Like the 1934 Citroën Traction Avant, the H had a unitary body with no separate frame, front independent suspension, and front-wheel drive.

For a commercial van, this combination provided unique benefits: a flat floor very close to the ground, and 6 ft (180 cm) standing height.

At the Slough Trading Estate assembly facility (1926–1966), Citroën UK built a very small number of right-hand-drive versions.

[2] The German market, however, was supplied by key competitors: the direct rival Volkswagen Type 2, and the also-front-drive DKW Schnellaster minivan.

While the derated "Traction Avant" four-cylinder engine and the unsophisticated three-speed gearbox (non-synchromesh on first gear) offered only a modest top speed of just under 100 km/h, the chassis and suspension layout provided good roadholding qualities for a van of the era, especially on the short-wheelbase version: low-slung chassis, with very little overhang, combined with sophisticated totally independent suspensions (the front using double torsion bars instead of conventional coil springs).

[2] Period brochures sometimes refer to the 11D engine producing 50 hp (37 kW); many sources indicate that power increased gradually throughout the 1950s as the quality of petrol and raw materials improved.

The new engine produced 45 hp SAE (33 kW) at 4,200 rpm, which allowed for a higher top speed while also reducing the tax burden (down to 9CV) and improving fuel economy by 15–20 percent.

The bonnet was modified to give two additional rectangular air intakes at the lower edges, one for a heater, the other a dummy for symmetry.

Vintage H vans are still a common sight in Europe and in cosmopolitan cities around the world, serving as stylish food trucks evoking a retro continental image.

[10] Italian coachbuilder Fabrizio Caselani of FC Automobili has resurrected the classic design in honor of the H van's 70th anniversary in 2017, and produces a body kit based on the modern Fiat Ducato/Citroën Jumper/Ram ProMaster X290 platform, and a smaller HG version based on the Citroën Jumpy PSA EMP2 platform, both under license from Citroën.