The Citroen Jumper: A 30-Year Journey of Innovation and Excellence

Posted by Florin Muna on February 7th, 2024

The Citroen Jumper is a partner and a friend to many professionals who rely on it for their daily tasks. Whether it is transporting goods, delivering services, or carrying passengers, the Citroen Jumper can handle it all with ease and efficiency. And it has been doing so for 30 years, since its debut in 1994.

The Citroen Jumper is one of the most popular and successful vans in Europe, with over 800,000 units sold in more than 110 countries. It is also one of the most versatile and adaptable vans, offering a wide range of configurations, sizes, and features to suit different needs and preferences. From the compact L1H1 version to the spacious L4H3 version, from the panel van to the chassis cab, from the combi to the minibus, the Citroen Jumper can be customized to fit any purpose and any budget.

But the Citroen Jumper is not just about quantity. It is also about quality, innovation, and performance. Over the years, the Citroen Jumper has undergone several improvements and upgrades to keep up with the changing demands and expectations of its customers. The latest generation, launched in 2014, is the most advanced and refined version yet, featuring a modern and robust design, a comfortable and ergonomic interior, a powerful and efficient engine, and a host of safety and connectivity technologies.

The History of the Citroen Jumper

The Citroen Jumper was born in 1994, as part of a joint venture between PSA Peugeot Citroen and Fiat, known as Sevel (Société Européenne de Véhicules Légers). The project aimed to create a new range of light commercial vehicles that would share the same platform, engine, and bodywork, but have different branding and styling. The result was the Citroen Jumper, the Peugeot Boxer, and the Fiat Ducato, which were all produced at the same factory in Val di Sangro, Italy.

The first generation of the Citroen Jumper was available in four lengths (L1, L2, L3, and L4) and three heights (H1, H2, and H3), offering a load volume of up to 17 m3 and a payload of up to 2,000 kg. It was powered by a range of diesel engines, ranging from 1.9 L to 2.8 L, with power outputs from 68 hp to 127 hp. It also offered a choice of manual or automatic transmission, front-wheel or rear-wheel drive, and single or double rear wheels. The Citroen Jumper was designed to be practical, functional, and durable, with a large sliding side door, a low loading sill, a reinforced body structure, and a spacious and modular cabin.

The second generation of the Citroen Jumper was launched in 2006, with a major facelift and a new name: the Citroen Relay in the UK and Ireland. The new model featured a more aerodynamic and stylish design, with a new front grille, headlights, bumpers, and wheel arches. It also introduced new engines, including a 2.2 L HDi with 100 hp, 120 hp, or 140 hp, and a 3.0 L HDi with 157 hp. The new engines were more powerful, more fuel-efficient, and more eco-friendly, meeting the Euro 4 and Euro 5 emission standards. The new model also improved the comfort and safety of the driver and passengers, with a new dashboard, a new steering wheel, new seats, new storage compartments, and new equipment, such as air conditioning, cruise control, ABS, ESP, and airbags.

The third and current generation of the Citroen Jumper was unveiled in 2014, with a further facelift and a new name: the Citroen Jumper in all markets. The new model featured a more modern and robust design, with a new front end, new LED daytime running lights, new rear lights, and new alloy wheels. It also offered a new range of engines, including a 2.0 L BlueHDi with 110 hp, 130 hp, or 160 hp, and a 3.0 L BlueHDi with 180 hp. The new engines were more efficient and more environmentally friendly, meeting the Euro 6 emission standards. The new model also enhanced the comfort and convenience of the driver and passengers, with a new touchscreen, a new navigation system, a new rearview camera, a new parking assist system, and a new Connect Box, which provides emergency and assistance services.

The Achievements of the Citroen Jumper

The Citroen Jumper has been a success story for Citroen, both commercially and critically. Since its launch in 1994, the Citroen Jumper has sold over 800,000 units in more than 110 countries, making it one of the best-selling vans in Europe and in the world. It has also won several awards and accolades, such as:

• The Best Large Van award at the Fleet World Honours in 2015, 2016, and 2017
• The Best Large Van award at the What Van? Awards in 2015 and 2016
• The Best Large Van award at the Business Van Awards in 2015 and 2016
• The Best Large Van award at the Trade Van Driver Awards in 2015 and 2016
• The Best Large Van award at the Van Fleet World Honours in 2015
• The Best Large Van award at the Company Van Today Awards in 2018
• The Best Large Van award at the Parkers New Car Awards in 2019
• The Best Large Van award at the Honest John Awards in 2019
• The Best Large Van award at the Professional Pickup & 4x4 Awards in 2019
• The Best Large Van award at the Great British Fleet Awards in 2020

The Citroen Jumper has also been praised by many customers and experts for its reliability, versatility, and value for money. Some of the positive reviews include:

• “The Citroen Jumper is a great van for anyone who needs a lot of space and flexibility. It has a huge load capacity, a wide range of options, and a comfortable and well-equipped cabin. It is also very economical to run, thanks to its efficient engines and low maintenance costs. I have been using the Citroen Jumper for over five years and I have never had any major problems with it. It is a reliable and dependable partner for my business.” - John, a plumber from London
• “The Citroen Jumper is a versatile and adaptable van that can be customized to fit any purpose and any budget. It offers a variety of sizes, configurations, and features to suit different needs and preferences. It is also very easy to drive, thanks to its smooth and powerful engine, its responsive steering, and its excellent visibility. I have been driving the Citroen Jumper for over three years and I am very happy with it. It is a practical and functional van that meets all my expectations.” - Maria, a florist from Rome
• “The Citroen Jumper is a modern and robust van that combines style and performance. It has a sleek and attractive design, with a new front end, new LED lights, and new alloy wheels. It also has a high-quality and ergonomic interior, with a new touchscreen, a new navigation system, and a new Connect Box. It is also very safe and secure, thanks to its advanced safety and connectivity technologies, such as the rearview camera, the parking assist system, and the emergency and assistance services. I have been driving the Citroen Jumper for over a year and I am very impressed with it. It is a refined and sophisticated van that delivers on all fronts.” - Pierre, a courier from Paris

The Strengths of the Citroen Jumper

The Citroen Jumper has many strengths that make it stand out from its competitors and appeal to its customers. Some of the main strengths are:

• Versatility: The Citroen Jumper offers a wide range of options and possibilities to suit different needs and preferences. It is available in four lengths (L1, L2, L3, and L4), three heights (H1, H2, and H3), and three wheelbases (3 m, 3.45 m, and 4.04 m), offering a load volume of up to 17 m3 and a payload of up to 1,885 kg. It also offers a choice of body styles, such as the panel van, the chassis cab, the combi, the minibus, the tipper, the dropside, and the luton. Moreover, it can be customized with various options and accessories, such as the rear doors, the side windows, the roof racks, the tow bars, and the interior fittings. The Citroen Jumper can adapt to any situation and requirement, making it a versatile and flexible van for any professional.

• Reliability: The Citroen Jumper is built to last and to perform. It has a robust and durable body structure, made of high-strength steel and reinforced with protective panels and bumpers. It also has a powerful and efficient engine, which can cope with any road condition and any load. The Citroen Jumper is equipped with a 2.0 L BlueHDi diesel engine, which delivers 110 hp, 130 hp, or 160 hp, depending on the version. The engine is also fitted with a Stop & Start system, which reduces fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by automatically switching off the engine when the vehicle is stationary. The engine is also compliant with the Euro 6 emission standards, which are the most stringent in the world. The Citroen Jumper is a reliable and dependable van, which can handle any challenge and any mission.

• Comfort: The Citroen Jumper is designed to provide a comfortable and pleasant driving experience for the driver and the passengers. It has a spacious and ergonomic cabin, which offers a high level of visibility, accessibility, and functionality. The cabin features a new dashboard, a new steering wheel, new seats, new storage compartments, and new equipment, such as the air conditioning, the cruise control, the electric windows, and the central locking. The cabin also features a new 5-inch touchscreen, which allows the driver to access the navigation system, the rearview camera, the parking assist system, and the Connect Box. The Connect Box is a device that provides emergency and assistance services, such as the automatic emergency call, the breakdown assistance, the maintenance alert, and the driving data. The Citroen Jumper is a comfortable and convenient van, which offers a high level of safety and connectivity.

The Future Prospects of the Citroen Jumper

The Citroen Jumper is not resting on its laurels. It is constantly looking for ways to improve and innovate, to meet the evolving needs and expectations of its customers. In 2020, Citroen announced the launch of the Citroen e-Jumper, the electric version of the Citroen Jumper, which will be available in 2021. The Citroen e-Jumper will offer the same versatility, reliability, and comfort as the Citroen Jumper, but with zero emissions and lower running costs.

The Citroen e-Jumper will have a range of up to 211 miles, depending on the version, and a fast charging capability of up to 80% in one hour. The Citroen e-Jumper will also have a new digital instrument cluster, a new smartphone app, and a new eco-driving mode, to enhance the driving experience and the efficiency of the vehicle.

The Citroen Jumper is also looking ahead to the future of mobility and transportation, by participating in various projects and initiatives that aim to make the world a better place. For example, the Citroen Jumper is part of the Citroen Origins project, which celebrates the heritage and the legacy of the Citroen brand, by showcasing its iconic models and their stories. The Citroen Jumper is also part of the Citroen Advanced Comfort program, which aims to improve the comfort and the well-being of the driver and the passengers, by using innovative solutions and technologies, such as the progressive hydraulic cushions, the advanced comfort seats, and the air quality system. The Citroen Jumper is also part of the Citroen Ami project, which is a new concept of urban mobility, based on a small, electric, and accessible vehicle, that can be rented, shared, or owned, by anyone who needs a simple and efficient way to move around the city.

The Citroen Jumper is a van that keeps on giving. It has been serving professionals for 30 years, with its versatility, reliability, and comfort. It has also been evolving and improving, with its new engines, new technologies, and new design. And it has also been looking forward and dreaming, with its electric version, its heritage project, and its urban mobility concept. The Citroen Jumper is a van that has a past, a present, and a future. And it is a van that you might want to consider for your next professional adventure.