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My 2010 XTR is getting a bit tired so thinking about a replacement.
Is the new (2019) Berlingo as convenient for bike duties? Looks like the seats are now fold flat as opposed to being removable - does that mean less height in the boot? The (surprisingly handy) internal roof rack looks to be no more. However, there is now the option of the XL for a bit more space.
With my current one I can load my bike with wheels on so can be out the door in minutes. That's what I'm looking for.
Ridc for finding boot measurements.
They recon it's a meter tall
https://www.ridc.org.uk/features-reviews/out-and-about/choosing-car/car/berlingo-5dr-saloon-2018
I own one the newer mk3
the roofrack and fittings are still there I have the xtr one
Rear seats and front seat fold flat all the way trough to the front dash (obvs not the drivers) we get several plasterboards in it if you need to wardrobe doors 3 mtbs is the most we got in it and a rear seat passenger and all the backpacks You wont get an mtb in it with the front wheel on (rears no problems) if you have the internal luggage compartment fitted to the roof but we can fit about 5 road bikes in there without removing the front wheel even with the luggage box in there, and its a handy compartment to have
My gripe with it is the 17 inch alloys 130 quid a tyre, 16 inch 55 quid a tyre, my bad for being thick as pigshit on the tyre front and fuel economy isnt so great if you run multi season tyres but fine if you stick with the primacys it comes stock with , I was doing Southampton to Sheffield on about 60 quid there and back
I have a 2019 Berlingo Flair M.
Rear seats fold almost flat and the base lowers to the floor. When up there is space under the seats. When down there is not.
I built a false floor for the boot which is 15cm high so I can put things under the bikes. Bikes go in with the front wheel off and still space before touching the roof, don't even need to lower the seat post, though I don't have the internal roof rack. Without the false floor I could get a small 29er and small 27.5 full sus trail bike in with wheels on. But I find it easier to held them still with a home made fork mount. Takes about 30 seconds to put a bike in and secure it.
The XL is massive and might be a pain to park in most places. Overkill for bikes.
I went for the 110 petrol which is lovely to drive. More torque than my 1.2 Yeti. And more economical too. Lots of very short journeys so didn't consider a diesel.
So far, its been the best car I've owned.
We’ve got a 2019 1.2 petrol M, base model with 16” steel wheels. Generally really pleased with it. Nice how the easily the rear seats fold to give an almost completely flat load floor - but you do have to remember to keep the rear foot wells clear to fold seats. Our neighbour recommended a German website called Radfazz (I think) for an internal bike rack. Not the cheapest racks on the market, but good quality and design, easy to fit and loads of options/spares. We carry two large full sus ebikes with front wheels off. A friend has an 2019 XL and I’m sure you’d get at least one 650b full sus in there with both wheels on.
Previous car was a high spec 2016 Yeti 1.4tsi, so we were expecting the Berlingo to feel a bit low rent and sluggish, but have been very pleasantly surprised. The ride quality is better than the Yeti, and the engine is really impressive for its size. Economy isn’t stunning, but we can normally get between 38-41mpg.
The main irritation we find with ours is the crappy lane departure warning system. We do a lot of driving on twisty rural A roads, and the warning light and system is constantly cutting in when it thinks we’re going to cross the central road markings, you can feel it trying to steer back left. The steering is on the light/slightly vague side anyway, so it can make longer journeys more tiresome than they should. The lane departure system can be switched off, but it has to be done every time you start the ignition and the on/off button is out of sight below the dash when you’re driving.
Having said this, I’ve not heard or seen anyone else mention this, so I wonder if the L.D. system in ours is knackered. (Be interested if anyone else has experienced this).
I had a mk2 and looked at the mk3 on release but it’s worse for bikes.
In the mk2 even with my XL 29er enduro bikes I could get 3 in wheels on and 3 people. You can wheel them in and turn the bars and drop the wheel into the rear footwell to get the height. You can’t do this in a mk3 cos the seats fold down there rather than come out completely.
Nah, mine does that (white line bollox ), I always switch off
Old (mk2 I think 2007), 2007 13” spec myka and 2006 orange 5 16 , both fitted down side wheels out, m Scott 710 27.5 and m spec levo 29 (modern geometry monsters) did not
New lingo(not xl), both do fit. Down side, fronts out.
Check rear seating folding configuration it seems to vary with models
1.2 petrol underpowered for ‘making progress’
Levo goes in a bit sideways wheels on.
Good point about floorwell space / folding seats
Old (mk2 I think 2007)
Yeah - I said mk2 but technically a mk3. The 2nd shape that was new in 08 anyway, where the current is the third shape and a mk4.
I don't understand how others struggle to get a bike in with both wheels on. My biggest bike, a 27.5 full sus trail bike, will go in with both wheels on with just a slight turn of the bars. No issues with hieght. Bike goes in rear first so no need to put the front wheel between the seats.
Unless everyone else has huge bikes.
I'd ignore the comment about XL being a pain to park. We've run longer Scudo / Dispatches for 22 years and never had problems in normal length spaces. Even our current L3 Dispatch will fit a normal space provided there is a bit of grass or kerb behind for the rear overhang (it is half a metre longer than the XL Berlingo).
I am Berlingosexual but I haven't told my wife yet.
Thanks folks. Going to have a think on it.