Another European van is about to arrive. Or, more accurately, return.

DETERMINATION to deliver a driving feel and cabin ambience that would be familiar and comfortable for its car customers while also tailoring to meet best expectations of the commercial sector has been prioritised with the new version of a French van making a second go of the local market.

Arek Zywot, commercial manager for Auto Distributors, the national franchise holder for Peugeot, says the formats for the Expert van chosen for this market are reflective of extensive work by his office and the brand’s distributor in Australia, where identical models will be adopted. 

Thus, a wider choice of body styles, engines, drivetrains and trim and specification levels for a model that builds with a single roof height in all formats has been refined.

This market will to just two wheelbases – 4950mm for what’s being called the $54,990 ‘medium’ here (and is known as the ‘standard’ in Europe), and 5300mm for the $4000-dearer ‘long’ (these respectively provisioning 2510mm and 2860mm load lengths) – with a common 2.0-litre turbodiesel creating 110kW and 370Nm married to an eight-speed automatic transmission. 

These adopt a safety pack that encompasses all increasingly commonplace features and assists, but disregards some advanced aides that operators in Europe and the United Kingdom enjoy.

The NZ market trim takes smart headlamps, driver and passenger front side airbags, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, automated emergency braking and a distance alert system, but has a more simplified rear parking assist than can be provisioned in Europe and comes without the head-up display, lane departure warning, speed limit recognition and full driver monitoring meted in its home market. 

Nonetheless, Zywot is confident his brand has created a stronger foil for the new Renault Trafic, Ford Transit and others than the previous Expert, which was dropped three years ago having struggled to imprint in this challenging sector.

“We looked at all the options … we didn’t strike for an entry level price point or model. We just went for what we believe this market wants, so we delivered the van with those specifications.

“We wanted to focus on as passenger car-like equipment level; with a focus on safety and comfort. We’re bringing an upper-level feel to the van world.

“If you drove one of our passenger cars and jumped into our van, and got the same feeling of comfort and safety, then we have achieved what we are aiming for.” 

That’s why the 110kW engine was chosen over other like-capacity formats, one making 89kW and the other 129kW. Auto Distributors’ research had identified that the 110kW unit was within a space most enjoyed by the market.

“When you look at ours against the Trafic or the VW Transporter, we are in the ballpark with the same or more kiloWatts and it delivers us the right torque to give us a good payload.”

About that. A particular plus point that the distributor will enforce is that it’s 1300kg payload is a best-in-class while it’s also being one of two choices in the market that can tow more than two tonnes braked.

These feats might seem all the impressive given that the Expert is an interesting blend in respect to its engineering, this generation having become a merging of the previous model’s rear portion with a front based on the EMP2 platform that Peugeot and Citroën use for their cars.

The vans also seem set to match the fully passenger fare in fuel consumption, which is claimed to be 6.3 litres per 100km in optimal condition, with CO2 emissions of 165 grams per 100km.

The model’s re-entry being an Australasian effort made it easier for to go for a blended spec than simply adopt the models that go into the vehicle’s right-hand drive market, the United Kingdom, where there two standard trim levels, S and Professional, plus Grip and Asphalt versions that are a bit more specialised.

Also influential was recognition that the smallest variant, called the Compact overseas, was potentially too size-compromised for this market. 

Accordingly, that 4600mm long option has been ignored for the Medium and Large, whose load volumes are 5.8 and 6.6 cubic metres respectively in orthodox form, though an optional Moduwork’ package delivers ability to transport longer items such as lengths of wood via a through-loading hatch located under the passenger seat.  This increases maximum load length capability by 1162mm. Both models have with an overall height of 1940mm and a useable internal load height of 1397mm. 

Twin sliding doors are standard and it has dual barn-style rear doors, capable of opening to 180-degrees. In Europe there’s a hands-free entry feature that lets you wave your foot underneath the rear bumper to open the side door.

Expert might yet range into carrying passengers as well as packages. The minibus configuration with three rows of seats and space for nine passengers has not been discounted, though immediate introduction doesn’t make sense with the tourism market have been destroyed by Coivid-19, Zywot suggests.

As is, consideration for occupant comfort compelled delivering the vehicle with a bulkhead behind the seats, creating a completely sealed cabin environment, which enables a more car-like experience, Zywot says, and improves the effect of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning functions. He believes the audio coming with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality will also be popular.

A diversity of accessories will avail.  Items include a wooden floor, wall panel and wheel arch box inserts, as well as a rubber mat for added grip and protection in the cargo area. Another option includes a fold-down writing table in the central seat-back, as well as a storage squab under the central passenger seat.

The styling can be given a bit of a fizz up with an optional ‘Look Pack,’ which delivers body colour front and rear bumpers, side rubbing strips and exterior door handles.  Larger 17-inch alloy wheels are also included, as are LED daytime running lights.