Item: Peugeot Boxer
Rating: 3
Author: What Car? Team

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Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

The looks and interior might have largely stayed the same for the Peugeot Boxer, but the safety systems have not. Over the years Peugeot has added a number of important new features to the van to keep it relevant in a sector where massive developments in safety have been a regular occurrence.

While the Volkswagen Crafter arguably leads the way, closely followed by the perpetually impressive Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Peugeot and Citroen have slowly added important features to their models including Roll-over Mitigation and Hill Descent Control. Options including traffic sign recognition have been added and there’s also a lane departure warning system. Other vans have more, but the Boxer’s kit list is highly credible.

When running a big van there are always obvious concerns surrounding fuel consumption. The new engines are no great improvement over the smaller units, but they are less polluting, with as little as 153g/km emitted by the cleanest. Fuel consumption in the real world should equate to around 35mpg depending on the load you carry and the eagerness of your right foot.

One tangible benefit of the newer engines is that servicing intervals have increased. The Peugeot Boxer requires a service every 30,000 miles or every two years, whichever is sooner. Warranty support is three years or 100,000 miles, and the paintwork is covered by five-year corrosion protection.

We’d recommend the mid-range 138bhp model as the ideal van for most operations. The Professional trim level also provides you with the most equipment for your money.

The newer, larger engine has made an obvious difference to the way the Boxerdrives; not only is there more power, but it is smoother and quieter with it.

The entry-level model has increased by 10bhp to 118bhp but retains the same 221lb ft of torque. Mid-level units also get a 10bhp boost to 138bhp and have 251lb ft of torque available. Completing the range is a 163bhp engine, which replaces the 158bhp unit but adds 15lb ft of torque, bringing its total output to 273lb ft. Stop-start systems are now fitted to minimise emissions and a six-speed gearbox is standard across the range.

With more power and torque the 2.2-litre engine in every form is now far more forgiving. It has more low-down urgency and is much better at pulling away when heavily laden or if you’re not quite in the optimum gear.

The gearbox has a tight gear shift action, which although often found in sportier vehicles, works well with an engine which is always ready to give you power. Shifts are smooth and you feel very little of the engine or its changes through the driveline.

The same cannot be said about noise, though, as the Boxer is still a fairly loud, clattery van to drive. It’s a massive improvement over the outgoing model, but it’s not as refined as some of the other vehicles in the segment. If you want a quieter and more sophisticated cabin we’d suggest you explore a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter or Volkswagen Crafter, but while it is behind some competitors it’s far from&nbsp; an unpleasant place to be.

As a large van you’d expect the Boxer to feel quite heavy and cumbersome, which it does, but throw in the van’s firm ride quality and you end up with a strangely satisfying combination. It feels far more of a driver’s van than you would imagine, but also manages to feel safe and sensible at the same time.

Visibility is excellent because the cabin is so spacious and wide. It’s also helped because the seating position is particularly high, even for a large van, so forward views in particular are good.

Overall the Peugeot Boxer is a good van to drive, only let down by its age. The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/master-2019-new/van/review/n20295">Renault Master</a> or Vauxhall Movano are marginally better, while the Ford Transit, Volkswagen Crafter or Mercedes-Benz Sprinter are a cut above.

You may not think you know many people that own a Peugeot Boxer - but you also stand to be surprised, as it is used as a donor platform for everything from horseboxes to ambulances to&nbsp; motorhomes and therefore far more prevalent on our roads than you may imagine.

The Boxer is relatively lightweight for a large van, which means that converters love it for its flexibility when it comes to putting a body on the back and lots of equipment inside.&nbsp; The same can be said for the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/citroen/relay-2019/van/review/n22193">Citroen Relay</a> and the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/ducato/van/review/n18227">Fiat Ducato</a>, both of which share the same platform, but the contrast is that when it comes to a plain old panel van, the Peugeot has historically been conspicuous in its absence on our roads.

However, the Boxer is a large, capable and versatile van, let down a bit only because it is now quite old. The basic van dates back to 2006, and since then it has had just two significant updates: it received a facelift in 2014 and Euro-6 engines were fitted in 2016.&nbsp;

The latest improvements are, on paper, less significant, and are predominantly aimed at enabling it to meet the tougher Euro-6d emissions regulations, but they have considerably improved this ageing warhorse.

Having had its engine downsized from 2.2-litres to 2.0-litres in 2016 to meet the initial Euro-6 requirements, Peugeot has pushed it back up to 2.2-litres for the newer Euro-6d TEMP requirements. Thankfully, the larger outputs mean more power, with the new 2.2-litre BlueHDI available in three power outputs up to 163bhp.

There's also an electric van version now available. To read about that, see our full <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/e-boxer/van/review/n24544">Peugeot e-Boxer review</a>.

If you’re after an automatic gearbox you’ll be disappointed, as the Boxer has no two-pedal options in its range. If the six-speed manual won’t do you, rivals including the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/transit/van/review/n18188">Ford Transit</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/sprinter/van/review/n18217">Mercedes-Benz Sprinter</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/crafter/van/review/n18277">Volkswagen Crafter</a> are all available with an automatic option.

The Boxer does, however, provide you with plenty of body size options, with four lengths and three heights available. There’s also the chassis cab option which is so popular with bodybuilders as well as double-cab, and minibus versions. Need a converted van in a hurry? Peugeot has a dedicated range of off the shelf Boxer vans available with tipper, dropside, Luton van, curtain-sided van or a low-floor Luton.

You can transport anything from 8m3 to 17m3 if you need to fill up your Boxer van, or as much as 1575kg in the best performing 3.5-tonne van.

If you’re looking to find out how to identify this new Boxer from the previous versions then you’ll have to have your wits about you. Almost nothing has changed since a significant redesign of the grille for the Euro-6 update. This time around there’s the option of LED daytime running lights within the headlight unit – something reserved for the most expensive Boxer vans – and a slightly more rounded bumper. It’s minor stuff,&nbsp; none of which is likely to sway your buying choice.

Although the engines are the most interesting change to the Peugeot Boxer, there are some minor interior revisions which affect the specification and trim levels.

The Boxer has a big and spacious cabin, but one which now feels almost ancient when compared to rivals. It’s not just that it looks out of touch, with dated-feeling plastics masked by piano black surrounds, it is also far from ergonomic when compared to the best cabins in the large van sector, from the Volkswagen Crafter and Ford Transit.

In particular, the handbrake position continues to be an issue, as it is to the right of the driver’s seat and easy to catch a trouser leg or other item of clothing on as you exit the vehicle. The upside is that cross-cab access is improved and there is more space for the central passenger.

More positively, there is plenty of storage with large door bins, a number of useful small storage points in the dash and excellent visibility. If the quality was upgraded to the level of the much newer medium-sized <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/expert/van/review/n20207">Peugeot Expert</a>, the Boxer would be on to a winner.

In terms of equipment, the entry-level S is extremely basic and is very much geared towards the rental or large fleet purchaser; the heated electric mirrors are the only stand out point, but there’s also a 12v power socket, a rake and reach adjustable steering wheel and electric windows. DAB radio with Bluetooth is also standard, along with steering wheel mounted controls for both.

Peugeot then gives buyers the choice of specifying either a more off-road focused Grip trim or Professional trim, which is just a straight-forward improvement upon S.

Most crucially, Grip models get Peugeot’s Grip Control, which includes Hill Descent Assist, as well as reinforced suspension and an underbody protection plate. This will enable you to get off normal roads and on to some loser more challenging surfaces. Additional kit includes cruise control with a speed limiter, along with a lower central glovebox which replaces cup holders in the centre of the dash. There’s also lumbar support to add to the already fully adjustable seat, plus an arm rest.&nbsp;

Professional trim gives you air-conditioning, rear-parking sensors, an alarm and a 5in touchscreen with integrated DAB radio, Bluetooth and satellite-navigation. There’s also cruise control, the lower central glovebox, the up-rated adjustable driver seat and steering wheel mounted controls.

If you’re after the most advanced, well-equipped and therefore expensive Boxer then Asphalt trim level adds rear-parking camera and sensors, LED daytime running lights, automatic wipers and headlights and USB charging sockets in the dashboard on top of the Professional trim specification. It also gets a Drive Assist Pack which includes safety systems like speed sign recognition, Smartbeam Headlights, Active Safety Brake, Distance Alert System and a lane departure warning system.

Peugeot has its strongest model line-up for some years, with some of its cars now rated by our testers as being among the very best available.

Highlights focus around the firm’s newest SUVs, the 3008 and 5008. The 5008 was named Large SUV of the Year at the 2018 What Car? Awards, thanks to its appealing blend of space, interior quality and low running costs.

That bodes well for future launches, too, because many of the learnings from these cars will be passed on as new versions of existing cars are launched – something that could take many years, because the Peugeot range is so big, ranging from an entry-level supermini with the 108 to an executive saloon with the 508, up into the SUV range and also vans.

Buyers should evaluate some of the lower-rated cars in the range more carefully, though. Some are now quite old, and are subsequently left behind in terms of quality when compared with the opposition, making them below-average buys, in our estimation.

PEUGEOT

BOXER

Above average levels of entry-level equipment make the Boxer stand out from its competition, and with high payloads, large load volumes and good fuel consumption it can be worked hard at a competitive cost

The Boxer stars for its ability to carry big weights, and by combining that with a large load volume too it is, by our reckoning, the most practical van in the class.

Maximum volume is 17m3, but there are also a range of options from 8m3 built off three wheelbases (3m, 3.45m and 4.03m) with four body lengths and three heights to choose from. The headline figure is a maximum 1575kg payload, but an average 3.5-tonne van will still permit more than 1200kg, which makes it one of the best vans in the large van segment for weight hungry users.

A maximum load length of 4070mm is possible, while height in the tallest vans is 2172mm. There’s also 1870mm across the load area at its widest point and 1420mm between the wheel arches. A side loading door is fitted as standard along with 180-degree rear opening doors.

While the Peugeot Boxer can lay claim to a sizeable payload it is not the biggest van in the sector for volume. If you need something larger it’s best to go for the Volkswagen Crafter or the massive Iveco Daily which can transport 19.6m3.

Like the Rocky film franchise, the Peugeot Boxer continues to soldier on despite its age. There are better equipped, bigger or nicer vans to drive, but the Boxer offers value and functionality. If you need heavy loads, decent volumes and a functional no frills workplace the Boxer is the one for you. It’s no prize fighter, but this journeyman is never one to be overlooked.


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Read review covering Peugeot Boxer boot space, size and dimensions, front and rear seat comfort by the expert What Car? test team.

The Boxer stars for its ability to carry big weights, and by combining that with a large load volume too it is, by our reckoning, the most practical van in the class.,Maximum volume is 17m3, but there are also a range of options from 8m3 built off three wheelbases (3m, 3.45m and 4.03m) with four body lengths and three heights to choose from. The headline figure is a maximum 1575kg payload, but an average 3.5-tonne van will still permit more than 1200kg, which makes it one of the best vans in the large van segment for weight hungry users.,A maximum load length of 4070mm is possible, while height in the tallest vans is 2172mm. There’s also 1870mm across the load area at its widest point and 1420mm between the wheel arches. A side loading door is fitted as standard along with 180-degree rear opening doors.While the Peugeot Boxer can lay claim to a sizeable payload it is not the biggest van in the sector for volume. If you need something larger it’s best to go for the Volkswagen Crafter or the massive Iveco Daily which can transport 19.6m3.,

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