The Citroën ë-Dispatch, also known as the e-Jumpy, is an electric van designed to offer you all the functionality you are used to from a van, but with the addition of an electric powertrain. Electric vans might just as well be more important when it comes to reducing overall pollution than cars which is why the ë-Dispatch hopes to become the standard of its segment. So, Is Citroën ë-Dispatch a good car?
If you are after an electric van that offers seating for up to 9 people, one that can be used both for commercial and personal use, the ë-Dispatch is most definitely a good choice. With a well-known Stellantis-sources electric car platform, the ë-Dispatch shares its underpinning with many other familiar electric vans made by Toyota, Vauxhall/Opel, and Peugeot.
Design-wise, the ë-Dispatch tries to keep everything low-key, but as most Citroëns tend to look more daring, the ë-Dispatch is the more attractive van when compared to its main rivals. The driving experience is nothing special as the ë-Dispatch drives like any other electric van out there.
Reliability is still a mystery, at least as far as long-term reliability is concerned, but there are some issues worth talking about. It is also a fairly expensive van, but electric vans do come with a significant premium. With seating for up to 9 people and lots of available cargo space, the ë-Dispatch is a really practical vehicle.
Citroën ë-Dispatch – The Powertrain
You can choose between two battery sizes with the ë-Dispatch, the first one is 50kWh and the second one is 75kWh. The smaller 50kWh battery is enough to offer you a range of around 175-180km while the larger 75kWh battery model will give you closer to 260km.
You can fast charge the ë-Dispatch using a DC 100kW charger from 20% to 80% in around 38 minutes while slow AC charging takes 11 hours. The smaller 50kWh battery model can also charge up to 100kW, and fast charging takes 28 minutes. Slow AC charging takes 7-8 hours respectively.
All versions of the ë-Dispatch come with a single electric motor mounted on the front axle for a permanent FWD configuration and 136hp. 10 minutes of fast charging is going to give you an extra 80km of range which is more than enough for most people.
Citroën ë-Dispatch – Design and Driving
As far as design is concerned, the ë-Dispatch employs the well-known Citroën design language which means that it looks relatively daring for a van, but not particularly beautiful. Citroën did not make the ë-Dispatch look special as an EV which is an ever-growing trend with most EVs. The interior also does not scream electric car, yet is nicely laid out and very easy to understand.
The driving experience is nothing particularly special as the ë-Dispatch does not try to be special. It is a van that most people will be using for either family or commercial use, and as such, it is designed to be predictive and stable.
Citroën ë-Dispatch – Reliability and Common Issues
As far as reliability is concerned, the ë-Dispatch manages to retain all the qualities you’d come to expect from Stellantis-based vehicles. Sure, there were some recalls, but none of them was particularly difficult to solve. You can expect certain issues from the charging systems or the electrics.
Other potential issues include various equipment problems, issues with the airbags, and potential issues with maximum range where cold weather and heavy cargo can lower your overall range by quite some margin.
Citroën ë-Dispatch – Value and Practicality
The starting price of the 50kW mid-size ë-Dispatch is around €51,000 while higher-end 75kWh XL versions will set you back around €60,000. This makes the ë-Dispatch cheaper than the Peugeot e-Traveller, but more expensive than the Vivaro-e. All in all, it is a price you have to pay for an electric van as all of these are €50,000 plus vehicles.
When it comes to practicality, there really aren’t many things to complain about as the ë-Dispatch offers seating for up to 9 people and a really large cargo area. You can pack the ë-Dispatch to the brim, but thanks to lots of technology, it is not going to affect your visibility which is a really important thing when driving a car as big as this one.
FAQ Section
Should I buy the Citroën ë-Dispatch?
Well, it depends on your usage scenario and what kind of driving you tend to do most. So, if you only plan on using your van as a daily commuter, not doing too many miles each day, the ë-Dispatch makes a lot of sense. Moreover, if you have a place where you can keep it on charge when not using it might be the best thing you can do with it.
On the other hand, if you are planning to do lots of highway miles and you don’t have a garage where you can keep it on a charge, you are better off investing in a diesel variant as diesel-powered vans are still the best when it comes to long-distance journeys.
How does the Citroën ë-Dispatch compare to the Peugeot e-Traveller, the Toyota PROACE, and the Vauxhall/Opel e-Vivaro?
All three of these are based on an identical platform which means that all three come with either a 50kWh or a 75kWh battery. The Peugeot is the most expensive one while the ë-Dispatch and the Vivaro-e are almost identical. The Proace is the cheapest out of them all, but that only goes for the model that sits up to 8 people, and not 9 like all other vans here.
I’d say that the ë-Dispatch or the Proace Verso are the best because the ë-Dispatch looks the nicest and represent the best value while the Proace Verso comes in many subvariants, some of which might be exactly what you are looking for.
Does the Citroën ë-Dispatch come in plug-in hybrid form?
No, the Citroën Dispatch is now only available in an electric form which means that you will not soon be able to buy a brand-new ë-Dispatch that isn’t electric. Plug-in Dispatch models were never even available because Citroën seems to be only interested in making fully electric vans.
