Citroen Dispatch – International Van of the Year 2008

The new Citroen Dispatch range has just scooped the prestigious International Van of the Year 2008 award. In a ceremony in Amsterdam at the European Road Transport Show on 25 October it was announced that Citroen’s Dispatch (known as the Jumpy in other European markets) had beaten off competition from an exceptionally strong field to win the title.

Andy Salter, UK International Van of the Year jury member and editor of Commercial Motor, comments, “Whether empty or laden, the on-road driveability of the Citroen Dispatch is second to none. The fact it has also been designed for passenger purposes offers an obvious benefit for the driver. Both driveability and manoeuvrability are greatly improved over the outgoing model. In addition to developing a commercial vehicle with the comfort, handling, chassis stiffness and safety standards of a passenger car, the engineers have also ensured the braking system is superb and the availability of ESP and several airbags puts it at the top of the safety class. This van is also the only vehicle in its class to meet the European safety standard for cars ECE 12-03. A worthy winner of the Van of the Year 2008.”

The panel of judges, drawn from Europe’s top international transport journalists, were impressed by the Dispatch range’s innovative and practical design, positive moves to reduce its carbon footprint and high levels of safety, comfort and driveability. The Dispatch range offers a wide choice of bodyshell designs, with two wheelbases, two roof heights, a platform cab and multiple door configurations.

However, the advantages do not stop there, explained Robert Handyside, Citroen’s commercial vehicle operations manager, “The Dispatch’s sheer versatility, operational efficiency and compact size set it apart from the many competitors in this increasingly popular sector of the van market.”

With today’s increasing emphasis on reducing environmental impact, the Dispatch’s ‘green’ credentials were also a key consideration. Here it scored very highly, with class-leading fuel consumption and the availability of Citroen’s Diesel Particulate Filter System (DPFS). This is the first time such a system, which reduces particulate emissions to virtually immeasurable levels, has been offered on a van in Europe. Also, like all other Citroen light commercial vehicles, the Dispatch can run on up to 30 per cent biodiesel, without any modification or effect on warranty.

The Dispatch also scores highly in ease and economy of operation. As Robert Handyside explained, “It has one of the lowest insurance groups in its class and the whole vehicle has been designed with ease of maintenance and repair in mind. This makes the Dispatch an extremely practical proposition for the fleet operator, for whom minimising vehicle downtime must be one of the prime considerations in vehicle selection.”

In the UK, the Citroen Dispatch panel van is available in 1,000 and 1,200kg payload capacities, 5, 6 and 7 cu. m load compartment volumes and a choice of 100hp, 120hp and 136hp fuel-efficient, low emissions HDi diesel engines. In addition, there is a wide choice of 5, 6, 8 and 9–seat Combis, window vans and a unique platform cab for specialist applications such as mini motor caravan or high-cube temperature-controlled volume bodywork. To increase operational efficiency all Dispatch models are specified with three-seats in the cab and all panel vans, combis and window vans have also dual side load doors.

“The UK van buyer has recognised the new Dispatch as a winner since its launch in February. UK sales of the model are this year running at high levels, up 16% compared to 2006, and the expanded range has ensured that the new Dispatch appeals to an even wider range of customers in an increasingly competitive market,” adds Robert Handyside.