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Expert Review
If you hadn't guessed, this medium van is a favourite for fleet customers, especially postmen, want to know why? Keep reading to find out all about the Citroen Dispatch… Vanarama's Tia Richards reports.
Let's set the scene – here's a bit of history about this van…
Did you know, the Citroen Dispatch platform shares with the Peugeot Boxer and the new Vauxhall Vivaro? But lets give a round of applause for the Dispatch – it was designed first using the PSA groups new platform for its medium vans. Don't worry Dispatch, we know you are the trend setter here.
Want to know more?
This van has been around since 1994 and was formally known as 'Jumpy', ring any bells? Don't worry if you're not familiar with the Dispatch because we've got all you need to know right here.
And before we delve into the details, this current generation Citroen Dispatch comes in a range of lengths – XS, M or XL. And the height? Its stays the same across the whole range.
Permission granted – read all about the Citroen Dispatch (M) now…
Red(y) To Work
Red, red and more red. Yep that's what you see when you look at this Citroen Dispatch. Oh, and we should probably mention that this van does come in a range of other colours.
But, look a little closer and you'll notice a very familiar feature – the bold Citroen badge. Remember where you've seen this before? On the Citroen Relay! This time round, on the Dispatch, it's hard to differentiate the emblem from the headlights. And this isn't a negative, the design looks sleeker set in-between each headlight. The design on the front of this van proves to be daintier when compared to other vans from the same family, like the Citroen Relay.
Tell us more about the headlights – well, okay then, if you insist. Remember that scenario we mentioned in the Ford Transit Connect review about forgetting to put your headlights on? This one's got automatic headlights too, so you won't need to worry about people flashing you (with their headlights) because you've forgotten to turn them on. And, before we move on, lets give Citroen a shout out for their dainty design. Put it this way – this van is, erm, prettier than the Relay.
The grille deserves some credit too. When you look at the front there's a 50/50 split – the first half is the body coloured bonnet and the second half is the black grille. Which by the way, is built using plastic so this model is much lighter on its feet. Oh, and if you take a few steps back and look at the grille, you'll see an uncanny resemblance of a smile. See it?
Let's finish this off with the wheely (pardon the pun) impressive wheels. On this model (Enterprise), you'll get 16-inch steel wheels. The Worker and Driver models both get 17-inch alloy wheels, so take your pick and choose from the 3. But, either way, 16-inch or 17-inch, the steel wheels are VERY hard-wearing.
Need A Hand?
If you do, pick the Citroen Dispatch, it's your perfect match. Want to know why? Read on…
First up is the tech. Now when you take a glance in the cabin you won't spot the tech straight away; you'll have to do a bit of digging. The first feature you'll notice is the 7-inch, full colour, infotainment touchscreen system. You'll also get the usual DAB radio system with built in Bluetooth, but lets give the limelight to these handy features:
- USB port – pop it open, plug in your phone and BINGO! You've got Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and MirrorLink. Basically, it means that the infotainment screen will mirror your phone.
- Siri and Google Assistant – at the touch of a button! Reach to the right of the steering wheel, press the button on the end of the indicator stick and there you have it – voice control. Fancy a song change? Need navigation? Forgot to reply to a text? You can do it all, HANDSFREE!
- Rear Parking Sensors – how does anyone park without them?! This is a handy feature to have in a van when you can't see out of your rear-view mirror.
Pick the models up – Driver, X or Worker and you'll be treated to this tech spec:
- 180-degree front and rear parking sensors
- Built in navigation system
- Lane Departure Warning
- Cruise Control and more!
Want to know more about the tech? Watch our infotainment overview video here:
Right enough about the tech. Dig deeper into the cabin and you'll discover that this van transforms into a mobile office. Pull back the passenger seat and you've got yourself a writing table. Okay, I might have set the bar a bit high when I said mobile office because that's it – a writing table. But next time you need to finish off a bit of paperwork you'll have something to lean on, so it has its uses.
And finally, the storage space. Want our honest opinion? Storage isn't great, but you will find the necessities: a few cubbies, a glove box, door stowage and cupholders.
This van is big on features that will lend you a helping hand, so who cares if it's lacking in storage space in the cabin.
Looks Are Deceiving
Look, the Citroen Dispatch isn't the biggest van you can get, but we can vouch for its plentiful payload. Heard of the Ford Transit? Yep, it's that MASSIVE van, in fact it's one of the largest vans on the market. Anyway, our point is, the Dispatch can hold a heavier load… (cue the suspense)
Our 'Medium' Citroen Dispatch can carry 1,200kg – that's 100kg more that the Ford Transit. Pick the 'XL' model and the payload for the Dispatch will increase to 1400kg, this will place the Transit even further behind by 300kg. The Dispatch is also available in a 'XS' variant.
Here's everything else you need to know about our tried and tested 'Medium' model…
Let's start with the measurements – all models have the same height (1.9m); this doesn't change across the range.
You'll get 4.95m in length if you pick the 'Medium' Citroen Dispatch. If you choose the 'XS' variant, it's 4.6m long and the 'XL' measures to 5.3m.
Want to know what else is up for grabs?
Walk to the front of the loading bay, look to your left and you'll see a moduwork load through hatch. Open it and you'll fit anything that's 4m in length in the loading bay. Simply load up using the loading bay, open the load through hatch and let your items pass through under the passenger seat. Oh, there's also lots of lashing points to help secure objects in the back, and ply lining is FREE when you lease with us!
Watch our range overview video to find out more:
Whatta Smooth Operator
Now for the Vanarama road test.
So, we drove the Dispatch to Daventry. From Vanarama, it's about an hour (depending on traffic). Just as we set off, we had a 150-mile driving range and when we got back, we had 115 miles left. We only used 35 miles… wondering how this was possible?
Behold, the 6-speed, manual, Blue HDi 95bhp diesel engine on this model. This isn't the only engine available; you'll also get the option of these 4 variants: 115bhp, 120bhp, 150bhp and 180bhp. And if you don't fancy changing gears, pick the automatic 180bhp model.
Next up is the way this van handles the road. Despite its boxy body and hefty payload weight, this van is VERY smooth to drive. Even without a load in the back this van remained stern even when we made a few last-minute turns. So, rest assured that this van will happily handle a bulky load.
It's A Match!
So why should you pick the Citroen Dispatch? 3 lengths to pick from, a tech-filled cabin that transforms into a mobile office and you'll get a choice of 5 engines – this van is THE ultimate workhorse. Citroen call the dispatch "the van for everyone" and we couldn't agree more.
Customer reviews
Below are our customer reviews for the Citroen Dispatch. Want to have your say? Leave a review for the Citroen Dispatch now.
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Donna Lord Citroen Citroen Dispatch
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Keith Lymn Citroen Citroen Dispatch
Very nice van
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Steve Skipworth Citroen Citroen Dispatch
Seems to be perfect for us
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Martin Hart Citroen Citroen Dispatch
Over the moon with this vehicle drives very nicely.
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Roy Brockman Citroen Citroen Dispatch
Very good van hence why I have three and will be ordering more
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Anthony Mockett Citroen Citroen Dispatch
Not going to lie, when the van turned up I was pretty shocked on how big it was. Took a little time to get used to the fact I’ve got a new van and that it’s got extra’s fitted to it. Great van and really happy I chose it.
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Simon Hayward Citroen Citroen Dispatch
Very good value for money
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Danny Fuller Citroen Citroen Dispatch
Everything is great but the MPG seems very low.
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Thomas Brady Citroen Citroen Dispatch
A good, mid-range van, a little on the small side for storage, but with plenty of doors.
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Patrick Doyle Citroen Citroen Dispatch
GOOD VEHICLE
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Mark Theobald Citroen Citroen Dispatch
Haven’t had it that long but seems to be ok
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Grahame Willis Citroen Citroen Dispatch
Smaller in length than advertised, misleading that you can get 8x4 sheets in but can't.
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Robert Gibson Citroen Citroen Dispatch
A comfortable van for the driver and does the job we got it for.
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Robert Gibson Citroen Citroen Dispatch
Comfortable for the driver & does the job we need it to do.
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Andrew Mccabe Citroen Citroen Dispatch
Very happy
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Lee Richard Ward Citroen Citroen Dispatch
Great medium size van and value for money
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Lee Richard Ward Citroen Citroen Dispatch
Smart and efficient
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Penelope Hancock Citroen Citroen Dispatch
Brilliant
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Dean Fisher Citroen Citroen Dispatch
Really nice van for the money, would recommend!!
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Dean Fisher Citroen Citroen Dispatch
Really nice van for the money, would recommend!!
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Robin Wilson Citroen Citroen Dispatch
After the first week of use I have no issues at all. A bit early to tell about longterm running costs and reliability, but in its first week and having covered about 300 miles, 46.5 mpg is encouraging for when the engine loosens up.
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Robin Wilson Citroen Citroen Dispatch
After the first week of use I have no issues at all. A bit early to tell about longterm running costs and reliability, but in its first week and having covered about 300 miles, 46.5 mpg is encouraging for when the engine loosens up.
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Robert Millerchip Citroen Citroen Dispatch
Very good
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Martin Harris Citroen Citroen Dispatch
My citroen dispatch has been a great pleasure to drive and very economical and the cargo area is almost as big as a transit which had before, a great surprise to able to fit several 2.4 x 1.2 plasterboards. One downside from the transit is no heated windscreen which I loved on a frosty morning, apart from that brilliant..
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Robert Veiner Citroen Citroen Dispatch
Im happy with the van, I wish I had known more about the specifications. My old vehicle had many benefits and id like to have upgrades fitted to this vehicle.
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Paul Knowles Citroen Citroen Dispatch
Very happy with this vehicle and will buy another when the time is right.
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Ammer Chaudhry Citroen Citroen Dispatch
The van wan just want i asked for and the colour is the best
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Neil Jennings Citroen Citroen Dispatch
Very good nice looking and very comfortable excellent van all round
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Robert Clark Citroen Citroen Dispatch
Perfect for our business
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Paul Donnelly Citroen Citroen Dispatch
First impressions I love it
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Thomas Ward Citroen Citroen Dispatch
So far so good.
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Nigel Pidwell Citroen Citroen Dispatch
Great van
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Anthony Eastwood Citroen Citroen Dispatch
We researched what we wanted so no real surprises.
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Tracey Boylan Citroen Citroen Dispatch
The vehicle is ideal for operational purposes and we are pleased with the recommended vehicle.
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Tony Chatters Citroen Citroen Dispatch
Nice and relaxing to drive and enough space for what I required
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David Mack Citroen Citroen Dispatch
better than i was expecting
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Timothy O'donnell Citroen Citroen Dispatch
Best van I have ever driven. It’s great with my phone. Which is very important
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Alan Smith Citroen Citroen Dispatch
Love this van! Better equipped than my Mercedes car!
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Matthew Buck Citroen Citroen Dispatch
To be honest most new vans seem very nice. But I liked it, had good power and decent size space in front and rear of van. Overall its a good looking van and would consider getting another for the fleet.
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Christopher Doyle Citroen Citroen Dispatch
Nice van though handling and perfromance could be improved. Does the job though.
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Chris Martin Citroen Citroen Dispatch
Too early to say as I’ve only covered 500 miles, so far so good.
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Adel Ali Citroen Citroen Dispatch
A great van to drive.
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Peter Weale Citroen Citroen Dispatch
Lovely van to drive so far!!!
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Gareth Evans Citroen Citroen Dispatch
Very happy with it - looks like a quality van.
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Catherine Jenkins Citroen Citroen Dispatch
A good value van.
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Paul Lambertini Citroen Citroen Dispatch
Very good van, economical just like driving a car, powerful engine which is very quiet, inside the cab is comfortable with plenty of storage space. The van is spacious at the back perfect for a decorator like me.
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Ian John Hetherington Citroen Citroen Dispatch
Very well equipped and easy to drive.
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David Barrigan Citroen Citroen Dispatch
Great drive and very comfortable.
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Richard Morton Citroen Citroen Dispatch
The Roof bars were missing when the vehicle arrived. I was expecting many excuses and problems. What I got was straight answers, apologies and roof bars fitted within 24 hours. 1st class. The Van is better than expected. It drives and handles like a car. Even for the basic van model I chose, it has air con, sat nav, parking sensors, speed camera warnings, what more could I ask for. I'm a small guy at 5ft 3in and aspect driving compromises with the driving position etc. No problems here. In fact this is the best driving position, and the best comfort and support I have ever had. I've had to amend the ply lining around the wheel arches because at one point there was less then the 4ft between them that I was requiring. But adjustments made, additional panels fitted, bungee ropes and hooks fitted, has made the van simply fantastic. My only slight complaint is that it could do with a second interior light nearer the cab as per my old VW transporter van. Other than that a 99 out of 100 van.
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Robert Griffiths Citroen Citroen Dispatch
Great for me but will be upgrading in three years to the 2.0 engine for the days when you have a bit more weight in the back.
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Dieter Dickman Citroen Citroen Dispatch
Very nice van, comfortable, simple and easy to drive!
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Terry Bryan Pasfield Citroen Citroen Dispatch
Very good van.
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Mark Pettitt Citroen Citroen Dispatch
Perfect, comfy and great on fuel.
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Clare Louise Stubbins Citroen Citroen Dispatch
Very pleased. Acceleration, even with a load, is excellent.
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Gary Connolly Citroen Citroen Dispatch
All good, not as solid as my old Trafic and not quite as many miles to the gallon as I thought it would be but very satisfied.
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Karen Rutherford Citroen Citroen Dispatch
So far a good work van.
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David Mccormick Citroen Citroen Dispatch
Great van.
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Craig Berrows Citroen Citroen Dispatch
Great van.
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Malcolm Gray Citroen Citroen Dispatch
Really good van but would go for the 2.0 litre engine next time.
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Peter Hollingworth Citroen Citroen Dispatch
Very good 3 seater work van.
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Gary Jenkins Citroen Citroen Dispatch
Good around van,big enough for my needs,but drives and parks like a car
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Danny Lee Eady Citroen Citroen Dispatch
Very pleased
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Ian Wood Citroen Citroen Dispatch
Nice van that is the right size for the type of work we are doing.
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Martin Jarvis Citroen Citroen Dispatch
Maybe needs a slightly bigger engine for the size of van.
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Steven Draper Citroen Citroen Dispatch
The Citroen Dispatch is a nice size van with the comforts of a car, perfect for everyday driving.
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Andrew Rutter Citroen Citroen Dispatch
Not had much time to put many miles on it yet, but first impression great load space, lots of storage in cabin, drives more like a car than a van. Bluetooth aircon & satnav a real bonus. Too early to comment on mpg as yet.
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Mark Prizeman Citroen Citroen Dispatch
Having had my old van for 15 years, Its nice to have something thoroughly modern.
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Glen Randles Citroen Citroen Dispatch
Good Van
Nice vehicle