The latest Citroen Dispatch features a thoroughly revised front end with a re-sculpted bonnet, bigger, more prominent headlights deeper wrap-around front bumper and enlarged side protection mouldings to guard against minor abrasions and a beefed-up grille proudly displaying the Citroen chevrons. Matched to the vans comparatively compact size is a respectable load area in the back of four cubic meters with two payload variants, 851kg and 925kg. The load space is accessible through a pair of sliding side doors and twin hinged doors at the rear. The rear doors come unglazed, giving added security, but you can specify glazed doors, and/or a full steel bulkhead with window, should safety and rear visibility be high priorities. Additional safety specification runs to three-point belts on all three front seats, with pre-tensioning devices, as well as adjustable headrests all-round. A driver’s airbag is now standard on all Dispatch models as is power steering and a CD player. Drivers will like the high specification on the basic L variants and the LX goes beyond that but the pinnacle, that every user-chooser must lust after is the range-topping Enterprise specification. This model adds remote-central locking (a real boon on a vehicle with this many doors) and ABS brakes. There are two engines, an uncomplicated, no-nonsense 1.9 -litre diesel and a hi-tec, state-of-the-art 2.0TD HDi unit with all the bells and whistles. The HDi also comes with ventilated front disc brakes for more secure stopping. Behind the wheel of the Dispatch, the first thing you will notice is the dashboard-mounted gear lever. The driving position is quite high with a commanding view of the road. There are useful door-mounted storage bins as well as a decent-sized glove box cum drinks-holder, so your miscellaneous items should be easily locatable. If a full-blown panel van is too big, a hi-cube too small and cost a consideration, the Citroen Dispatch could be the vehicle to suit you.
Thursday, 7 December 2006
The Dispatchers’ Van
The latest Citroen Dispatch features a thoroughly revised front end with a re-sculpted bonnet, bigger, more prominent headlights deeper wrap-around front bumper and enlarged side protection mouldings to guard against minor abrasions and a beefed-up grille proudly displaying the Citroen chevrons. Matched to the vans comparatively compact size is a respectable load area in the back of four cubic meters with two payload variants, 851kg and 925kg. The load space is accessible through a pair of sliding side doors and twin hinged doors at the rear. The rear doors come unglazed, giving added security, but you can specify glazed doors, and/or a full steel bulkhead with window, should safety and rear visibility be high priorities. Additional safety specification runs to three-point belts on all three front seats, with pre-tensioning devices, as well as adjustable headrests all-round. A driver’s airbag is now standard on all Dispatch models as is power steering and a CD player. Drivers will like the high specification on the basic L variants and the LX goes beyond that but the pinnacle, that every user-chooser must lust after is the range-topping Enterprise specification. This model adds remote-central locking (a real boon on a vehicle with this many doors) and ABS brakes. There are two engines, an uncomplicated, no-nonsense 1.9 -litre diesel and a hi-tec, state-of-the-art 2.0TD HDi unit with all the bells and whistles. The HDi also comes with ventilated front disc brakes for more secure stopping. Behind the wheel of the Dispatch, the first thing you will notice is the dashboard-mounted gear lever. The driving position is quite high with a commanding view of the road. There are useful door-mounted storage bins as well as a decent-sized glove box cum drinks-holder, so your miscellaneous items should be easily locatable. If a full-blown panel van is too big, a hi-cube too small and cost a consideration, the Citroen Dispatch could be the vehicle to suit you.
