TESTERS' CHOICE CITROEN MD
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• Last year was a good one for carderived vans, with a bumper crop of nine corning our way for evaluation. Microvans were thinner on the ground, however, with only a pair of Subarus getting the road-test treatment.
Our shortlist reflects the nature of our test vehicles, featuring some old favourites from Bedford, Citroen and Ford Below left: Citroen's CI5D CDV — combines value and productivity, Below right: Ford P100 repealed its 1989 vklory. in their latest form, as well as some newcomers in the shape of Fiat's diesel Fiorino, and the two-wheel-drive Subaru Sumo microvan.
The 4x2 Subaru Sumo did least well in our debate. We liked its peppy and economical three-cylinder engine, its excellent loading arrangements and its undoubted value for money, but it has little to attract the fleet engineer, and we have misgivings about all microvans when used outside the urban environment for which they were clearly designed.
Next came the diesel-engined Fiat Fiorino, which joined the market this year to take on Renault's Extra. In many ways it succeeds, having loads of room, a good payload and a low price. Points which counted against it were an engine which is not as refined or economical as its rivals, and a cab which makes large drivers rather unhappy.
Neck and neck in the runners-up spot are two familiar faces; the Ford Escort 55 and the Bedford Astramax 560. With their new improved diesels, both big sellers turned in polished all-round performances, with the Astramax just pipping the Ford because of its bigger load area
and cheaper spares. Our testers' choice, however, is a van designed to wipe the smile from Ford and Bedford's faces: the Citroen C I5D 765. The last three digits are significant, for the latest C15D not only offers lots of space, but now has a payload potential to match its more expensive competitors.