Peugeot Expert 180 HDi LWB 2019 Review

Peugeot returned to the light commercial van market recently with the first of three models it plans to release in Australia by September.

The Peugeot Expert medium van will be joined by the smaller Partner and larger Boxer soon, the advanced safety features and five-year warranty offered on all Peugeot vans set to raise the bar within the segment.

On test is the Expert 180 HDi. Sampled here is the longer of two wheelbase formats offered, the range-topping Expert powered by the strongest of a pair of turbo-diesel engines offered throughout the Expert range.

Six-speed manual and automatic transmissions are available throughout the Peugeot Expert line-up.

The new Peugeot Expert range is priced from $36,490 to $45,890 (plus on-road costs). Metallic paint adds $690 to the price, and five model variants are available in total.

Entry-grade Expert 115 HDi medium-wheelbase offerings (from $36,490) feature a 1.6-litre turbo-diesel engine and manual transmission. They’re topped by the Expert 150 HDi medium-wheelbase (from $39,990) with a 2.0-litre engine and choice of manual or automatic transmissions, and finally the long-wheelbase Expert (from $44,190) with a 2.0-litre engine and automatic transmission in 150 HDi and 180 HDi form.

Peugeot’s nomenclature references engine output in horsepower (115hp, 150hp and 180hp), therefore 85kW/300Nm, 110kW/370Nm and 130kW/400Nm converted.

Peugeot light commercial vans are backed by a five-year/200,000km warranty and included roadside assistance program. Service intervals are set at 12 months/20,000km with capped-price servicing totalling $2982.46 over five years. A 10 per cent discount applies if service pricing is paid up front.

Creature comforts are often lacking in light commercial vans, but a quick look inside the cabin shows the Peugeot Expert is pleasantly different. Dusk-sensing headlights and rain-sensing wipers, climate control, and a 7.0-inch infotainment array with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Bluetooth connectivity are all standard.

A tilt-and-reach-adjustable steering column and ergonomic cloth-trimmed seating join multiple storage bins and cubbies – including a generous under-seat bin – to give the Expert a comfy mobile-office feel. It’s also reasonably quiet as far as commercial vans go.

Visibility is generally good, the small but effective wing mirrors well placed to see beyond the long-wheelbase variant’s body. The internal, self-dimming rear-view mirror is slightly obstructed by the centre-seat headrest, however, and the lack of an A-pillar grab handle is a slight bother on cabin entry.

Middle seat knee and legroom is restricted by the protruding transmission module (or peninsula, as I like to call it), while the offset position of the central pew can be uncomfortable with three across the front.

The cabin measures 2010mm across, meaning better placement of the transmission selector and centre seat could afford the Expert more room. All seating positions receive a three-point (lap-sash) seatbelt.

Cabin plastics are low-rent for the most part, though this isn’t uncommon in the light commercial van sector. The quality of assembly is very good, however, while the placement and provision of cup-holders, ventilation outlets and secondary switchgear is well thought-out.

The Expert shares its EMP2 architecture with the Peugeot 308, 3008 and 5008 passenger range which brings benefits to driver comfort and the vehicle’s on-road manners. The Expert rides exceptionally well for a light commercial van, its steering feel, body control and impact suppression better than expected in fast-flowing urban traffic.

The availability of all 400Nm from just 2000rpm means the Expert can torque steer slightly under hard starts, but power delivery is generally well sorted. We found the performance on tap quite flexible with surprising overtaking performance available on command. The Aisin-sourced six-speed automatic complies obediently with instructions from the throttle pedal, and shifts smoothly irrespective of the load and pace carried.

Peugeot reintroduced the Expert van range to Australia in April 2019.

The French manufacturer made a point of emphasising its safety and specification stratagem at launch, each Expert model fitted with four airbags, a reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors, high-beam assist, speed-limit recognition, adaptive cruise control (with speed limiter function), driver attention alert, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring and active safety brake.

Low-speed (under 30km/h) camera-based autonomous emergency braking (AEB) is also standard.

Trade and delivery operators, both private and fleet, are the obvious demographic for the Peugeot Expert.

The longer wheelbase (3275mm) and higher payload capacity (1250kg/6.6 cubic metres) of the model on test obviously favour trade and longer-distance owner-drivers, with Peugeot’s medium-wheelbase vans a better fit for urban delivery fleets.

The Expert 180 HDi LWB’s larger turning circle (12.4m, or about the same as a 4WD dual-cab ute) and heavier kerb weight (1958kg) also dictate its role as a higher-capacity tradie van. The braked towing rating of 2200kg is a boon for builders, carpenters, electricians, plumbers and the likes.

Sliding doors are fitted to each side with wide-swinging (270-degree) barn doors at the rear. There are two overhead lights and eight tie-down points inside the cargo area. Body height inside the cargo bay is 1397mm.

All Peugeot Expert vans are capable of taking a standard Australian pallet (1165mm x 1165mm) between the wheel arches (1258mm) and all include Peugeot’s Moduwork system that liberates an additional 1160mm of floor space under the passenger seat. On the LWB model tested, that means an overall bed length of 4020mm. It even has an additional tie-down point in the passenger footwell.

The cheapest Peugeot Expert undercuts its key turbo-diesel rivals by a significant margin, while at the same time offering a higher level of standard equipment.

Cheaper rivals are available of course – including the LDV G10 (from $27,358 drive-away) and Renault Trafic Trader LIFE (from $29,990 drive-away) – though these are without the safety and specification levels found in the Peugeot Expert.

That leaves the Ford Transit Custom (from $39,690), Hyundai iLoad (from $38,790), Toyota HiAce (from $38,640) and Volkswagen Transporter (from $36,890) as the Expert’s most likely competitors, though not all match the Peugeot’s after-sales support or standard equipment, even in higher model-grade form.

This is a great van. It’s obvious from even a few days at the wheel that Peugeot has considered the end-user in designing the cabin and cargo compartments, small details throughout an indication that the Expert is where modern vans need to be.

In the company listed above, the Expert is head and shoulders ahead – and although we’re yet to drive the new Toyota HiAce, we reckon it had want to be something special to pip the Expert in back-to-back testing.

Watch this space for our mid-size delivery van comparison soon.

How much does the 2019 Peugeot Expert 180 HDi LWB cost?
Price: $45,890 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 130kW/400Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 6.2L/100km (ADR Combined); 7.7L/100km (as tested)
CO2: 163g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: N/A