Bipper: The Big Small Van

Ideal for city centre delivery work, the highly manoeuvrable and easy-to-park Bipper represents an all-new class of light commercial vehicle destined to take the market by storm.

With fuel prices rising every day, customers will be delighted to hear that Peugeot's new baby is available with a frugal 70bhp 1.4-litre HDi diesel engine that can achieve over 62mpg. With only 119g/km of CO2 emissions, the New Bipper is a very environmentally friendly van.

For greater ease of driving in congested urban streets the diesel can optionally be married to a user-friendly 2-tronic automated manual gearbox. A 75bhp 1.4-litre petrol engine is on offer too.

Anybody who needs to shift a bit of weight won't feel short-changed. Bipper can handle loads weighing up to 610kg and it doesn't matter if they happen to be bulky as well as heavy.

Small on the outside but big on the inside, the newcomer boasts a 2.5m3 cargo area. What's more, it can be extended to a roomy 2.8m3 if you specify the optional Multi Flex passenger seat (available in Q4 2008). It folds into the floor, extending maximum load bed length from 1,500mm to an even more generous 2,500mm.

Talking about generosity Peugeot has not stinted on equipment. ABS, a driver's airbag, a radio/CD player, power steering and a load restraint frame behind the driver's seat are all standard.

Opt for the Plus Pack and you get all that along with electric windows, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors and remote central locking with deadlocks.

Customers can pick from a host of handy options. Aside from the Multi Flex passenger seat, the list includes a variety of different bulkheads, sliding side doors for the load area, an alarm, cruise control and air conditioning. That's in addition to Bluetooth connectivity, passenger and side airbags, front fog lights, rear parking sensors, glazed back doors and Electronic Stability Programme.

If you are planning to take your Bipper across rough roads, then order the Tough Pack. It includes raised suspension and a guard beneath the engine to make it less likely that the underside will be damaged by rocks.

Partner Origin

Bipper slots neatly between 207 Van and a familiar friend. Traditionalists will be delighted to hear that despite the launch of the exciting New Partner, they will still be able to obtain the previous model. Marketed under the Partner Origin banner, the sturdy workhouse is on offer with a cost-effective 75bhp 1.6-litre HDi diesel engine, and can handle payloads of either 600kg or 800kg depending on which version you select.

With 3.0m3 to play with, the solidly-built and dependable Partner Origin does not lack carrying space. A driver's airbag, a radio CD player, power steering and a load restraint frame mounted behind the driver are all included in the price, while cost options include a sliding nearside load bay door, remote central locking, electric windows, a variety of bulkheads, cruise control, air conditioning and a passenger airbag.