Peugeot Expert 120 test Review: Mark Bursa
Peugeot Expert 120 L2 H1
What is it?
Long-bodied version of Peugeot’s ‘midi’ van, which slots into its range between the Partner and Boxer. It’s a bit smaller and more car-like than the Boxer, and its main rivals such as the Ford Transit and Vauxhall Vivaro. It’s part of the joint venture between Peugeot-Citroen and Fiat, so it’s essentially the same van as the Citroen Dispatch and the Fiat Scudo.
What’s hot?
- The size is a very useful compromise – bigger than a Ford Transit Connect, but smaller than a Ford Transit
- Second-generation Peugeot Expert is bigger than the original, and long-body version has substantially more loadspace
- Load bed is more than 2.5m long, and access is excellent via asymmetric rear doors and two sliding side doors
- Metal bulkhead reduces cab noise, and we like the separately lockable load area
- Very stable, predictable handling on the road. Solid on the cruise…
- ….and manoeuvrable around town. It’s probably the biggest van that genuinely drives like a car
- Our test van had an excellent sat-nav system, one of the best we’ve seen on a van…
- …with big screen and 3D views, plus it’s well sited in the driver’s eye line
- Plenty of deep storage pockets in the cab, though it could do with a few mobile phone-sized pockets
- Six-speed manual gearbox is long-legged, giving good fuel economy, especially on a long run
- We achieved 35.8mpg over mixed roads, with an average speed of 36mph – close to quoted 38.2mpg
- On a run, you should get 44.1mpg, Peugeot claims – not bad for a 6cu m load lugger
- The Peugeot Expert’s 80-litre fuel tank gives a hefty range of more than 700 miles
What’s not?
- The 120PS engine is tuned for economy, not for speed, so the Peugeot Expert is perhaps a little sluggish away from the lights when laden…
- …but hefty torque of 300Nm peaks at 2,000rpm, so mid-range overtaking performance is excellent
- Gearshift is a little closely spaced – it’s easy to find fourth when you’re after sixth
- Interior finish is heavy on the grey plastic
- Cab is a three-seater, though it’s a tight squeeze for three hefty blokes!
- The nose of the van is long – so take care in restricted car parks!
What you need to Know
P11D Value: | £17,970 |
Monthly Rental: * | £n/a |
What will it be worth: ** | £n/a |
GVW: | 2,932kg |
Payload: | 1,188kg |
Loadspace Volume: | 6.0cu m |
Basic Loadspace Dimensions: | 2,586mm long x 1,602mm wide x 1,450mm high |
Engine: | 2.0-litre tubrbodiesel |
CO2 Emissions: | 196g/km |
Power/torque: | 120PS/300Nm @ 2,000rpm |
Economy: | 38.2mpg combined; 30.1mpg urban |
*Monthly contract hire rentals generated by Concept Vehicle Leasing. Based on a 36 month lease at 10,000 miles a year, 3+35 payments.
** Trade value of van if purchased after three years and 60,000 miles. (Powered by Deltapoint)
Business Van Manager Road Test Rating
The Peugeot Expert – along with its Fiat Scudo and Citroen Dispatch siblings, occupies a niche in the market between the compact vans and the full-sized panel vans such as the Ford Transit. And that means it could be just right for your business. It’s a good compromise between car-like driveability and panel van practicality – it’s manoeuvrable round town and stable on a motorway run. We like the added practicality of the long-body version too, with wide side doors and a well-finished load liner.
Also Consider: Fiat Scudo; Citroen Dispatch; Toyota Hiace; Hyundai iLoad