bought by people who truly love the 2CV and hardly anyone else.
This car is designed to be an homage, a trip down memory lane for those who enjoy the original 2CV. It does not get anything special over the regular Berlingo, except for the exterior design which is a lot cooler. Practicality remains fairly unchanged which means lots of space throughout, but new window designs do hamper visibility a little bit.
FAQ Section
When is the Citroen Fourgonnette coming out?
The new Fourgonnette was first revealed to the public a few weeks ago which means that not much information is out there right now. However, some say that deliveries will begin as early as late October of 2022 and that the number of units produced is going to depend on the initial interest.
As Caselani is not a high-volume carmaker, chances are that you will have to wait a bit before you can get your hands on the new Fourgonnette.
Is the new Citroen Fourgonnette worth it?
The answer to this question is both subjective and objective. Subjectively speaking, those who adore the 2CV are likely going to flock to the new Fourgonnette because of its heritage and design. Objectively speaking, the Fourgonnette is just a Citroen Berlingo with a body kit that costs a ton of money on top of the initial price you have to pay for the Berlingo.
As such, we can only really recommend the Fourgonnette to those who want it no matter what. This car is not made to be bought with reason, yet rather by heart as it harks back to an era when Citroen made the iconic 2CV. The Fourgonnette sells emotion, heritage, and legacy, not practicality, efficiency, or even value.
What is the difference between the Citroen Berlingo and the Citroen Fourgonnette?
The two most obvious differences are price and exterior design. The Fourgonnette costs a lot more money than the Berlingo and it comes with a heavily redesigned exterior look inspired by the 2CV. Visibility is slightly better with the Berlingo, yet everything else should look and feel more or less the same.
