Citroen Dispatch Review & Prices

The Citroen Dispatch is part of a very large family, in fact it’s one of quintuplets. It’s mechanically identical to the Peugeot Expert, Vauxhall Vivaro, Fiat Scudo and the Toyota Proace. You can think of these vans then as being like M&Ms. There are a variety of different shells, but underneath lies the same tasty chocolate filling.

Being a medium-sized panel van, the Dispatch is up against some stiff competition. You could also consider the Mercedes Vito, Renault Trafic, or Carwow’s reigning van of the year for 2025 - the Ford Transit Custom.

The Citroen stacks up well against these alternatives. There are two body lengths to choose from, and you can get a six-seater crew cab version if you want as well. There’s no high-roof model though, something which the Transit Custom does offer.

There are two engines to choose from, as well as the all-electric e-Dispatch. Entry-level vans get a 1.5-litre diesel with 120hp and a six-speed manual gearbox, then there’s the 2.0-litre diesel with 145hp which is offered either with the same manual or an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Both engines are punchy enough, but if you do a lot of long-distance driving then the more powerful version is the one to go for. The manual gearbox is also very good to use - the automatic is only really worth paying extra for if you drive solely in town, but if that’s the case you might be better off with the electric version.

It’s nice and easy to drive as well. You get good forward visibility and the mirrors are a decent size, although there are no lower blind spot mirrors, which would be nice to have. You also have to go for the top-spec model if you want a reversing camera.

You can carry up to 1,384kg in the back of the Dispatch, which is exactly the same as the Transit Custom’s maximum payload, and there are a couple of clever features in the back. You can get something called a Moduwork load-through bulkhead which allows you to expand the load area under the passenger seat through a flap, helping you carry longer items. There’s also a 12V socket back there for plugging in things such as coolers.

There are just two trim levels to choose from, and both come well-equipped as standard. You get a clear and crisp 10.0-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a digital driver’s display, cruise control and rear parking sensors.

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The Citroen Dispatch starts from just over £27,000 ex. VAT, making it around £5,000 cheaper than both the Ford Transit Custom and the Mercedes Vito. It also costs exactly the same as its stablemates from Peugeot, Fiat, Vauxhall and Toyota, although the Toyota Proace gets a clever warranty which can be extended up to 10 years if you service it at approved dealers.

The Fiat Scudo can also be had with a Professional Flexcare servicing plan which includes three years of servicing for a fixed up-front fee - which is a tempting proposition.

All Dispatches come packed with kit as standard. The entry-level Driver model has a 10.0-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, cruise control, rear parking sensors and a digital driver’s display. Step up to the Enterprise version and you get a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a reversing camera with digital rear-view mirror and electrically folding door mirrors.

The Dispatch is comfy and easy to drive in town, however it’s not quite as refined as a Ford Transit Custom

There are just two engines to choose from in the Citroen Dispatch, both of them diesels. There’s a 1.5-litre unit with 120hp, or you can have a more powerful 2.0-litre with 145hp. Both get a slick-shifting six-speed manual as standard, or the higher-powered version can be specced with an eight-speed automatic.

Both engines are decent, but the 2.0-litre diesel is the pick of the two. It’s punchy, reasonably economical and it’s not too rattly either. That said, a Mercedes Vito has a more refined engine. The higher-power model is also the only option for you if you’re after an auto ’box.

Any urban delivery driver will have no problem navigating tight streets in the Dispatch, because it’s really easy to drive. You have excellent forward visibility and big door mirrors, although they don’t have lower blind spot mirrors like a Ford Transit Custom does. That’s only a small gripe though.

The steering is really light and precise at low speeds, so those tricky parking manoeuvres won’t put too much stress on your biceps, and the manual gearbox isn’t a chore, it’s actually really nice to use in stop-start traffic. An eight-speed automatic is available if you spend a lot of time in the urban jungle, but if that’s the case you might be better off with the all-electric e-Dispatch.

Out on a country road things are just as pleasant. It’s not quite as neat through the corners as a Ford Transit Custom, however it feels safe and predictable when you push on through the bends and there’s not too much body roll to worry about. The suspension does a good job over bumps in the road as well, with only really big potholes sending a thud through the cabin. It can get a bit unsettled over undulating surfaces though, something a Transit Custom takes in its stride.

Head out onto the motorway and it can be easy to forget you’re driving a van at times. There’s a bit of wind noise, as you may expect, but on the whole it’s really quite civilised. The bulkhead does a decent job of insulating you from the reverberating noises in the load area, and the seats are nice and comfortable as well.

The Dispatch has a versatile load area with some clever features, however there are alternatives which offer more space

The Dispatch’s load area is versatile and easy to pack, thanks in part to the dual sliding side doors - allowing you to pile things in from both sides. The rear doors can also open to 180-degrees in case you need to back right up to a loading bay, or if access is just tricky.

There are a few clever features to note as well, such as the load-through bulkhead. This gives you a flap at the bottom of the bulkhead which you can use to increase the length of your load area by sliding things under the front passenger seat, albeit only at floor level.

You also get the usual smattering of tie down hooks to secure your load, as well as a 12-volt socket which you can use to power things like coolers or a small vacuum cleaner.

In terms of outright size, the Dispatch does fall behind some alternatives. The load area is both shorter and narrower than a Ford Transit Custom’s by around 100mm each way. It also has 5.3 cubic meters of volume in the rear, compared to the Transit’s 5.7 and the Renault Trafic’s 5.8.

Exterior dimensions (M/XL)
Exterior length: 4,981mm/5,331mm
Exterior width with mirrors: 2,204mm
Exterior width without mirrors: 1,920mmmm
Exterior height: 4,981mm/5,331mm

Interior load length (M/XL)
Van
To bulkhead: 2,512mm/2,852mm
With passthrough: 3,674mm/4,024mm

Crew cab
To bulkhead: 2,017mm/2,365mm

Interior loading width

All versions
Max width: 1,636mm
Between wheel arches: 1,258mm

Interior loading height
Max height: 1,397mm

Rear door aperture height/width
All versions: 1,220mm/1,282mm

Side door aperture height/width
All versions: 1,241mm/935mm

Citroen Dispatch towing capacity

Depending on which Dispatch you go for, it has a maximum towing capacity of 2,500kg for a braked trailer - but every diesel model can pull at least 2,000kg braked. A Ford Transit Custom can tow up to 2,300kg, while the Renault Trafic has the same 2,500kg capacity.

Citroen Dispatch payload

The Dispatch has one of the best payloads of any medium van. The diesel models can take between 1,121kg and 1,384kg in the back, which is exactly the same maximum load as the Ford Transit Custom. It’s also getting on for half a tonne more than a Mercedes Vito can manage, while the Renault Trafic has a payload of 1,145kg.

Standard equipment is generous and there’s plenty of in-cab storage, but some other vans have better fit and finish

It’s easy to get comfortable behind the wheel of the Citroen Dispatch. There’s plenty of adjustment in the seat and steering wheel, as well as decent legroom for even the tallest of drivers. You even get treated to an adjustable armrest as standard.

There are plenty of places to hide your bits and bobs out of the way as well. The door bins are cavernous, and there are two on each door. The upper pocket will easily swallow a 2.0-litre bottle of water, and the lower one is generous as well.

You also get a tray on top of the dashboard for your daily paperwork, there are a couple of smaller cupholders for your coffee, and there are even two gloveboxes to choose from. The top one has a lid and a good amount of space, while the bottom area is uncovered.

As for quality, it’s about as you’d expect from a commercial vehicle. You can’t dock it points for having scratchy plastics, but it doesn’t feel quite as solid overall as a Ford Transit Custom - while a Mercedes Vito feels more posh.

Still, there’s plenty of tech on board. All versions get a clear and crisp 10.0-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a digital driver’s display and DAB radio. You can also get a wireless charging pad for your phone, and there are two USB-Cs to keep your phone juiced up for the day.

There are two engines to choose from in the Dispatch - a 1.5-litre diesel with 120hp or a 2.0-litre diesel with 145hp. The smaller of the two is more economical, returning up to 45mpg compared to 39mpg for the more powerful unit, however the 2.0-litre’s added grunt is welcome on longer journeys.

You also pay a small penalty by going for the automatic version. It’s only a couple of mpg, but seeing as the manual gearbox is very slick and easy to use it’s only really worth going for the auto if you do a lot of town driving.

And if most of your time is spent in an urban environment, you might instead consider the electric e-Dispatch. It’ll do around 200 miles on a charge and it's much more relaxing to waft around the city.

Euro NCAP doesn’t test vans in the same way it tests cars, however the Citroen Dispatch earned a Bronze rating when it was put through its paces in 2023. It was let down by a lack of lane-keeping assist, however this has since been introduced as part of a facelift in 2024.

All Dispatch models also get autonomous emergency braking, speed assist and driver attention alert. You also get deadlocks as standard, however you have to step up to the Enterprise model if you want a Thatcham category 1 approved alarm.

The Citroen Dispatch has been around for a while now, and on the whole they are proving to be reliable workhorses. There are very few common issues to report, and Citroen’s vast dealer network means you shouldn’t be without your van for too long if something does go wrong. It’s a shame though that the Dispatch gets a rather mediocre three-year or 100,000-mile warranty. If you go for a Toyota Proace, you can get up to 10 years or 100,000 miles of coverage by keeping it serviced within the approved dealer network.

Service intervals are set at every two years or 25,000 miles, however the identical Fiat Scudo is available with a three-year serving plan which includes all routine maintenance for a fixed fee of £349 up front.