Sometimes, having too many choices in life makes decision time more difficult. That’s a feature of menus as much as clothing choices. That choice reality comes into stark perspective when you have a choice of three MPV people carriers, that all have very similar features and heritage, other than brand image.

Citroën’s new-generation Berlingo people carrier has entered the niche van-based people carrier market competing against two other similar MPVs that have so many similarities. The three choices are the Citroën Berlingo, my most recent MPV test drive, which competes head to head with its closely related Peugeot Rifter and Opel’s Combi Life.

The dash on the Citroen Berlingo includes large traditional dials for greater visibility. The test car came with a five speed manual gearbox.

All three use similar technical features in terms of engines and gearboxes, and they are built around a similar van-derived chassis and have almost identical driving features.

Let’s start by acknowledging their practical features. They are compact MPVs that are flexible and spacious in terms of seats and boot area, as well as being practical with sliding side doors that make entry and exit easy, especially for children in tight car park spaces.

These van-based MPVs are affordable and all offer seven-seat options. The quality of the interior finish is vastly improved over their previous versions, so comfort with smooth driving and lower noise levels are a distinct feature across all models.

The Citroen Berlingo entry model was fitted with a new PSA designed 1.5-litre turbo-diesel engine that is rated at 100bhp at its maximum performance.

These van-based MPVs offer affordable family motoring at a stage in a family cycle where children need individual space and lots of boot space. And they are not expensive to own with modest 1.5-litre diesel engines that are economical and increasingly clean with low emission levels.

They offer a practical family motoring option and that’s what makes them attractive in many European markets. What makes them less attractive is their van-like heritage and Irish family car buyers seem to want something more stylish.

Despite their practicality, few families take this option; the bigger and more expensive SUVs tend to be the car of choice. The reality is that these modern van-based MPVs are more comfortable, more stylish, more practical and better-equipped than in the past.

The Citroën Berlingo is possibly the most stylish of these three MPV options. The Citroën team has always been at the forefront in terms of design with more subtle features to give the Berlingo a softer and more friendly look.

I drove the entry-level Berlingo powered by a 100bhp 1.5-litre diesel engine. The car is smooth to drive and while not fast in terms of acceleration as the more powerful 130bhp versions, it can deliver smooth driving across a range of conditions.

Out on the motorway, the five-speed gearbox meant that achieving the 120km/hr top motorway speed pushed the engine speed to close to 2,500rpm. Despite that, the Berlingo returned a good economy level for me of 16.1km/litre (45mpg). That’s only marginally higher than the officially rated figure, giving me a range of close to 760km on a full tank.

In performance terms, the Berlingo returns a faster pace. It has a marginally lower CO2 rating, but that’s not enough to make much of a difference in running cost. Compared with equivalent SUVs, the fuel economy figures for these types of MPVs are significantly more attractive. That means lower weekly running costs, while the buying prices are far more competitive than their SUV equivalents.

Inside

On the inside, the Berlingo was well-padded in terms of noise insulation and there was more of a car feel to the comfort levels. The Citroën Berlingo passenger is well-equipped in terms of specification and comfort. The seat offers a good height position and the controls are clearly laid out for ease of use. So I found it easy to get comfortable behind the multi-function steering wheel. The sliding doors on each side make for easier child-loading. All seats fold easily for those extra-long loads. With all five rear seats folded, there is real van load carrying capacity.

All of these MPVs come with full safety certification and were Euro NCAP-tested in 2018 where they achieved a four-star rating. There are three Isofix seat couplings in the rear seats while I doubt if there is space for three full-size child seats.

The boot offers more space than in equivalent five-seat SUVs. That feature, along with twin sliding doors, makes either of these MPVs a more practical choice.

You can sit into and drive all three options, that is the Citroën Berlingo, Peugeot Rifter and Opel’s Combo Life and you’ll only notice styling differences. More recently, Opel has joined the PSA Peugeot Citroën family, so increasingly the style differences and specification details seem a little blurred. The subtlety of choice will depend on a number of factors that need further consideration.

In recent months I’ve also had the new Peugeot Rifter, based on the Partner van and the new Opel Combi Life, based on the Opel Combi van, both seven-seat MPVs, on test. The Citroën Berlingo has some styling stand-outs relative to the other two. But the technical features are almost identical, so running costs other than brand depreciation levels, should be identical. And some values depend on local dealer support with pockets of stronger support according to the strength of the dealer of either of the three brands.

Entry prices for the Berlingo passenger start at €25,995 or £19,600 in NI, while the Peugeot and Opel versions are slightly more competitive south of the border. There is little to separate these three options in terms of price, in appearance and specification terms. While the Peugeot Rifter may be my overall choice, so much depends on local dealer support which will enhance re-sale values adding to lower ownership cost over the life of the car.