Peugeot Expert Professional Plus Standard 2.0 BlueHDi 120

What is it?

The Peugeot Expert is Peugeot’s all-new van that’s designed to take on the most popular and established vans such as the Ford Transit Custom and Volkswagen Transporter.

 

Peugeot ExpertBrand new last year, you’ll have no doubt already spotted the Peugeot’s similarity with the Citroen Dispatch and the Toyota Proace, plus they also share the same EMP2 platform and are offered in the same wide variety, including XS, M and XL versions.

We’ve got the range-topping Expert, the 2.0-litre HDi Professional Plus in standard body version, to see how it compares to the established opposition.

What’s hot

  • The Expert’s 2.0-litre BlueHDi diesel engine, which boasts 120bhp and 340Nm of torque, plus the class-leading 53.3mpg figure and 139g/km CO2 emissions figure. On the road, this engine is a solid performer that’s happy to be revved, but offers more low-down torque than out and out power. As a result, you’ll have no problems pulling off from junctions and traffic lights.
  • All Experts are fitted with the 2.0-litre HDi diesel engine and are capable of carrying up to 1,400 kg, which is pretty impressive. Even with light loads the ride is still impressively refined, even on the Professional Plus trims standard fit 17-inch alloys.
  • The Citroen, Toyota and obviously this Peugeot are the same van, but we like the fact that all of these vans have their own specific design cues. In the Peugeot’s case, this includes the specific upright grille, headlights, front air dam and driving lights.
Peugeot Expert

Loadbay can take 1,400kg

  • With the Professional Plus trim’s 17-inch alloys, body-colour bumpers and metallic paint, the Expert looks upmarket and modern.
  • We’ve remarked before, when we’ve driven the Citroen and Toyota sister vans, what an excellent, car-like driving position they have and the Peugeot is the same. There’s also the benefit of a head-up display, that’s part of the Driver Assist Pack that was fitted to this van and projects the speed on to the windscreen.
  • With the big wing mirrors, all-round visibility is generally good. However, in top Professional Plus trim, the Expert owner will also benefit from standard fit Park Assist. This consists of front and rear parking sensors and a rear parking camera.
  • Peugeot reckon most Expert buyers will go for the Professional trim, which includes such niceties as air-conditioning, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors and electric front windows. The range-topping Professional Plus trim adds alloys, metallic paint and colour-coding we’ve already mentioned, plus, automatic lights and windscreen wipers and electric folding heated door mirrors.
  • In Medium form, the Expert shares the same 3,275mm wheelbase as the Long, with 5.3m3 load capacity. However, if it’s fitted with the clever Moduwork load through the bulkhead and seat, loads can come through into the cabin on the passenger side and increase load space to 5.8m3.
  • We like the solidly made, no frills approach to the Expert’s interior – it feels made to do hard work. Our test Expert was fitted with the Easy Entry Pack, which admittedly is costly at £1,350.
  • However, we reckon it’s a worthwhile option for the convenience it gives. By waggling your foot under the rear bumper, the side doors open – great if you’re carrying big parcels
  • Along with the impressive fuel economy, the Peugeot Expert will be cheap to run with long 20,000-mile service intervals.

Whats not

  • The Expert is no Transit Custom, so don’t expect as much of an involving drive, with woolly steering and clunky gear change.
  • We like the Expert’s dashboard design, but we take issue with some of the ergonomics. For example the heater controls are low down the dashboard and are difficult to read without taking your eyes off the road. Plus we’d also question the position of the start/stop button which is on the left hand side of the steering column, when logically it should be on the right!
  • Is a start/stop button on the Expert really necessary? They are usually fitted as part of a keyless system, but with this Peugeot van, you still have to get the fob out of your pocket to lock and unlock it.
  • The Expert seems a safe van, it’s just a shame that so many of the clever features are expensive options.

The Verdict

Like the Toyota and Citroen version of this van we’ve driven before, the Peugeot Expert is a massive leap forward over the previous model. It looks good and should prove to be cheap to run with impressive economy and long service intervals.

We just wish it was better to drive and that some of the clever features were standard rather than options.

Lowdown on the

Peugeot Expert Professional Plus Standard 2.0 BlueHDi 120

On the road price (ex VAT): £23,825
Load length: 1,835mm
Load width (max): 1,628mm
Load height: 1,397mm
Load capacity: 5,300 litres
Payload: 1,487kg
GVW: 2,660kg
Towing capacity braked/unbraked: 2,500kg/ n/a
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder, turbocharged diesel
Power/torque: 120bhp/340Nm
Economy (claimed combined): 53.3mpg
CO2 emissions: 139g/km
Peugeot Expert has sliding side and hinged rear doors

Peugeot Expert has sliding side and hinged rear doors

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