Mercedes-Benz Citan given green light for Australia
Launch date to be confirmed, but Mercedes-Benz compact van has gained homologation clearanceThe Mercedes-Benz Citan is finally poised to launch in Australia, with the German car-maker receiving homologation clearance for the compact van.
There’s no local launch date as yet, but its compliance for the Aussie market paves the way for the 2023 Mercedes-Benz Citan to go on sale next year.
It’s been a long time coming, too, with Mercedes-Benz building a case to offer the previous-generation Citan – which is essentially a rebadged version of the latest Renault Kangoo – before it abandoned its launch plans in 2014.
Safety shortcomings were raised about the previous model when it received only three stars in Euro NCAP testing, however the new-generation Citan (in Tourer MPV guise) has already qualified for a maximum five-star rating under current testing protocols.
Just one Citan variant is listed on the federal government database – with the option of an ‘extended payload’ – which suggests that Mercedes-Benz Vans Australia will test the waters first with the new compact van, given its close connections with Kangoo and memories still fresh of the failed X-Class/Navara ute venture.
The Citan is powered by a 1.3-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine that produces 96kW/240Nm and is paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Those outputs bode well against the equivalent Volkswagen Caddy, which musters 84kW/220Nm from its 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine.
The outgoing Kangoo relies on an 84kW/190Nm 1.2-litre engine, but will switch to an updated powertrain that mirrors the Citan when Renault’s new-generation model launches here too early next year.
Tipping the scales at 1529kg, the Citan measures 4488mm long, 1859mm wide and 1822mm. Cargo volume is rated at 2517 litres, while its braked towing capacity is 1500kg.
With documents pointing to 16-inch alloy wheels as standard, the Australian-spec Citan looks to be equivalent to the ‘Pro’ trim in Germany, where it offers a 502kg payload and is priced from €25,805 ($A39,901).
Stand by for further details, including launch confirmation and pricing.
Related: Citan no go for Oz
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