Size isn’t everything… unless you’re looking for a large van in which case if you’ve ever seen a Fiat Ducato or Peugeot Boxer large van then you might not have realised you were staring at a Citroen Relay too! Just look at the shape of it… it’s enormous!
It’s a proper workhorse, and not only is it capable of carrying huge loads, its running costs are some of the best in the category, something Citroen are VERY proud about.
They’re also proud about letting people know that it went through a ton of testing – 4m kilometres of test driving and 500,000 door slams – and now it’s got the Vanarama Road Test to contend with…
At the front, a great big Citroen badge and swept light greet you, it's an attractive van with a futuristic front.
Did you know that the front is broken up into 3 panels? That’s Citroen being clever so if one gets damaged you don’t need to pull the whole front off… just the panel that’s damaged! Combine that with the durable plastics and metals and it all feels solid.
There's huge visibility through the windscreen and a big aerial above that.
On the inside, you'll find a "rough and tough" durable interior.
Black plastics and hard-wearing fabrics – no-frills, this vehicle is all about work.
The steering wheel and dashboard instruments are big and easy to see, the gearstick placement is convenient and dash-mounted, though the handbrake is on the other side of driver, which is a bit odd, thankfully, it sounds if it’s not totally off.
The radio is basic, and sounds.... fine, but there are some handy touches dotted around the cabin, such as the clipboard, tough rubber floor mats and plastics that are non-slip.
Storage – lockers, cubbies, in-door, under-seat... everywhere and the Relay has one of the widest load bays in this class of van, at 1.8m between partitions and 1.4m between the inner wheel arches. The side door is 1.2m wide and the payload weight is 1500kg – other variants of the panel van can carry anything up to 1995kg (which is a whopping great payload).
H3 versions of the Relay are top of the class at 2.1m high (better than the Sprinter and VW Crafter. The standard steel bulkhead has plenty of fixing points and fittings across the full height of the van and you get free ply-lining with EVERY Vanarama lease.
When on the road, the suspension is a little bouncy when empty but stiffens well under load. On the other hand, the 2-litre BlueHDi engine is powerful, Citroen have always been good at selecting hard-wearing, hard-working engines.
For its size, there's a real ease of driving – really low turning circle for such a big van – surprise.
Market Comparason
• Peugeot Boxer – it’s as established as the Relay. Good… if not very similar, performance.
• Fiat Ducato – it’s got a different engine and some will say that makes it a totally new van… despite it not being different… apart from the badge.
• Nissan NV400 / Renault Master / Vauxhall Movano – shared engines, probably better cabs.
• VW Crafter – Payload isn’t big, neither is fuel economy, but it’s very user-friendly.
• Ford Transit – there’s a new one on the way, but the current model is the best-seller for a reason… just don’t mention the slightly lower payload.
• Mercedes-Benz Sprinter – it’s always sparring for the top spot, and is absolutely packed with tech.
On big vans, you always pay a premium for the best performance… except with the Citroen Relay which is often available to lease at excellent monthly rental prices.
The cabin is nothing to shout about, we know it’s basic. But it’s a workhorse, does it have to be an overblown tech cavern?
The Relay is a hard-working vehicle, so it’s all about being highly durable. From the front to the back.
And you might expect to pay for that durability, but the Relay is a great van, available for great prices.
The road ahead is easy to see with a windscreen this big but put your money in the Citroen Relay and the road ahead is also one full of cost savings.
