PEUGEOT

COMPACT CARRIER Big loads are not the supermini-based van’s forte but the Peugeot 207 Van carries over the strengths of its passenger-carrying sibling and should make a good choice for UK business. Steve Walker reports…

Supermini-based vans constitute the first rung on the light commercial vehicle ladder. The polar opposite of hulking large panel vans like the Mercedes Sprinter, if your load-carrying requirements don’t measure up to something like this, the smallest of all vans, you could probably make do with a wheelbarrow. While they might be small in stature and have payload capacities little better than those of your average family hatchback, vehicles like Peugeot’s 207 van still find a ready market amongst UK companies. Sometimes nimble handling and low running costs are preferable to sheer lugging ability and it’s here that vans like the 207 come into their own.

There is a school of thought that says if a manufacturer has got a presence in the light commercial vehicle market and a viable supermini in its passenger car range, it might as well offer a supermini-derived van. The development costs are hardly astronomical and, if push came to shove, would probably run to little more than the price of a burly employee with a socket set. Once he’d unbolted the passenger car’s rear bench and chucked it in a skip, you’d be 90% of the way there. OK, so there might be a little more to it than that. The 207 Van loses the supermini version’s rear bench seat but the area where the back seat passengers’ legs would have gone is panelled over to produce a flat load floor that runs up to behind the front seats. The side panels are carpeted, the rear windows are panelled over and the floor itself is covered in tough rubber matting to help protect the vehicle and its cargo. Access to the load compartment is through the 207’s wide opening tailgate but it’s not really a compartment unless you specify either the full-length load cover – an interesting hybrid of parcel shelf and roller blind - or the full-height mesh bulkhead. Leave these features on the options list and your cargo is accessible by reaching over your shoulder but the bulkhead will stop hefty items flying forward in the event of an accident and the load cover has obvious security benefits when it comes to keeping valuable items away from prying eyes. However you configure the 207 van’s load area, the load volume is around 1.1m3 and there’s the potential to load it with up to 450kg of cargo. There’s significant wheelarch intrusion at the sides but objects of up to 1,043mm can still be slid between the bulges, provided you can lift them over the pronounced loading lip and angle them through the tailgate aperture which is only 910mm.

"…the 207 van’s small size becomes a strength"

The 207 Van is not a vehicle that’s likely to be stretched to the limits of its loadbay by its owners. The target market for vehicles like this tends to be small businesses such as florists or couriers that need to make deliveries of small items in busy urban areas. Alternatively, the 207 Van would suit security guards, maintenance engineers or other occupations that need to get from A to B with only a small quality of tools and equipment in tow. For people who don’t need the carrying capacity, the 207 van’s small size becomes a strength, giving rise to low running costs and ease of manoeuvrability. The car handles sweetly with lively steering and tenacious grip at the front wheels. One trait of the 207 is a large front overhang, so parking and squeezing through gaps isn’t as easy as it could be but still a whole lot easier than in larger commercial vehicles. On the open road, ride quality is very good and the 207 will sail through lengthy motorway excursions without becoming wearing on its driver. On the downside, the gear change is sloppy with a loose feel to the lever and the driving position might not appeal to everyone. Peugeot’s expertise in the field of small petrol and diesel engines is well documented and the 207 van gets a selection of three chosen primarily for their economy. The figure that you’ll see looming large wherever the 207 van is being promoted is the 62.8mpg combined fuel consumption that’s achieved by both diesel engines. You’ll need to tread incredibly gingerly on the throttle pedal to replicate this during everyday usage but it’s a reliable indication that the 68bhp 1.4-litre HDI and 90bhp 1.6-litre HDI engines are about as economical as you’ll find in this sector. The petrol alternative manages a less impressive 44.8mpg but is pleasantly refined and with a 13.9s 0-60mph sprint time, falls between the two diesels in terms of performance. The 1.4-litre oil-burner feels quicker than the laborious 15.1s it takes to do the 0-60mph trial because of the punchy torque output but it’s still going to be beaten away from the lights by all and sundry. The best bet if you’re going to spend lots of time at the wheel of your 207 Van is the 1.6-litre HDI which is almost warm hatchback rapid with an 11.5s 0-60mph sprint and 215Nm maximum torque at 1,750rpm. Away from the engine bay, Peugeot doesn’t leave a lot of room for the 207 buyer to manoeuvre. There’s one colour on offer, an appropriately utilitarian non-metallic white and one trim level. At least the standard equipment list is comprehensive, particularly from a safety perspective. It runs to driver and passenger airbags, side airbags and ABS with brakeforce distribution and brake assist, while power steering, electric windows, remote central locking and height adjustment for both seats also get a look in. Air-conditioning, ESP stability control and a Thatcham alarm are cost options. The 207 lags a behind the best superminis in terms of build quality but it’s not bad and with the fripperies of the passenger car stripped away, this commercial vehicle version has a reassuring solidity about its interior. The ventilation controls feel a bit reedy but elsewhere, a lot of the switchgear seems quite high-end and the chrome rings round the instruments are a classy touch. The column stalks are carried over from the 206 and don’t come across as being all that sturdy. Exterior styling can be an important factor for business looking to project the right image and the 207 is definitely distinctive with its Peugeot family front end. Personally, I think Peugeot dropped a bit of a clanger wheeling the gaping maw look out across their model range but sales of the 207 have remained strong across Europe, so I’ll bow to their better judgement. Overall, the 207 Van is a capable supermini-derived commercial vehicle. The nature of this sector is that sales are never going to be huge but the 207’s refined driving experience and strong engine range mean it’s well-equipped to bring in its fair share. Safety provision is particularly good and running costs are low.

FACTS AT A GLANCE VAN: Peugeot 207 Van ENGINES: 75bhp 1.4i Petrol, 68bhp 1.4HDi diesel, 90bhp 1.6HDi diesel. FUEL ECONOMY: [1.4HDi] (urban) 48.7mpg, (extra urban) 74.3mpg, (combined) 62.8mpg DIMENSIONS: Length/Width/Heightmm 4108/1719/1802 GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT: 1,570kg– 1,630kg MAXIMUM PAYLOAD: 450kg