Review of the new Peugeot Expert

Ultimately, all vans are hostage to their own dimensions. If the things you need to shift won't fit inside, no matter how adeptly it drives or how stylish it looks, that model is going to be a non-starter. Passenger car buyers will put up with a world of practical inconvenience if it means they can swan about in a slinky two-seater but the essence of a van is its practicality and if it can't do the job, it isn't much use to anyone. Such issues were obviously central in Peugeot's thinking during the development of the latest Expert van. A wide range of body and payload options make it more suitable to more operators than the model it replaced.

The old Expert was a small panel van on two counts. First, it competed in the small panel van sector - a class of littler load-luggers that sits below large panel vans like Peugeot's own Boxer and above the various compact vans characterised by the Peugeot Partner. Second, even by small panel van standards, it was small. The modest size of the old Expert had its advantages. It was wieldy and refreshingly car-like to drive, but with rivals offering considerably more carrying capacity, it was always condemned to operate at the bottom end of the sector, appealing to operators who could manage with its 4m3 load volume. With this Expert, Peugeot changed all that. There's a variety of bodystyles and payload options in a range that gives the level of choice customers expect from a modern panel van.

Load volumes range from 5m3 to 7m3 thanks to two different load lengths and a pair of roof heights. Then there are two gross payloads, 1,000kg and 1,200kg, which compare favourably to the old Expert's 800kg and 900kg options. With window van, Combi minibus and platform cab options also available, the Expert has the kind of diversity in its line-up to meet a wide spectrum of different operator requirements.

"Peugeot's HDi common-rail diesel engines are well-suited to commercial vehicle duties"

The loadbay itself is usefully square in shape with minimal wheelarch intrusion. It can accommodate a 2,260mm loading length in the short wheelbase Expert and 2,600mm in the long wheelbase van. Heaving weighty cargo aboard is made easier by a low 570mm rear loading sill height and if you do a lot of heaving in your line of work, the pneumatic suspension option can reduce this further, dropping down as low as 450mm. All the usual lashing eyes and fixing points of racking systems are present and correct with access available through the symmetrically split side-hinged rear doors or sliding side doors. A lifting tailgate is available as an option.

Peugeot's HDi common-rail diesel engines are well-suited to commercial vehicle duties, something they've proven over many years of service in various LCV products, and the Expert has three of them. The 1.6-litre 90bhp engine powers the entry level models and should prove very fuel-efficient mated to a five-speed manual gearbox. It may prove a touch weedy for some tastes, however, and anyone planning on utilising the Expert's full load carrying capacity would be well advised to step up to one of the 2.0-litre HDi units which come with a six-speed gearbox.

The 120bhp 2.0HDi option develops a hearty 225Nm maximum torque output from 2,000rpm and this will pay dividends compared to the 135Nm available in the 1.6-litre models. The range-topping unit has 136bhp and 240Nm at 2,000rpm making it a strong performer even though it still lacks the brute force to challenge the real heavy hitters in the sector. More than their power and performance, the real strength of these HDi powerplants is their refinement. The engine note is smooth and minimal vibrations find their way into the cab but if you really want a quiet life, get a model with the optional bulkhead fitted.

The styling cues carried over from its Boxer big brother are obvious as soon as you clap eyes on the Expert. Like the Boxer, the van is fruit of Peugeot's commercial vehicle partnership with Citroen and Fiat, so versions of it are also available from these manufacturers badged respectively as the Dispatch and Scudo. Viewed in profile, the Expert has more of a snout on it than the stub nosed Boxer but the huge Peugeot trademark headlamps and the horizontally split grille will ring bells with owners of the larger van. The windscreen is steeply raked creating a wedge-shaped front end with thick rubbing strips protecting the flanks and the tail lights mounted high up to help avoid costly parking knocks.

The cab area has plenty of space and a good array of storage options with tough plastics used to enhance the longevity of the fixtures and fittings. Standard equipment levels are about what you'd expect from a panel van in this sector - sparse. But this helps to keep the cost down and drivers shouldn't feel too hard done by. Electric windows, a CD stereo, twin sliding side doors and a steering column that adjusts for height and reach all make the cut. If you want an Expert with all the mod cons, you can have one courtesy of an options list that's bristling with the likes of air-conditioning, speed limiting cruise control, rear parking sensors, satellite navigation, a Bluetooth hands free kit, the pneumatic rear suspension and ESP stability control. Obviously though, such fripperies will bump the Expert's attractive pricing up to levels at which more expensive rivals may look more appealing.

Now with a model range of the required breadth to challenge for sales across the whole of the small panel van sector, the Peugeot Expert should get a lot more attention from buyers. The always impressive HDi diesel engines are a strong suit and the cab offers plenty of storage space, even if it lacks the quality feel and consistency of design that the class best can muster. With all this, tight pricing and the attractive styling thrown-in, there's little doubt that the Expert will provide the answer to many operators' panel van needs.