2022 Mercedes-Benz Citan Brings More Style And Substance To Small Vans, EV Coming Next Year

Mercedes-Benz launched the all-new Citan, a compact van that is available in both Panel Van and Tourer variants which completes Mercedes’ commercial vehicle range below the larger Vito and Sprinter.

As with the previous generation, the new Citan shares its underpinnings with the Renault Kangoo. Besides the Citan and the electric eCitan which are aiming for professionals, Mercedes-Benz will soon launch the similar T-Class and the equivalent electric EQT with a more premium design.

A typical Mercedes-branded compact van

As you can easily tell from the pictures, the Mercedes-Benz Citan has the same greenhouse and the doors with the Renault Kangoo, but it gains redesigned front and rear ends that separate it from its French sibling.

The headlights – with LED technology in higher trim levels – look similar to the B-Class MPV while the bumper, bonnet, and grille are on par with Mercedes’ latest design language. The Citan is measuring 4,498 mm (177 inches) in length and has a wheelbase of 2,716 mm (106.9 inches). In the future, Mercedes will also offer long-wheelbase variants providing even more interior space.

As expected from a commercial vehicle, the design is focused on practicality with one or two sliding doors allowing an opening of 615 mm (24.2 inches). At the back, there are two asymmetrical 180-degree-angle doors for the Citan Panel Van, with an opening height of 1,059 mm (41.7 inches) and an optional single tailgate for the Citan Tourer.

When specified with the flexible partition wall, the Citan Panel Van can carry items measuring up to 3.05 m (120 inches) long while the loading area sits 590 mm (23.2 inches) from the ground. The van has a load capacity of up to 2.9 m3 and can fit two euro pallets one behind the other, while towing capacity is rated at 1.5 tonnes.

Modern interior design with a focus on practicality

Surprisingly, the dashboard is not common with the Renault Kangoo, as Mercedes came up with their own design. Overall it looks pretty modern, integrating a rather small 7-inch central touchscreen for the MBUX infotainment (available in different versions depending on the trim level), round climate vents, and a three-spoke multifunction steering wheel. The Citan Tourer has five separate seats with a foldable rear bench and several storage compartments around the cabin.

See Also: Concept EQT Brings Mercedes EV Tech And Luxury To Minivans

Equipment features includes standard systems like the Hill Start Assist and Active Brake Assist, but also even more sophisticated ADAS like Blind Spot Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist, and Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC which allow for semi-autonomous driving under certain conditions. The Citan Tourer comes with 7 airbags as standard (including a center airbag) and the Citan Panel Van has 6 airbags.

See Also: All-New 2021 Kangoo Is Here Looking More Like A Dacia Than A Renault

While the chassis is shared with Renault’s compact van, Mercedes-Benz states that the Citan received a specific tuning for the springs, shock absorbers, and stabilizers in order to provide unique driving characteristics and more comfort. The van has a McPherson front axle and a torsion-beam rear axle. The suspension setup is different in the Tourer and Panel Van variants with the first aiming for passenger comfort and the second being optimized for high payloads.

Available with diesel, petrol, and electric powertrains

The power units fulfill the Euro 6d emissions norms. All engines are combined with an ECO start/stop function. Alongside the six-speed manual transmission, the most powerful diesel and petrol models are also available with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT)1.

The Citan is available with two four-cylinder engines – 1.5-liter diesel and 1.3-liter petrol. The diesel comes in three different power outputs, the Citan 108 CDI with 74 hp (55 kW / 75 PS) and 230 Nm (170 lb-ft) of torque, the Citan 110 CDI with 94 hp (70 kW / 95 PS) and 260 Nm (192 lb-ft) of torque and the Citan 112 CDI with 114 hp (85 kW / 116 PS) and 270 Nm (199 lb-ft) of torque. However, only the middle one is available in the Citan Tourer.

Those who prefer petrol have two options, the Citan 110 with 101 hp (75 kW / 102 ps) and 200 Nm (148 lb-ft) of torque, and the Citan 113 with 129 hp (96 kW / 131 PS) and 240 Nm (177 lb-ft) of torque.

A Full Electric Version Is Coming In 2022

Finally, there will be a fully electric variant called the eCitan which will launch in the second half of 2022 offering an expected range of 285 km (177 miles) according to WLTP protocols. It will also have a fast-charging capability bringing the battery from 10% to 80% in 40 minutes.

The order books for the new Citan will open in mid-September, with prices starting from less than €23,800 ($27,981) in Europe. Besides the Renault Kangoo, competitor models include the Citroen Berlingo, Peugeot Partner, Opel Combo, and Toyota ProAce City siblings, the Fiat Doblo plus the new VW Caddy, and the upcoming Ford Tourneo Connect.