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0800 027 3923 Here to chat: Mon-Friday 9am - 8pm For many tradespeople, delivery drivers, and fleet operators, the van cab isn’t just a seat, it’s the office, break room, and admin hub.
The right cab layout can reduce fatigue, speed up job planning, and streamline paperwork. On the other hand, a poorly thought-out cab becomes a friction point: devices without a charging point, nowhere to put paperwork, awkward seating positions, and general clutter.
Historically, the Citroën Relay was respected for durability and payload, not interior refinement. The pre-2024 Relay had a tough, wipe-clean interior that could handle muddy boots and site debris, but comfort and workspace practicality were secondary.
With the 2024-onwards redesign, Citroën shifts the Relay into a new zone, transforming the cab into a connected workspace with enhanced ergonomics, improved storage, and digital tools designed for real working days.
This guide compares the cab of the pre-2024 Relay vs. the new model, highlighting what’s changed and why it matters.
The pre-2024 Citroën Relay cab was engineered with one priority: durability. Hard-wearing plastics, wipe-clean surfaces, and a non-slip floor covering allowed the cab to withstand muddy boots, tools, and the general abuse that comes with trade and site work. It was a space built to cope, not a space built to support admin or long hours in the seat.
Seating offered the essentials. The driver’s seat had manual adjustments, height, rake, lumbar and reach and the dual-bench passenger seat meant three adults could squeeze in if needed. But ergonomics ended there. The cab provided somewhere to sit, not somewhere to work.
Infotainment followed the same philosophy of practicality over convenience. Depending on trim, you either had a basic radio or a small 5-inch display with Bluetooth and USB connectivity. It was fine for pairing a phone or playing music, but it didn’t offer the digital tools, large screen, or workspace-friendly software that modern van drivers increasingly rely on for route planning and admin.
Storage was present but limited. Cupholders, a glovebox, and a few dashboard trays offered places to drop paperwork, a phone, or loose items, but the layout lacked anything resembling a dedicated work zone. Drivers often had to improvise, using whatever flat surface they could find.
Key strengths of the older cab:
Limitations:
In short: the 2023 Relay cab worked for driving and transport, but it wasn’t designed to be a workspace. Comfort, connectivity and productivity features were modest, reflecting practicality over the idea of a mobile office.
The 2024-onwards Citroën Relay cab marks a clear shift from utility-focused to workspace-ready. While the pre-2024 cab delivered toughness and practicality, the new generation blends durability with features crafted for drivers who do more than drive, they work inside their van. The model introduces “My Citroën Play Plus featuring 10″ colour touchscreen … Apple CarPlay™, Android Auto and steering wheel-mounted controls”.
Citroën now offers:
Overall: the 2024 Relay transforms the cab from a space where paperwork is merely tolerated into a workspace where tasks can be completed more comfortably and efficiently. It feels less like a commercial van and more like a purpose-built mobile workstation.
| Category | Pre-2024 Relay | Post-2024 Relay | Real-world benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infotainment | Small 5″ screen or basic radio (no touchscreen on some trims). | Up to 10″ touchscreen + full digital instrument cluster. | Easier job planning, route updates, and digital paperwork. |
| Workspace surface | Basic fold-down desk built into dual passenger bench. Useful but limited and surrounded by minimal storage. | The fold-down desk remains, and the updated model brings a cabin layout that places more emphasis on organised storage. | A true workstation instead of “just a flat surface.” |
| Seating ergonomics | Manual height / rake / lumbar / reach adjustment only. | Same adjustments plus improved dashboard ergonomics and optional armrest on more trims. | Reduces fatigue and improves comfort over long shifts. |
| Storage layout | Basic: glovebox, cupholders, small dashboard bins. | Up to 10 in-cab storage areas (dash bins, overhead shelf, under-seat storage). | Keeps devices, paperwork, and tools organised — less clutter. |
| Connectivity | Standard USB + 12V socket. Basic phone pairing. | Upgraded with USB-C ports and optional wireless phone charging (on Technology Pack/Special trims). | Charge laptops/phones faster, fewer cables/adapters needed. |
| Noise & vibration | Higher cabin noise reported by reviewers; standard suspension mounts. | Revised shock-absorber mountings reduce vibration and bump noise. | A quieter place to work and drive; less mental fatigue. |
| Digital tools & controls | Analogue dials + small 5″ screen, basic buttons. | Digital cluster (on selected trims) + up to 10″ touchscreen with shortcut widgets. | Feels like a modern workstation, faster to operate while driving. |
For many drivers, the cab isn’t just somewhere to sit, it’s where planning, phone calls, paperwork, route changes, and breaks all happen. When the space is designed for work rather than just driving, admin tasks become quicker to handle, clutter is reduced, and productivity naturally improves.
But productivity isn’t the only demand placed on the cab. Drivers still spend long hours in the seat, and the cab has to remain comfortable and supportive throughout the day. When the cab helps the driver stay comfortable and reduces strain, it becomes easier to maintain focus over long shifts, and that’s when safety comes into play. The 2024 Relay supports drivers with the new Relay safety and driver-support system, helping maintain focus during long shifts.
That combination of comfort, practicality, and support makes a measurable difference to how efficiently a working day unfolds. The latest Relay’s cab contributes in four key ways:
Both the 2023 and 2024 Relay offer height, rake, lumbar and reach adjustment on the driver’s seat, but the newer model improves how the cab supports the driver during a full shift. The dashboard and controls have been redesigned for better ergonomics, with key functions placed closer to hand, and an optional armrest now offered on more trims. These refinements mean drivers sit more naturally, spend less time stretching or twisting for controls, and finish the day feeling less drained. This focus on reducing fatigue is part of a wider industry shift, modern vans are being designed with driver wellbeing as a measurable goal. The Transit Custom is a good example, as Ford highlighted fatigue-reducing cab design in the 2023 model.
The previous (2023) Relay did offer a fold-down desk built into the dual-passenger seat, a useful touch that allowed drivers to rest paperwork or a device on a small flat surface.
However, the workspace was basic and surrounded by limited storage, meaning documents and devices often ended up on the floor, in footwells, or balanced awkwardly on the dashboard.
In the 2024 redesign, the idea of “a flat surface to lean on” has evolved into a practical workstation. The fold-down desk remains, but the cab is reorganised around it: improved storage areas, overhead compartments, and better-positioned bins mean laptops, delivery notes, tools, and chargers have a dedicated place to live. The improved layout helps keep the workspace tidy and reduces the time spent shuffling items around between jobs.
With the fold-down worktable, organised storage, and intuitive layout, switching from “driving mode” to “admin mode” only takes a moment. Drivers can complete paperwork, update digital job sheets, or send invoices right there in the cab, while the details are still fresh.
Those saved minutes across each job quickly add up to hours across a week, reducing downtime and shortening turnaround between jobs. This reduces the old routine of returning to the office at the end of the day just to finish admin, saving time and shortening each job’s turnaround.
The updated Relay benefits from revised shock-absorber mounts designed to reduce vibration transmitted into the cab. With less road noise, engine drone and vibration entering the cabin, the space feels noticeably calmer. A quieter driving environment means the driver isn’t constantly processing background noise, which reduces cognitive load and helps maintain focus on the road without feeling mentally drained.
In conclusion, the 2024-onwards Citroën Relay changes the role of the cab. Earlier versions of the Relay prioritised durability and transport, offering only basic infotainment and limited workspace features. The updated model introduces a cab layout that acknowledges how drivers work today: digital tools for planning and admin, organised storage surrounding the fold-down worktable, and improved ergonomics that make day-to-day tasks easier to handle from the driver’s seat.
Reviewers also report revised shock-absorber mountings, designed to reduce suspension bump and vibration felt inside the cab. While this improves perceived ride comfort, some tests still note a firm feel when the van is unladen, a common trade-off in large commercial vans.
Overall, the 2024 Relay does not turn the cab into a luxury environment, but it does make it more usable as a working space. The focus shifts from “somewhere to put paperwork” to “a cab layout that supports admin and planning as part of the working day.” Alongside comfort and usability, many businesses also evaluate what safety features commercial vehicles should use, particularly when drivers spend long hours working from the cab, as these features now play a key role in reducing risk and supporting driver wellbeing over the full working day.