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New Car Road Test | Peugeot Expert

YOUR RIGHT HAND VAN?

With style and size on its side, the third generation Peugeot Expert is ready to do battle with the small panel van sector's big hitters. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Review

With style, size and technology now on its side, the improved version of Peugeot's third generation Expert has much to offer if you're looking for a versatile medium range mid-sized van. There are diesel and full-EV versions on offer.

Background

Want a job done properly? Then call in an Expert. In this case, we're talking LCVs, medium-sized ones to be exact. This is Peugeot's entry in the volume medium-range van sector, where VW Transporters, Vauxhall Vivaros, Mercedes Vitos, Renault Trafics and Ford Transit Custom models rule the roost. Taking on this lot isn't something you'd want to do single-handed, so the French brand has chosen to share this design not only with its partner Citroen's Dispatch model, but also with Vauxhall's Vivaro, Toyota's Proace and Fiat's Scudo: all these vans share the same platform.

Earlier generation versions of this vehicle didn't significantly trouble the main players in this segment. This MK3 'K0'-series model though, launched back in 2016, got itself sorted out, with more sophisticated design and larger load volumes that still rival anything in the class. A full-EV version, the E-Expert, arrived in 2020 and the whole range was usefully updated in early 2024 to create the LCV we're going to look at here. You get clever design, proven powertrains and low running costs in a package that certainly works on paper. Whether it'll cut the mustard day-in-day-out though is what we're here to find out.

Driving Experience

Engine choice in an Expert is pretty straightforward, provided you've a clear idea of the kind of work you want it to do. Sensibly, all the combustion engines on offer are diesels and if your needs are mainly based around lighter loads and short distance urban work, then the entry-level 120hp 1.5-litre BlueHDi unit may well be quite sufficient. Otherwise, you'll probably be looking at the 145hp 2.0-litre BlueHDi diesel, either in manual or EAT8 auto forms. There's additionally a full-electric version, the E-Expert, which now comes only with a 75kWh battery and offers a 217 miles range (6 miles more than before).

Previous generation Experts have usually been compact and wieldy in the manner of smaller, more car-like vans from the class below. This model's bigger of course, but it retains much of that same usability around town and rides well thanks to well-judged damping and a stiff EMP2 platform. Special wishbone filtering dampens the impacts of our country's terrible tarmac and the variable stiffness springs and shock absorbers deliver surprising levels of comfort whether the vehicle is loaded or unloaded.

Refinement is also impressive for an LCV - and of course even better in the E-Expert. With this full-EV, there's a drive-mode selector that allows you to switch between 'Eco', 'Normal' and 'Sport' modes. The 'Normal' setting restricts you to 109hp and will feel a bit like driving a lower capacity diesel. 'Eco' mode restricts you further to 81.5hp and reduces the power consumption of the air conditioning and other accessories. If you want the full 136hp of the electric motor, selecting 'Sport' mode unlocks it. There's also a gearshift selector 'B' option that ploughs extra regenerated energy back into the battery, offering more resistance while you're slowing down.

Design and Build

This improved Expert gets some subtle visual changes, including a redesigned front grille with the latest Peugeot emblem. Plusher 'Asphalt'-trimmed versions are set apart by LED headlights and body-coloured bumpers with 17-inch wheel trims. As before, there are low side protection strips and the solid front bumper integrates air inlets across the entire width of the vehicle, aiming to emphasise what Peugeot hopes is a robust appearance.

In the cab, Peugeot has redesigned the dashboard for this facelifted model, mainly to incorporate a larger 10-inch touchscreen, which has a new 'OK Peugeot' ChatGPT-assisted voice system. There's now a 10-inch digital instrument cluster too. As with other versions of this design, the interior isn't the most spacious you'll find in the segment and doesn't feel it, partly thanks to the high waistline. There's quite a low seating position (for a van), with plenty of seat and wheel adjustment. As usual in this class, a three-person bench seat is fitted and with pricier trim (or as an option), there's a Moduwork bulkhead flap so that longer items can be pushed through from the cargo area.

That set-up comes together with a fold-down section for the centre seat that when flattened, doubles as a work surface. The dashboard is almost identical to that you'll find in the other versions of this design, which means that most functions are on the central touchscreen, though the climate controls are separated out below.

Go for the E-Expert and there are a few cabin changes. In place of the rev counter, you get an energy gauge for the battery. The gear lever meanwhile, gets replaced by a drive selector for switching between the various driving modes. The centre infotainment screen has a Power Flow option which shows you at any given time what's being powered by what. A fuel gauge is provided but of course the purpose here is to show the remaining battery capacity. The water temperature gauge from the diesel Expert is replaced by one showing energy consumption by the climate control system.

Market and Model

Basic list pricing suggests that you'll probably be paying somewhere in the £27,000 to £31,000 bracket for a diesel Expert, depending upon the bodystyle and trim level you choose. As well as the usual panel van, there is a Crew Van option. Van customers get a choice of 'Standard' or 'Long' body lengths. Trim levels start with 'Professional', then run to 'Asphalt'. Buyers choose between two BlueHDi diesel engines - a 1.5 or a 2.0-litre unit with an automatic option. There's a full-electric E-Expert EV version too, which now has to be had with a 75kWh battery and prices from around £36,000 after deduction of the available £5,000 government grant.

All Expert van models are decently equipped. Base 'Professional' spec now includes a redesigned Mistral Black dashboard and a heated driver's seat as standard, while there's a 10-inch digital instrument cluster - plus a 10-inch centre touchscreen enhanced by the 'OK PEUGEOT' natural voice assistant, integrated with ChatGPT. Plusher 'Asphalt' trim adds Peugeot's 'i-Connect Advanced' infotainment system with TomTom 3D Connected Navigation.

As for safety and security kit, well 'Professional' spec gives you the basics - a driver's airbag, electronic stability control, an alarm, a laminated acoustic windscreen and so on. But you'll need plusher 'Asphalt' trim to get a wider range of active safety aids like blind spot monitoring, traffic sign recognition and Lane departure warning. 'Asphalt'-spec models also get navigation, plus body-coloured bumpers, rear parking sensors, a leather multi-function steering wheel and a rear view camera, plus the 'Moduwork' fold-out seat with its seat back table and extra storage (an option with base trim).

Practicalities & Costs

There are two Expert bodystyles - panel van or Crew van (with second row seating). Most will want the panel van, which claims best in class interior space and comes with a choice of 'Standard' and 'Long' variants. As for carriage capacity, the biggest 'Long'-spec van version can take up to 6.6m3, while the 'Standard' version manages 5.8m3. Depending on bodystyle, the loading length is up to 4.02m and there's 1.26m of width between the wheelarches. The 'Standard' model gets 1.90m of interior height, this increasing to 1.94m in the 'Long' variant.

The oblique wishbone rear suspension supports a payload of 1,400kg to make the most of the load volume. There's a towing capacity of up to 2.5-tonnes. Twin sliding side doors are standard and they can be ordered in a form that'll allow you to open them with a wave of your foot - ideal if your hands are full. Most models will be fitted with 50/50 swing doors, and these can be specified to swing round to 250-degrees. Inside the cargo area, there are the usual options to trim up the sides or to add a full ply-lining kit. As for running costs, well depending on BlueHDi diesel engine choice, you'll manage between 45 and 55mpg on the combined cycle and between 133 and 151g/km of CO2.

As for the full-electric model, well the 75kWh battery has a WLTP range of up to 217 miles. The E-Expert is fitted with a 7.4kW onboard charger (with an 11kW three-phase charger available as an option) and can also be charged at up to 100kW on a DC rapid charger. It can be charged by an 7.4Wh wallbox in eleven hours 20 minutes - or in 45 minutes from a 100kW DC public charger.

Summary

Despite the recent growth in sales of ever-larger compact vans, you can see why so many operators still choose to play it safe and opt for a larger but still relatively light and manoeuvrable mid-sized LCV like this one. The Expert's designers have clearly looked very closely at what modern businesses need and this smarter updated version makes even more sense on the balance sheet.

It's more than competitive against the Transit Customs and Renault Trafics of this world, but whether you'd want one over its Citroen, Toyota and Fiat design stablemates will depend as usual much upon the deal that you're offered and the proximity of your local franchise. Still, Peugeot's huge dealer network and tight pricing sets it up nicely here. It's user-friendly - just like this van.

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