Peugeot Expert van review

Category: Medium Van

One of the most economical, practical and (if you’re willing to spend the money) safest mid-size vans.

Peugeot Expert front right driving
  • Peugeot Expert front right driving
  • Peugeot Expert front right static
  • Peugeot Expert interior seats
  • Peugeot Expert load bay
  • Peugeot Expert interior infotainment
  • Peugeot Expert rear left static
  • Peugeot Expert interior seats
  • Peugeot Expert interior detail
  • Peugeot Expert rear doors
  • Peugeot Expert front right driving
  • Peugeot Expert front right static
  • Peugeot Expert interior seats
  • Peugeot Expert load bay
  • Peugeot Expert interior infotainment
  • Peugeot Expert rear left static
  • Peugeot Expert interior seats
  • Peugeot Expert interior detail
  • Peugeot Expert rear doors

Introduction

What Car? says...

It’s no secret that the Peugeot Expert isn’t exactly what you’d call unique. It’s a badge-engineered medium van – which is to say, it’s identical to several related models, with the exception of a few styling tweaks and the logo on its nose. And that means a large chunk of the competition is… well, the same, or as near as makes no difference.

The Expert, to prove the point, shares everything from the bonnet backwards with its platform-mates, the Citroën Dispatch, the Fiat Scudo, the Toyota Proace and the Vauxhall Vivaro. In fact, the only real differences come when you look at the headlights, front bumper and grille, which have been styled to fit in with Peugeot’s latest design language.

There’s a big advantage to that: economies of scale. Because these vans are all pretty much the same, they can be offered with a wide variety of body styles and engine choices. 

That gives them the breadth of ability to take on such big names as the Ford Transit Custom, the Mercedes Vito and the VW Transporter. It’s one reason why the Expert is acknowledged to be one of the best medium-sized vans on the market today.

Interestingly, you’ll find the front end of the Expert is based on Peugeot’s EMP2 platform, which is the one on which many of the company’s cars are based too. That means you can choose the same smooth, gutsy diesel engines as you can find in the Peugeot car range.

The entry-level Expert models come equipped with a 99bhp 1.5-litre engine (badged BlueHDi 100). If you want a bit more oomph, you can upgrade to the 143bhp 2.0-litre unit (aka BlueHDi 145), which is available either with a manual gearbox, or with an eight-speed automatic that can be controlled using paddles behind the steering wheel. 

Another advantage of the Peugeot’s car-based front end is that it can be offered as an electric van. We've covered that in our Peugeot e-Expert review

There’s only one roof height available, but you do get a choice of two lengths – standard and long wheelbase.  There are also two equipment levels. Professional Premium Plus is the more utilitarian version, although it does get air-con and a colour touchscreen. Asphalt Premium Plus adds sat-nav, a parking camera, a full steel bulkhead and Peugeot’s clever Moduwork seating for added flexibility.

For a a run-down of the Peugeot Expert’s driving characteristics, practicality and costs, keep reading the rest of our review. And once you've decided which van to get, you can find the best leasing deals going by checking our What Car? Leasing pages.

Peugeot Expert image
Skip the showroom and find out more online

Performance & drive

What it’s like to drive, and how quiet it is

Thanks largely to its car-derived underpinnings, the Peugeot Expert is a very enjoyable medium van to drive and a far cry from its predecessor.

Whereas the old Expert could be quite bouncy and its steering was too vague, the latest version rides in a controlled manner and the connection to the road is a lot more certain.

If you want an automatic gearbox, however, you’ll have to go for the BlueHDi 180. It's a strong engine that works well with the gearbox, but suffers from quite heavy fuel consumption.

For its balance of performance and economy, we'd recommend the BlueHDi 150, which manages up to 41.3mpg in official tests and makes a healthy 272lb ft of torque.

Peugeot Expert front right static

Interior

The interior layout, fit and finish

The old Peugeot Expert had an awkwardly offset steering wheel that made you feel twisted in your seat, and while the latest model hasn't entirely resolved this issue, it's considerably better.

The driver’s seat is very adaptable and one of the more comfortable you'll find in a medium van with good support for your thighs and lower back.

You get a height-adjustable steering wheel, too, and with the exception of the gear lever, which is a little close to the driver’s knee, the rest of the control positioning is logical and well thought-out.

Less impressive is the narrow windscreen, because it limits visibility – something that's especially noticeable when you're reversing with door mirrors that are really quite small for a medium-sized van.

Still, the quality of the materials is good, and so is the fit and feel of all the key touch points, such as the steering wheel, controls and gear lever.

Peugeot Expert interior seats

Passenger & boot space

How it copes with people and clutter

The Peugeot Expert comes in three different lengths: Compact, Standard and Long. This means there's more choice than with most other medium van. Compact vans are 4600mm long, so they're about the same size as a long-wheelbase small van, such as the Renault Kangoo Maxi or the Nissan NV200, and have a maximum storage area length of 2160mm. 

The Standard van measures 4950mm, with a 2510mm load length. The Long version stretches 5300mm and can transport a 2860mm length. When fitted with a folding front passenger seat and load-through bulkhead, an additional 1160mm of storage capacity is possible, making it ideal for oversized lengths of pipe or wood. The Expert also comes as a minibus, with three rows of seats and space for nine passengers, or as a six-seat crew van, as well as in platform cab form ready for specialist conversions.

Load volumes for the Compact, Standard and Long bodies are 5.1m3, 5.8m3 and 6.6m3 respectively, with an overall height for the van of 1940mm and a useable internal load height of 1397mm. 

Big gains have also been made in the payload capacities of the Expert, with some models as much as 150kg lighter than before. The kerb weight also compares favourably with rivals such as the Ford Transit Custom and enables the Expert to have a best-in-class payload of 1498kg for a 3.1-tonne van and up to 1100kg for lower-rated 2.6-tonne vans.

Twin sliding side doors are standard, but you’ll have to pay for the rather nifty hands-free entry feature that lets you wave your foot underneath the rear bumper to open the side door.

Peugeot Expert load bay

Buying & owning

Everyday costs, plus how reliable and safe it is

Peugeot no longer discounts its vans as much as it used to, but while that may mean you'll pay more up front, it also means that your van should hold on to more of its value than it would otherwise. And don't think that makes the Expert overly expensive, either, because it should still cost you less than an equivalent Vauxhall Vivaro or Citroën Dispatch.

For the most economical van, you’ll want to stick with the 1.5-litre engine. The most frugal version is the Blue HDi100, with an official 44.2mpg and CO2 emissions of 130g/km.

In terms of trim levels, we'd suggest opting for Professional, because it brings an infotainment touchscreen, air conditioning, an under-seat storage compartment and the load-through bulkhead. The range-topping Asphalt is a tempting choice but quite a step up in price. 

Options worth considering are Park Assist 180 (which is fitted to the Asphalt models as standard). This brings a rear-view camera that can be zoomed in to give you a clearer idea of how much space you have. Another feature worth considering is the head-up display, which helps you keep your eyes on the road and is therefore an added safety benefit.

Other safety features include the Safety Pack (again, standard on Asphalt), which includes lane departure warning, speed limit recognition, driver attention monitoring and smart headlights. The Driver Assist Pack (another Asphalt staple) gives you adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking and a distance alert system.

For all the latest van reviews, news, advice, and videos visit our dedicated van section here


About the author

George Barrow is one of the leading van and truck reviewers, and is the UK’s only representative on the prestigious International Van of the Year jury. He has written about vans and commercial vehicles for the past 15 years, and can be found in titles including The Sun and What Van?, alongside What Car?.

Barrow is well regarded in the commercial vehicle industry, securing access to the latest models – and the people who made them – long before other titles.

 

Peugeot Expert interior infotainment

FAQs

  • Our review goes into greater detail on this, but it probably gives you a fair idea to note that the Expert is a well-regarded van that often features in our list of the best medium vans on sale.

  • Yes, the Expert is available with a choice of two diesel engines. There's also an electric van version available – you can read about that in our Peugeot e-Expert review.

  • Yes, for the most part, but it’s worth noting that the Expert has been subject to quite a few recalls since it was launched in 2016, and build quality in the cab isn’t the greatest. That said, the Expert is unlikely to leave you stranded.

  • Prices are changing all the time so it’s best to double check the official price lists if you want to know for certain, but the entry-level Expert starts at just over £30,000.

  • Our favourite version is the 1.5 BlueHDi 100 Professional Premium Plus. It’s the most affordable, the cheapest to run, and it still comes with enough toys that it doesn’t feel like a bare-bones option. If you have heavier loads to haul, though, an upgrade to the 2.0-litre engine is worth considering.

  • Standard-wheelbase Experts rated at 1,000kg of payload stand 1.89m tall, while those rated at 1,400kg, and all long-wheelbase models are a little higher, at 1.94m. In length, the standard-wheelbase van measures 4.96m, while the long-wheelbase model comes in at 5.31m.