With the conventional people carrier playing out a slow death at the hands of the SUV, it's down to van-based MPVs to fill the void for family buyers that need space more anything else. There are a lot of choices in the market now, but if you want something a bit more upmarket, then the new Mercedes Citan Tourer, due in 2022, could be the car to go for.
It's one of two new MPVs that are coming from Mercedes, the other being the all-new Mercedes T-Class. That car will be a plush MPV in the style of the larger V-Class, but the Citan Tourer driven here offers a more 'lifestyle' option. It's a van that's designed to take some punishment, whether it's kids crashing around in the back, or bikes and other outdoorsy kit being slung into the cargo area.
In the metal
The Citan Tourer shares its bodyshell and running gear with the Renault Kangoo Van - another model that is available as an MPV in some markets - but that front end design is unmistakably Mercedes, with its large grille, prominent three-pointed star badge and LED daytime running lights. Further back is pure van, though, with a boxy look only broken up by the fact the Tourer has windows.
Inside, there is plenty of black plastic on show and hard-wearing fabric seat trim. There are circular air vents that are familiar from elsewhere in the Mercedes range, although the gloss black finish is still a reminder of the Tourer's van roots. Go for optional climate control (Irish specs have yet to be confirmed), and the cluster of switches and buttons adds a bit of premium tech.
The same can be said of the MBUX infotainment system. This is likely to be an optional set-up, and while the 5.5-inch screen is small, it has plenty of tech, including Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and the 'Hey Mercedes' voice control system.
There are five seats in the Mercedes Citan Tourer, and the rear bench has plenty of space for three. The seat doesn't slide, but it splits 60:40 and, unlike in some rivals, where you have to remove the back seats to maximise space, the Citan's chairs fold and collapse in one motion to leave a flat load floor. Access is a breeze, too, thanks to the sliding side doors.
The boot offers 530 litres of space under the load cover, and it's a simple box shape with flat sides, so it'll be easy to make use of all the space when packing. The load cover is fixed, but it folds up and over in half to improve access. Mercedes offers asymmetric 'barn doors' at the back of the Citan, but a tailgate will also be available.
Driving it
On the road, the Citan Tourer isn't the hottest performer, thanks to its range of modest petrol and diesel engines. We tried the mid-range 110 CDI diesel. Its strong torque from low revs meant it kept pace with traffic pretty easily, while the six-speed manual gearbox has a decent shift, so it's easy to keep the engine in its power band. Things gets a little noisier as the revs rise, but once you're up to speed, the Citan Tourer is pretty refined.
The suspension does a decent job of ironing out bumps, with all but the worst making their presence felt. Sure, the Citan Tourer isn't the most engaging car in corners, but it's stable and safe, so won't cause any dramas, while it comes with plenty of safety kit as standard, too.
What you get for your money
As the Irish launch of the Mercedes Citan Tourer (and its commercial vehicle sibling) is so far away, it's not surprising that there are no pricing or specification details for the Irish market available. We will update this section as soon as that changes.
Summary
Overall, the Mercedes Citan Tourer is a decent small MPV that feels robust enough to take on family life. It won't be on Irish roads until later in 2022, which is when we'll find out more about pricing and the model line-up for these shores, but it looks to be a practical alternative to a mid-sized crossover.