The Citroen relay has been a hugely popular vehicle for many years, given the stiff competition with almost every pickup van in the UK. Citroen also offered her several financing options and from 2006 to 2014.In 2014, Citroen improved the Relay panel van to keep it up to date because its major competitors were more advanced with each passing day.
The competitors are Ford Transit, Mercedes Sprinter and VW Crafter in the UK market, apart from these major competitors, Renault and Peugeot have their own models which are also in direct competition with Relay vans. Citroen again improved the Relay in 2016 with the addition of Euro 6 emissions.
There are hardly a few differences between these three vans and it is difficult to differentiate between three of them. Fiat uses PSA engines and has different options for different configurations, however, the Citroen Relay and Peugeot Boxer have 2.2 litre and 2.0 litre HDI engines with the same non-variable power outputs.
Citroen says it focuses on long-term operating costs and that its relationship with customers is the real reason behind its sales more than many automakers when there are giant models like Ford Transit and Mercedes sprinters in the competition.
The relay features a distinctive styling and design and a new redesigned grille with larger decals adorned with chrome-plated stripes on the front. An optional LED stripe is inside the headlights which is a nice touch as well. The relay has also been updated in many areas including the braking system. The engines have been updated to improve performance but according to many buyers, Citroen has lost nimble with the Euro 6 engines.
The Citroen Relay range of engines has been optimized for increased hygiene and an environmentally friendly version with the latest Euro 6 technology. The engine has been tested and upgraded for better performance and lower carbon emissions. The cost affecting option of Remanufactured Citroen Relay Engines are also one of the premium options available in market with same efficiency of new engines.
Interior quality is taken a step further with the larger central display, satellite navigation and reverse camera integration. There are many other features added as car wipers, lane departure system and tire pressure system have been added and the reason behind adding a tire pressure system is the load. The relay is a load carrier so it is necessary to actively monitor tire pressures.
Citroen added the 2.0 litre engine on the Relay with different powertrains including 110 hp, 130 hp and a range of up to 160 hp in the same class of engines. All of these engines are additionally powered by engine start technology and BlueHDi on 130 models.
All engines are mated to a six-speed manual transmission and have a payload capacity of approximately 1,115 kg to approximately 2,000 kg, and load volumes have increased from 8 m3 to 17 m3 on the L1H1 and L4H3 models. The L4H3 is the longest model in its class.
There are many formats available on Citroen Relay and they can be available in tipper, cabin chassis, drop and Luton shapes. Plus it hosts standby to run transfers. Citroen has done a lot of things in a row but it’s still a far cry from the competition that Ford created in the UK market.
Mercedes sprinter is also not close to Relay, Relay is very far from sprinter either. Each of the competitors has a lot of equipment lists and a wide range of solid equipment. The cabin offered on the relay is not as developed as the competitors. Ford Transit offers a car-like interior and hundreds of options for paperwork, mugs, mobile, etc.
With Euro 6 engines, Citroen still has carbon emissions of up to 100g/km while Transit models have significantly lower carbon emissions than these models. The long-term cost of any commercial van is the key feature and Relay has worked hard to make sure the van runs its life. The refurbished Citroen relay engines in the UK are not a big deal at all.
Several things have been added in the current version of Driver Assistance in addition to enhancing the security level of Relay. For stability control, the standard equipment includes ABS, driver airbag and emergency brake. The improved brakes also increased the safety aspect. Higher trims also get lane departure warning, which is optional on lower trim levels.
So if you’re aiming for more comfort and a modern feel by going up one level from the standard, this is a good choice. The optional reverse camera is very useful for parking purposes as it makes the fear of hitting fly away which most of the big vehicle drivers have.
