The original Citan was Mercedes-Benz’s first attempt at a practical light commercial vehicle (LCV) in a market segment that continues to show solid growth in the UK.
Conceived to challenge the likes of the Volkswagen Caddy, Citroën Berlingo, Peugeot Partner and Vauxhall Combo among others, it was introduced in 2012 in a wide range of configurations with the choice of three wheelbases and a multitude of seating layouts aimed at making it emulate the success of the larger Vito.
A product of the engineering alliance between Mercedes and Renault, it was based heavily on the latter’s strong-selling Mk2 Kangoo, which also gave it strong ties to the Dacia Dokker and Nissan NV200.
But after suffering the indignity of failing to score a five-star safety rating for Europe (something that Stuttgart had sternly promised), the Citan got off to a slow start. Despite heavy discounting throughout its nine-year model cycle, sales never came close to the expectations heaped upon it at its launch.
This Mk2 Citan couldn’t be any different, says Mercedes. It has once again been engineered in partnership with Renault and shares it mechanical base and drivelines with the new Mk3 Kangoo.
“The important thing is that it has been co-developed from the outset as a Mercedes-Benz model, rather than being adapted from an existing design,” says Citan project head Dirk Hipp. “This has given us greater scope to provide it with the necessary styling, dynamic qualities and features that we think will be crucial to its success.”
Reflecting the new approach, Mercedes has decided to split the line-up in two; commercial vehicle variants retain the Citan name, but the more extensively equipped, leisure-orientated passenger versions of the new model will now be sold under the T-Class name.
Before the two new models are launched later this year, we’ve been given the chance to drive a prototype of the new Citan during validation testing in and around the company’s Immendingen research-and-development facility in Germany.
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I used to have a Kangoo MPV a 1-9 TDi it was great fun to drive and was amazingly economical,but Renualt UK couldn't be bothered to promote it,even after it was awarded the Auto Express Budget Car Of The Year. The MPV Kangoo was one of the several models that Renualt UK decided not to import to the UK as sales didn't justify them being sold here. So you've got to ask why are Mercedes importing the T-Class MPV here?, the previous generation Citan MPV was a very rare sight here in Blighty as it was significantly more expensive than it's Fiat,Ford,PSA & VW competitors. Will it end up the same way as the X-Class another Renualt/Nissan product fitted with a three pointed star at the front and a fancier interior,that lasted about two years,could this be the same?
I'm baffled why Mercedes, a PREMIUM brand and manufacturer feels the need to compete in all segments, especially in passenger models
Yes they've changed it more, but at heart the T-Class is still a Renault van, and is that really the sort of vehicle to sell alongside £100,000 S-Class luxury cars?
The problem with this as a comercial vehicle is that it has a tailgate, not rear doors, a taligate prevents the vehicle being loaded or unloaded by a forklift, it may be able to carry a euro pallet, but its no use if you have to load it by hand.
Most (maybe even all) vehicle in this segment tend to have a tailgate as standard on the passenger versions, and side-hinged "barn" doors as standard on the commercial versions. Often the other way around is optionally available. I would expect the same here - the Citan van will have barn doors as standard, the T-Class car will have a tailgate.