Stellantis has introduced two new entry-level trims for the Citroen Berlingo and Opel Combo twins in Europe, making them more accessible and more practical. The base models benefit from a redesigned interior which transforms into a mobile office, and will be available with gasoline, diesel, mild-hybrid, and fully electric powertrains.

From the outside, the Citroen Berlingo Van First and the Opel Combo Start have slightly different faces compared to the rest of the lineup. The lower bumper appears to be carried over but the upper portion sheds the body-colored finish for unpainted plastic and gains a simplified design for the grille. The rest of the bodywork remains unchanged.

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Note that the Berlingo Van has different headlights compared to the Berlingo which is better aligned with Citroen’s passenger car and SUV lineup.

More Practicality Inside The Cabin

More substantial changes take place inside the cabin, making us wonder why Opel and Citroen didn’t apply this treatment to the entire lineup of the Combo and Berlingo vans. The dashboard and door panels have been redesigned with the goal of improving “robustness” and “ergonomic handling” for business owners and fleet operators using the LCVs for delivery services and on construction sites.

Highlights include the extra shelfs on the dash, the new drawer under the driver’s seat, and the standard FlexiSeat for the front passenger. The latter can be folded upwards, creating extra space for packages, tool boxes or other equipment and increasing the van’s total load volume by 0.5 cubic meters (17.7 cubic feet).

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More importantly, the FlexiSeat can be optionally combined with the ModuTable. This costs €300 ($350) and offers a surface that can be used as an extra shelf with cupholders or as a mobile desk for your laptop. When not in use, the ModuTable can be stored behind the cabin wall in the cargo area. Still, Citroen said that professionals drive alone for about 80% of the time so it will likely be used quite often.

Finally, the FlexCargo/Moduwork configuration adds a third seat at the front which turns into a load-through when transporting longer items.

Citroen Berlingo Van First

The compact vans remain available in two body lengths, delivering a load volume between 3.3-4.4 cubic meters (116.5-155.4 cubic feet). The maximum payload capacity is unchanged at 1,000 kg (2,205 lbs).

Multiple Powertrain Options

As with the rest of the lineup, the entry-level vans offer the option between gasoline, diesel and fully electric powertrains, with a mild-hybrid variant set to join the lineup in 2027.

More: Stellantis Turns ICE FWD Vans Into 4x4s With Rear Electric Motor Conversion

The turbo 1.2-liter engine is good for 109 hp (81 kW / 110 PS), while the 1.5-liter turbodiesel produces 101 hp (75 kW / 102 PS) or 129 hp (96 kW / 131 PS). All ICE variants are exclusively offered with a six-speed manual gearbox, although the upcoming mild hybrid will get a dual-clutch automatic. Finally, the EV has a single electric motor generating 134 hp (100 kW / 136 PS), and a 42 kWh battery offering up to 270 km (168 miles) of WLTP range.

Pricing

The base Opel Combo Start with the gasoline engine is priced from €22,400 ($26,000) before VAT in Germany, lowering the entry point in the compact van’s lineup by €1,000 ($1,200). The diesel starts from €23,200 ($26,900) and the electric from €28,500 ($33,100).

More: This New Fiat Might Be Stellantis’ Most Halfhearted Reboot Yet

Citroen has yet to announce pricing for the Berlingo Van First, but we expect similar figures with its Opel twin. It will be interesting to see whether the same treatment will be applied to the nearly identical Peugeot Partner, Fiat Doblo, and Toyota ProAce City.

Opel Combo Start

One of the biggest talking points surrounding Slate’s upcoming electric pickup has been its headline-grabbing $24,950 starting price. Now, the startup is trying to convince potential buyers that adding a little personality doesn’t have to blow the budget.

In a new email sent to reservation holders, Slate introduced several themed “starter packs” that bundle wraps, decals, and accessories while keeping the vehicle below the $29,000 mark. The pivot in messaging tells you more about where Slate’s head is at than the decals do.

Rather than encouraging buyers to piece together individual options, Slate has created curated packages aimed at different tastes. Among the first themes are Baja Blaze, All Green Flags, and Rally Point, each featuring a different combination of exterior graphics, wheel decals, and accessories intended to give the truck a distinct look. The move sounds a lot like Ford’s recent idea to sell limited-edition vehicles curated to be like sneaker drops.

Read: Carvana May Have A Foot In Bezos’s Slate Auto Already

The company pitches the idea with the slogan, “Big Looks. Not So Big Price,” emphasizing that buyers should be able to own a vehicle that stands out without “setting your wallet on fire.” While the Blank Slate still carries its advertised starting price of $24,950, the email notes that every featured starter pack keeps the total below $29,000 before destination charges, taxes, registration, and other fees.

Although the email doesn’t detail exactly what’s included in every package, the approach simplifies what could otherwise be an overwhelming customization process. Slate truly offers a huge list of available options. It’s a major part of what the brand is selling, and that’s personalization.

Perhaps more interesting than the accessories themselves is what Slate chooses to emphasize. The email makes no mention of horsepower, driving range, payload, or performance. Instead, it focuses almost entirely on affordability and self-expression. That’s probably a wise play given that for $29,000 or a little less, traditional trucks like the Ford Maverick are quite a lot more capable, albeit in gas-burning form. That said, we expect Ford’s upcoming sub-$30K EV pickup to put even more pressure on Slate.

Photos Slate Auto

Slate has built its entire pitch around simplicity, affordability and endless customization. Those goals sound great together, but spend just a few minutes in the company’s online configurator, and you’ll discover they can also work against each other.

It’s already easy to question the truck’s value compared to the Ford Maverick, but start checking option boxes without much restraint, and the budget-friendly EV suddenly looks a lot less like a bargain.

More: Carvana May Have A Foot In Bezos’s Slate Auto Already

The startup’s electric pickup starts at $24,950 before destination charges, but that’s only the beginning. Buyers wanting something more practical than the standard pickup can choose either the Squareback SUV conversion for $29,950 or the Fastback SUV for $31,950, both of which add a bed cap and rear seating. From there, it’s remarkably easy to inflate the sticker price.

The Accessory Rabbit Hole

Slate’s business model revolves around personalization, and the accessory catalog is extensive. Exterior wraps alone can add $1,599.99, while decorative decals, auxiliary lighting, roof racks, fender flares, alternate grilles, spare tire carriers, and upgraded 20-inch wheels all pile onto the total. The configurator even lets buyers choose whimsical graphics, including faux business branding, alongside more traditional racing stripes.

The interior follows the same philosophy. Buyers can add a center console, upgraded armrests, storage accessories, floor mats, and optional speakers because the truck doesn’t come with a traditional audio system as standard. A front-center speaker costs $249.99, while additional dash speakers add another $149.99. Even the dashboard-mounted tablet, which serves as the infotainment interface, a feature that will no doubt be popular, still doesn’t have a published price.

Also: Ford’s New $30K EV Truck Barely Clears An Expedition’s Shoulder

As Car and Driver found, and as we confirmed ourselves, stack enough of those accessories together and the math changes dramatically. A fully optioned Fastback SUV sailed past $46,000. Ours hit $46,607.49, to be exact, and you still have to crank your windows by hand, at least until the electric kit Slate has hinted at actually shows up. Keep in mind, there are some more exotic options like a lift kit, off-road tires, and more that aren’t priced or available yet, so the figure will go up. Importantly, none of this is a criticism of the strategy.

The Upside Of Paying For It

Pretty much every legacy brand boasts about all the customization buyers can do, but none of them come close to this. Slate lets customers choose exactly where to spend their money without hiding unique features behind a giant trim upgrade. Someone who simply wants a basic electric pickup can still buy one at the advertised starting price, while enthusiasts can build something far more distinctive.

That all said, it’s an important reminder that while a $24,950 truck makes headlines, the price out the door can be dramatically higher.

Photos: Slate Auto