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 Euro6.2-compliant units on offer are diesels and if your needs are mainly based around lighter loads and short distance urban work, then the entry-level 100hp 1.5-litre BlueHDi unit may well be quite sufficient. Otherwise, you'll be looking at a 2.0-litre BlueHDi diesel, either the BlueHDi 120, the BlueHDi 145 (manual or EAT8 auto) or the BlueHDi 180 (the latter unit available only with 8-speed EAT8 automatic transmission). There's also a full-electric version, the e-Expert, which offers a 143 mile driving range with a 50kWh battery or a 205 mile range with a 75kWh battery. A key factor behind the success of the previous generation Expert was the way it remained 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 much better thanks to revised suspension and a stiffer 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. Peugeot also claims that refinement is much improved this time round. And, as before, there's the option of a Grip Control traction system. We also like the 'Driving time warning system' which flashes up a dash warning after two hours of uninterrupted driving at speeds of 40mph and above.
Design and Build
This new generation Expert certainly has a little more road presence than its predecessor. The restyled grille features a smarter brand logo, while more sleekly designed side panels are structured with sharp lines and sculpted by concave door sills. There are low side protection strips and a solid black front bumper, this integrating air inlets across the entire width of the vehicle and aiming to emphasise what Peugeot hopes is a robust appearance. On board, Peugeot's designers have concentrated on improving ergonomics and driving comfort this time round.
Market and Model
Basic MRRP list pricing suggests that you'll probably be paying somewhere in the £23,000 to £34,000 bracket for your Expert, depending upon the bodystyle and trim level you choose. As well as the usual panel van, there are Platform Cab and Crew Van options. Van customers get a choice of 'Compact, 'Standard' or 'Long' body lengths. Trim levels start with 'S Premium', then run to 'Professional Premium' and on to 'Asphalt Premium' trim options. Equipment levels across the range are a lot more complete than they used to be for Expert owners. All models get twin front airbags, a DAB radio, Bluetooth 'phone compatibility, cruise control with a speed limiter and twin sliding side doors. As usual, there's a full steel bulkhead and a three-person front bench. At the top of the range, 'Professional Plus' models further include 16-inch alloy wheels, a rear parking camera, metallic paint, auto headlamps and wipers, body-coloured bumpers and an upgraded payload. New safety features include Road sign reading that flashes road signs up on the dash as you pass them. Plus, depending on trim level, your Expert can now come with things like 'Driver Attention Alert' to combat drowsiness, a Lane Departure Warning System, Blind Spot Monitoring, Automatic main beam switching, a head-up display and Active Cruise Control. You might also want to specify the 'VisioPark' camera system.
Practicalities and Costs
There are three key Expert bodystyles - panel van, Crew van (with second row seating) and Platform cab (for various conversions). Most will want the panel van, which claims best in class interior space and comes with a choice of two wheelbases - one at 2.92m specific to the Compact version and the other at 3.27m common to the 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 and the 'Compact' model 5.1m3. Depending on bodystyle, the loading length varies between 3.32 and 4.02m and there's 1.26m of width between the wheelarches. The 'Compact' and 'Standard' models get 1.90m of interior height, this increasing to 1.94m in the 'Long' variant. The new 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. 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 models, well the base 50kWh has a WLTP range of up to 148miles and can be charged by an iikWh wallbox in four hours and 45 minutes. The 75kWh version has a WLTP range of up to 211 miles and can support up to 100kW Rapid Charging, with an 80& top-up taking just 30 minutes.