With manufacturers all adhering to the same set of regulations and standards, and with aerodynamics driving vehicle body design, you might think that all vans are pretty much the same. That is definitely not the case though, with a Transit offering a very different driving experience and ownership proposition to a Movano or a Sprinter.
So what about a van that shares pretty much everything but its badge with other marques, like Peugeot’s new Boxer, which comes off the same production line as the Citroën Relay and Fiat’s Ducato?
Admittedly the Fiat uses a different set of engines, which puts some clear air between Ducato and the two French vans. But how
do you differentiate between Boxer and Relay? Certainly the styling at the front is distinct for each manufacturer, with Peugeot’s designers having really cracked the integration of a family appearance in the grille surround and bonnet line.
Beyond that, they both benefit from the same set of upgrades, including the addition of ESP as standard on all models now. The two also have sturdier body shells, hinges and sliding side door mounts, which along with larger brake components and redesigned suspension brackets should improve longevity and cut total cost of ownership.
This is further improved with a move to 30,000-mile/two-year servicing and the adoption of a timing chain that requires
no replacement.
The L3H2 van that we have here comes with the most popular 130hp engine, though not interestingly with the option of Stop/Start, something that is only available with this power output. That aside, it returns a claimed 38.2mpg and 195g/km of CO2. Stop/Start, which comes at a very reasonable £200, would reduce the fuel figure by just 1mpg, but could cut up to 6.0g/km from the emissions.
With a decent 320Nm of torque and relatively short gearing, the Boxer certainly accelerates well and can happily keep pace with other vehicles in town and on rural roads. The high seating position makes it easy to place in traffic and the front drive chassis never feels anything less than secure.
At 13m3 the L3H2 sits in the middle of the Boxer range, that goes from 8–17m3. Likewise you can have a Boxer with an all-up weight of 3.0 tonnes or take that up to 4.0 tonnes, but this 3.5-tonner will be by far the most popular with UK buyers.
Perhaps more surprisingly, the Professional specification of our test van will also appeal to around 40% of UK buyers, prepared to part with an additional £1,000 for manual air conditioning, an alarm, cruise control, rear parking sensors, plus a five-inch colour touchscreen with standard sat nav. This screen also provides a monitor for the optional reversing camera and delivers access to the van’s standard DAB radio and Bluetooth telephone connectivity.
It is perhaps this list of kit, along with
the proximity of dealers, that will split the two French van firms’ products for many SME customers. Specification and trim level, along with purchase prices of course, remain the defining features of vans that share so much.
What we think
In Professional trim, the latest Boxer delivers an enviable specification for both the van driver and for the fleet manager looking at total cost of ownership.
Specification
MODEL Peugeot Boxer Professional HDi 130 L3H2
BASIC PRICE £26,155
ENGINE 4-cyl/2,198cc
FUEL INJECTION Common-rail
POWER 130hp @ 3,500rpm
TORQUE 320Nm @ 1,750rpm
Weights (kg)
GVW 3,500
KERB WEIGHT 1,925
PAYLOAD 1,525
MAX TRAILER WEIGHT 2,300
Dimensions (mm)
LOAD SPACE LENGTH 3,705
LOAD SPACE WIDTH 1,870
LOAD SPACE HEIGHT 1,932
LOAD HEIGHT (unladen) 535
LOAD VOLUME 13m3
Cost considerations
COMBINED MPG & CO2 38.2mpg/195g/km
OIL CHANGE 2 yr/30,000 miles
WARRANTY 3 yr/100,000 miles
