A crew van can be just the job for a firm needing to carry both equipment and tools plus team members to the work site.
It can also double up as a practical family leisure vehicle at weekends with space to stash the likes of bikes, suitcases or camping gear in the back.
The latter option is tempting, but beware – in the UK it is illegal to claim back the VAT on a crew van unless it is used solely for business purposes.
As part of the big Stellantis family, the latest Citroen Dispatch Crew tested here in the XL bodystyle is also up for grabs badged as a Vauxhall Vivaro, Peugeot Expert or Fiat Professional Scudo, not to mention the Toyota Proace, which piggybacks the Stellantis platform.
The model customers opt for will probably be determined by retailer relationships or brand preferences, which, let’s face it, matter less when all the vans roll off the same assembly line.
Infrastructure company Taziker recently chose a fleet of nine Dispatch Crew vans to ferry its workers on what it describes as often long distances to work sites in comfort and safety, sentiments we would endorse from our experience with the van.
Loading
While perhaps not getting too close to meeting our van’s 1,172kg payload, we made full use of its 4.0m3 load space to convey multiple boxes of chinaware and crockery across the country. The six tie-down loops in the XL’s load area came in handy to hook elasticated straps onto to secure the cargo and ensure no breakages were sustained in transit.
With the two side doors used for passengers, access to the load box is via the twin rear doors, which swing open to 180º. A full-height plastic bulkhead with window separates the load bay and seating areas and at 1.9m high, the Dispatch is accessible to most car parks.
Once inside the cab the driver benefits from a height and reach-adjustable steering wheel with steering wheel-mounted controls. With a squared-off shape, the steering wheel is not the most elegant and is of a piece with the bulbous-headed gear stick.
On the road
Both components function better than they look, however. The electronic steering makes it easy to manoeuvre the van at low speeds around town and tightens up reassuringly at higher speeds while the six-speed manual gear change is slick and efficient.
The Dispatch XL may not deliver the most dynamic driving experience – it’s not in the same league as the Ford Transit Custom when it comes to handling – but the performance from the 2.0-litre Blue HDi powertrain is more than capable with 145hp on tap and peak torque of 340Nm biting at 2,000rpm.
A load in the back eliminates most of the ride’s bounciness and the van is happy to eat up motorway miles without breaking sweat. The interior is well-enough insulated against wind and engine noise, meaning conversation or listening to the radio does not become a strain.
Storage space in the cabin is practical and includes lidded upper and open lower glove boxes, cup holders at both ends of the dashboard and big door pockets that can hold 1.5-litre water bottles.
A 10in touchscreen gives access to hands-free Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and DAB radio and a USB socket is also provided.
Rear parking sensors are standard but the excellent Dynamic Surround View with Connected Navi pack will set you back £1,250, excluding VAT.
ADAS provision is decent and includes high beam assist, lane keeping assist, intelligent speed assistance, driver attention alert and advanced emergency braking.
| Model | Citroen Dispatch Crew Van XL 2.0 Blue HDi 145 Enterprise |
| Price (ex VAT) | £31,640 |
| Price range (ex VAT) | £27,440-£32,315 |
| Warranty | 3yrs/100,000mls |
| Service intervals | 2yrs/24,000mls |
| Load length | 2,365mm |
| Load width (min/max) | 1,258mm/1,636mm |
| Load bay height | 1,397mm |
| Gross payload | 1,172kg |
| Load volume | 4.0m3 |
| Engine size/power | 1,997cc/145hp |
| Combined fuel economy | 38.7mpg |
| CO2 | 191g/km |
| On sale | March 2024 |
| Key rival | Renault Trafic |
| Verdict | The Dispatch is a practical and dependable performer that makes a solid choice as a crew van. |
| Score | 7/10 |
