Hero of the city streets
The Mercedes Citan is a light-weight commercial van co-developed by Mercedes-Benz and the Renault Nissan Alliance based on the Renault Kangoo and introduced in 2012. It could be either a 5 or 7-seater 3 and 5-door minivan, or a 2-seater 2-door van. It is currently available in two versions:
The Citan van
- is a long vehicle capable of meeting almost any cargo space requirement
- allows for placing two Euro pallets across the compartment
- offers the driver’s cab suitable for up to three people provided that you order an optional 2-seater front passenger seat
- is suitable even for large loads if you purchase such optional equipment as a ladder hatch or folding front passenger seat
The Citan Tourer commercial or personal van
- is a two-row comfortable passenger vehicle suitable for up to five people (including the driver)
- can have a larger load compartment due to a 3-seater seat in the first row, which folds in a ratio of 1/3 and 2/3
- offers many practical storage spaces with a total volume of up to 77 liters, such as the optional 3-compartment mezzanine in the passenger compartment or storage compartments in the floor of the passenger compartment
Later, a long wheelbase model (including a third row of seats) and a two-row Mixto version with a full-fledged cargo compartment at the back will be added to the range. It is known that the new Citan will be the last completely new model of the Mercedes-Benz Vans division, which has internal combustion engines. In the future, there will be only electric cars.
The modern Mercedes Citan has everything you would expect from an urban minivan with a Mercedes star. Its advantages are: compact size, large load compartment, easier loading and unloading due to the wide conversion possibilities of the volumetric cargo space due to large doors and a low edge of the load compartment. Such elements as a fuel-efficient engine, comfortable seats and simple controls complete the picture of an urban minivan, which is perfect for solving any tasks within the city. From the money-saving point of view, the Citan van is also profitable due to its attractive price and low operating costs, which are made up of efficient fuel consumption and long service intervals of up to 40,000 km.
The first generation
It was produced from 2012 to 2021. The new production Mercedes Citan, unveiled in Hanover at the IAA Commercial Vehicle Show in September 2012, was the first commercial Mercedes-Benz vehicle after the 1995 Vito minivan. The minivan was assembled in France by a subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz and Renault. It was originally decided to design it with different bodies, which allowed the Citan to immediately enter the passenger and light commercial vehicle markets.
The compact size (length - 4,321 mm, width - 2,138 mm and height - 1,255 mm), a wheelbase of 2,697 mm and a decent volume of the luggage compartment (up to 3,000 liters) allowed the minivan to quickly gain a foothold in the market. The Citan could be equipped with a 1.2-liter petrol engine with 114 hp and three 1.5-liter diesel engines with 75, 90 and 110 hp.
The second generation
In September 2021, the second generation Mercedes Citan was released. Its dimensions have changed slightly. The van is 4,498 mm long, 1,859 mm wide and 1,811 mm high, with a wheelbase of 2,716 mm. The cargo space with a height of 1,258 mm and a length of up to 1,753 mm in the longer version, if desired, can be further increased to 2,553 mm by folding front passenger seat, and then it reaches a volume of 3.1 m³. With a maximum payload of 600 kg, it can also handle heavy loads.
Exterior
The Citan still shares the platform and bodywork with the Renault Kangoo, but the Mercedes car has an original front end designed in compliance with the style of the company’s passenger cars and looks much better than its predecessor. It is equipped with original taillights and a different bumper. The base headlights are halogen, but LED headlights are optional.
Apparently, the new Mercedes Citan won’t do your work for you, but it will be able to make it much easier. Its strengths include the low edge of the load compartment door openings for easy loading and unloading, and the optimal utilization of the transport space, which can be accessed by to two sliding doors and a double-leaf tailgate with an opening angle of up to 180°. Both the cargo and passenger versions can be ordered both with a lifting tailgate and with asymmetrical swing doors.
Interior
The interior is quite comfortable, functional and convenient. The ergonomic high position of the driver’s seat, which is made of durable materials, has lateral bolsters to relax the back and is adjustable to the driver’s preference, as is the height-adjustable steering wheel. All controls are in front of your eyes and are easy to use, and the icons on the instruments are easy to see. The interior is distinguished by its rigor and ergonomics. Heating and ventilation systems and practical storage spaces create an optimal working environment. The entry-level Citan has a modest list of equipment, including a monochrome screen of an on-board computer, a conventional air conditioner, a simple radio tape recorder. But the top-end versions boast a dashboard color screen (unlike the Kangoo), dual-zone climate control, an engine start button, a voice-controlled MBUX media system, and next year there will also be an electric parking brake (the Kangoo does not have this option).
Engines and chassis
The 2021/2022 Mercedes Ctan can be equipped with a 1.5-liter turbocharged diesel engine with 75, 95 and 116 hp or a modern 1.3-liter petrol engine with 102 and 131 hp. The diesel engine has one of the highest torque ratings. But the diesel engines with 75 and 116 hp are offered only for the van. The innovative BlueEFFICIENCY technology reduces fuel consumption (consumption is from 4.2 liters per 100 km). The 6-speed manual transmission efficiently converts driving force into torque. But you can also order a 7-speed dual-clutch semi-automatic transmission. The model is front-wheel drive. The minivan is compact and dynamic, and makes you feel its effective tractive effort when driving on rural roads or motorways.
Electric power-assisted steering, spring-loaded chassis dampers, independent wheel suspension and versatile high-performance brakes ensure the agile handling of the new Citan. In 2022, the manufacturer plans on releasing the eCitan all-electric version with one front motor with 102 hp and a 44 kWh battery, which should be enough for 285 km (WLTP cycle).
Safety
In terms of safety, the new Mercedes Citan is quite good. Due to the ADAPTIVE ESP system, emergency braking system, anti-lock braking system ABS and a universal effective braking system, it has a short stopping distance, even on a wet road. The independent suspension provides reliable traction. If you are going to drive in mud or sand, you can disable the ASR traction control system.
In an emergency, you can rely on the three-point seat belts, adjustable in height and equipped with an emergency tensioner in an inertia reel and a tension limiter. In case of emergency braking, the hazard warning light system will automatically turn on. In addition, the standard equipment of the 2022 Mercedes Citan includes a driver’s airbag, daytime running lights and an anti-rollback system. The optional front passenger airbag and chest airbag will significantly reduce the risk of injury in the event of an accident. On request, you can purchase various accessories, for example: a light and rain sensor, a tire pressure monitoring system, a rear-view camera that transmits an image of the area behind the car to the in-car rearview mirror.
