Peugeot calls in the Expert

By Michael Moroney

Peugeot vans have always been popular on the Irish market, and the growing range has raised the awareness of van users. This year, the Expert range - built in association with Citroen and Fiat - received a significant upgrade. Now Peugeot offers some special features to make the Expert stand out. Michael Moroney has taken an Expert test and delivers his verdict.

Peugeot called in the combined expertise of Citroen and Fiat for the overall design of the new Expert van range. There's an obvious similarity between the design of the Peugeot Expert, Citroen Dispatch and the Fiat Scudo van; they all come from the same factory but there are differences other than the badge. I've had the long wheelbase Peugeot Expert on the road in recent weeks to get a feel for the special features of the Peugeot offering. My first impressions were that, compared with the older model, this is an attractive van, with the Peugeot badge up front enhancing its looks.

Van buyers are usually business people who look for results over cosmetics so some technical features provide the insight into the Expert's attractions. This van compares very well with the older model it replaces. It provides more options and more space, and is packed with better driver and safety features.

The new Expert now provides a choice of body sizes and a short wheelbase or long wheelbase version. The load length ranges from 2255mm to 2586mm, which is over 200mm longer than the previous model. In volume terms, that means that the new van offers one cubic metre of extra space in the standard short wheelbase version. Longer wheelbase versions and the new higher roof model offer even more capacity. And the new Expert is wider too. The load area increases from a maximum of 1430mm to 1602mm, giving ample space for use of standard Euro pallets. This facility is enhanced by the fact that sliding side doors are fitted to each side and, combined with 180 degree side-opening rear doors, the mast of a forklift is not compromised.

The payload capacity of the Expert has also been improved. Compared with the older model, the capacity has been increased by 30% from 900kg to 1200kg. These all help to make the van more productive and ensure that it pays for itself each working day.

With all of this capacity, can the Expert match it ambitions in terms of power? The test van that I had came with a newly enhanced 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine. This engine has been jointly developed by PSA (the owners of Citroen and Peugeot) in association with Ford. There is a 1.6-litre turbo-diesel engine also in the range.

The test van was fitted with the 120bhp version of the engine. A higher powered version (136bhp) is available. The 120bhp engine was no slouch when it came to power. This engine is 10% more powerful than the model it replaces and boasts 37% more torque. The result is impressive acceleration even with a full load on board.

Peugeot has made the new Expert a comfort to drive. The standard equipment includes ABS, brake assist, driver's airbag, driver and passenger seat belt reminder, remote central locking with three plips, stalk remote stereo and in-dash CD player, electric windows and door mirrors, driver's seat reach/rake adjustment, passenger seat rake adjustment, steering wheel height/reach adjustment and automatic door locking once travelling over 10km/hr. These are all features that you expect in a standard car, but are often missing from the van lines.

Van features that enhance the driver's life include a full steel bulkhead with window to keep an eye on the load, 12v power socket, a twin passenger seat, rear load illumination, and a large parcel shelf over driver and passenger. The van driver can lock or unlock the rear load area independently of the passenger cab, either remotely by using the three button remote control key or from the driving position.

One of the Peugeot innovations is the new Expert is the pneumatic rear suspension. It makes it possible to lower the overall height of the van to 1894mm. This feature improves loading and gives the vehicle a constant ride height whatever the load. It also allows the van to have access to many underground car parks. A manual control can be used to adjust the load height when stationary.

Another priority for van owners is running costs. The new Expert models come with a 32,000km service interval compared with 16,000km for the previous models. That's another cost saving for the economy conscious van owner.

Prices for the Expert range start from €17,777 excluding VAT and dealer delivery related charges, or from €21,500 plus VAT and delivery (or stg£16,869 in Northern Ireland). This is slightly more expensive than the related Citroen Dispatch model and the new Fiat Scudo version, but comes with a higher specification. Dimensions and performance will be much the same depending on the make selected, so in this case it will pay to shop around and make real value comparisons.