The What Van? Road Test: Peugeot Expert

Date: Tuesday, September 19, 2017   |   Author: Steve Banner

 

Operating

The Expert comes with a three-year/100,000-mile warranty with no mileage limit in the first two years. Roadside assistance is included for the first 12 months. Service intervals are set at two years/25,000 miles. We averaged around 47.0mpg, some way behind the official combined fuel economy figure of 53.3mpg.

Remember, though, that official fuel figures seldom give an accurate indication of a van’s real-world economy and should be taken with several very large pinches of salt.

Detail Wheel

Stop/start, meanwhile, helped to keep fuel usage down. Set low down on the van’s sides, side-rubbing strips should help protect the body and its metallic paint – standard with Professional Plus – from minor damage. Like the mirror casings, bumpers and door handles, they were colour-keyed to match the rest of the vehicle.

A full-size spare wheel is provided – always better in our view than an inflator with sealant. Finally, included in the deal is an alarm, along with remote central-locking with deadlocks and separate locking for the cab.

Peugeot Expert Professional Plus Standard BlueHDi 150 1400kg
Price (ex VAT) £24,265
Price range (ex VAT) £18,315-£27,365
Gross payload 1,484kg
Load length 2,512mm
Load width (min/max) 1,258/1,628mm
Load bay height 1,397mm
Load volume 5.3m3
Loading height 544mm
Rear door aperture 1,282 x 1,220mm
Side door aperture 935 x 1,241mm
Gross vehicle weight 3,100kg
Braked trailer towing weight 2,500kg
Residual value 19.5%
Cost per mile 47.4p
Engine size 1997cc, 150hp @ 4,000rpm
Torque 370Nm @ 2,000rpm
Gearbox 6-spd
Fuel economy 53.3mpg (combined)
Fuel tank 70 litres
CO2 139g/km
Warranty 3yrs/100,000mls
Service intervals 2yrs/25,000mls
Insurance group 38E
Price as tested £26,490

Options fitted: Connect Nav, Driver Assist Pack and Head-Up Display (£1,375), Safety Pack; Lane Departure Warning (£700), Grip Control (£550), Automatic dual-zone air-conditioning (£500).

 Screen Shot 2017-09-19 At 15.01.18

Rivals

Ford Transit Custom

  • Price (ex VAT) £20,395-£31,545
  • Load volume 6.0-8.3m3
  • Gross payload 674-1,474kg
  • Engine 105hp, 130hp, 170hp 2.0 diesel


The Transit Custom is the one to beat: handling, ride and performance are all first-rate, RVs are rock-solid, and Ford dealers abound. Check out the new auto, and a revamped Custom was about to be unveiled at the time of writing.

Vauxhall Vivaro

  • Price (ex VAT) £20,620-£27,770
  • Load volume 5.2-8.6m3
  • Gross payload 9,89-1280kg
  • Engine 95hp, 120hp, 125hp, 145hp 1.6 diesel

British-made and proud of it, the Vivaro rides and handles well, doesn’t lack performance and contains one or two thoughtful ideas. It also shares the same design as Renault’s Trafic, Nissan’s NV300 and Fiat Professional’s Talento.

Volkswagen Transporter

  • Price (ex VAT) £19,290-£38,920
  • Load volume 5.8-9.3m3
  • Gross payload 718-1,274kg
  • Engine 84hp, 102hp, 150hp, 204hp 2.0 diesel

Forget about its unadventurous looks – the Transporter is built to an astonishingly high standard, offers praiseworthy levels of safety, is enjoyable to drive and is a cost-effective and durable workhorse.

 



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