Citroen e-Relay Review 2025

The latest Citroen e-Relay has a longer range than its predecessor and has a vastly improved cabin and some styling tweaks, but are these enough to keep Citroen’s biggest electric van near the top of the list for those looking for a big electric van? Read our full Citroen e-Relay review to find out.

The Citroen e-Relay is part of the expanded Stellantis large electric van range, which means it’a essentially the same vehicle as the Peugeot e-Boxer, Fiat e-Ducato and Vauxhall Movano Electric, and is based on the large panel van body that was introduced way back in 2006.

It’s a versatile, flexible and competent van, but was never originally designed to be electric – the plug-in battery pack and motor having been developed by Stellantis Group to be integrated beneath the body, based on the same mechanical components as the previous e-Relay but with a bigger battery pack and extended range – now up to 261 miles using the WLTP measurement protocol. The next generation of large electric vans from Stellantis will have a more integral, multi-brand approach as per the group’s smaller models, but a new model is still a couple of years away so the Citroen e-Relay has been extensively revised inside and out, and is now fitted with a more credible electric power option than previously.

The latest Citroen e-Relay, then, is powered by an electric motor producing 272PS and 400Nm of torque with a new 110kWh battery, meaning it will cover up to 261 miles (WLTP) on a single charge and comes equipped as standard with a three-phase 11kW onboard charger.

It can also be charged at 150kW from a DC rapid charger, enabling a 0-80% charge in 55 minutes.

Just one wheelbase is available at 4.04m, but with a choice of body lengths. A chassis cab version is also available for converters and camper van derivatives, which has long been a core market for Citroen with its larger vans. In panel van form it has a load length of up to 4.04m and a total maximum cargo volume of 17 cubic metres.

Outside it gets a new, more aerodynamic front bumper, which also helps the range, plus redesigned rear-view mirrors and a new body-coloured grille, along with full LED front headlights.

In the cabin, drivers get a new multifunction steering wheel, dashboard, seat fabrics, and door panels, along with a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 3D Connected Navigation. Wireless inductive phone charging is also introduced, while further thoughtful touches include an optional 230V socket in the centre of the dashboard for powering electrical devices such as laptops, batteries and tablets up to 150w.

It's a markedly smarter cabin than in the previous Citroen e-Relay and is a comfortable, spacious and functional large van.

Only one battery is offered but it’s a decent set-up – a massive 110kWh battery pack feeding a 272PS electric motor – giving a substantial power increase and range over its predecessor.

The Citroen e-Relay claims a WLTP-derived range of 261 miles, which is pretty impressive for a large electric van and will boost its appeal to some users who may not previously have considered electric propulsion for a big van.

It comes with three driving modes: “Normal” (limited to 160 kW power output), “Eco” for range optimisation (120 kW) and “Power” for full performance (200 kW). Whichever mode you’re in, the kick-down function of the throttle will automatically select Power if you’re joining a motorway or dual carriageway from a slip road or overtaking, for example, so the third setting is rarely needed.

Also new are four different levels of regenerative braking, selectable using steering wheel paddles. The most substantial of these will slow the van to a walking pace and comes into its own in heavy stop-start traffic, increasing overall range.

There are also several driver assistance systems including traffic sign recognition, forward collision alert with emergency braking and side blind-spot alert, drowsiness alert, lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, 360-degree parking sensors, parking assist and Stellantis Group’s ‘Dynamic Surround View’ digital rear view mirror, which projects camera images from the rear of the van to the driver’s eyeline. It’s clever stuff, but more useful in dynamic driving rather than for parking and manoeuvring, where the lens curvature of the cameras makes distances difficult to judge.

The technological advancements are both welcome and significant but the Citroen e-Relay still falls short by virtue of the age of the basic van on which it is based. This is the third incarnation of a model that was introduced in 2006, and the harsh ride when unladen, vague steering and body roll mean that the dynamic package can’t quite match the technological features on offer. Its key rivals are sharper, but if you want a hugely spacious electric van that’s great value and offers a decent enough range, it’s still well worth a look.

Climb aboard the Citroen e-Relay and you might not intially notice you’re in the electric version – until you poke around a bit and notice one or two rather unusual quirks.

For starters, there’s the instruments, which appear to be exactly the same as in the diesel version.

Why do you need a rev counter, fuel gauge and temperature gauge in an EV? You don’t, which is why the conversion company has simply removed the needles for those dials. Talk about no expense spared! 

Want to know how much range you have? You can only do that via a little display mounted in the otherwise redundant rear view mirror. It’s a little tricky to see, but works fine. It just looks incredibly aftermarket. 

But it gets worse – the Citroen e-Relay’s heating and ventilation controls are still in place, but the temperature dial does nothing as it was originally connected to the diesel engine’s heating system.

With an electric heat pump now used instead, there’s a little temperature display (which looks like a cheap thermometer) to the right of the steering wheel where you adjust the temperature.

Again, it works fine; it just looks like it was done in somebody’s shed. 

Aside from some (thankfully quality feeling) drive select buttons in place of a gear lever, everything else is standard Citroen Relay fare. That means it’s hard-wearing, practical and filled with useful storage areas. 

But it also means scratchy plastics, middling comfort levels and pretty basic ‘infotainment’. At least the driver’s seat is comfortable, while forward visibility is excellent and the turning circle is decent. 

The 139-mile range is better than rivals such as the Mercedes e-Sprinter, which has a maximum range of 96 miles (and is only available in one size) and the Renault Master Z.E, which maxes out at 124 miles. 

Usefully, the Citroen e-Relay is also capable of rapid charging at up to 50kW. That’s enough for an 80% charge in roughly an hour, which makes this perfect as a working van where users can plug it in over their lunchbreak.

The fastest home wallbox, a three-phase 22kW system, can fully charge the 70kWh e-Relay in about nine hours.