Peugeot E-Traveller review

Auto Car

2 days ago

The old Peugeot E-Traveller was a credible electric MPV that showed real signs of promise when it launched five years ago.
At a time when you couldn't buy an electric seven-seater, it catered to what would likely have been a select group who wanted an eco-friendly people mover to carry plenty of passengers and their luggage, hassle-free. You'll probably have ridden in one from your hotel to the airport, you just didn't know it.
And yet for all its space and practicality, the old E-Traveller was hamstrung by such a short range it was barely good enough for quick jaunts around town. Its 50kWh battery could only muster a range of up to 148 miles (closer to 120 miles in the real-world) hence its use case as a family hauler or airport shuttle was dented.
Peugeot is hoping to address these limitations with the updated E-Traveller, which has been given a new battery, refreshed look and updated interior technology to help it keep pace with rivals like the Ford E-Tourneo Custom, and the technically related Vauxhall Vivaro Life and Citroën ë-Spacetourer.
Moreover, Peugeot will also have its sights trained on electric seven-seat rivals like the Kia EV9 and Volkswagen ID Buzz, which have grown in number since the E-Traveller hit the road.
So does this newfangled electric MPV have enough quality to persevere in the people-carrying segment, and or is it still tied back by its van-based origins?
Verdict
Good
Cavernous interior is spacious and flexible
Well-equipped with usable tech
Undercuts many seven-seat alternatives on price
Bad
Real-world range is poor
Struggles over potholes and imperfections; fuss and fidget at higher speeds
Cheap-feeling interior means it doesn't wear its price well
Pros
Available in both short and long-wheelbase form
Larger battery than before
Cons
Long-wheelbase is more than five metres long
Not that different to the Vauxhall and Citroën siblings
The E-Traveller has been given a light refresh over its blunt-nosed predecessor to bring it into line with the rest of the French marque's passenger car range.
As such, the E-Traveller boasts plenty of Peugeot design hallmarks which have come to signify the brand, such as the new logo and LED three-claw light signature that adorns the front fascia of all current models.
Of course, there's only so much fettling Peugeot can achieve with Stellantis's large passenger van, which is near-identical to those sold by Vauxhall, Citroën and Toyota.
It looks better than the outgoing version, and while you'll struggle to spot many differences between it and its Stellanits counterparts, it's unassuming and simple.
And while it looks identical to the Expert on which it is based, it does look a bit more swish thanks to its alloy wheels and body-coloured bumpers – very posh.
Modest styling tweaks aside, Peugeot has centred on bringing changes to the mechanical underpinnings of the E-Traveller, chiefly to the battery. Out goes the dated 50kWh unit and in its place sits a larger 75kWh lithium ion battery that promises a range of up to 217 miles, an increase of almost 70 miles over the previous-generation.
Two trims are available: entry-level Active gets 17in alloys, a 10in touchscreen infotainment system and dual zone climate control. Range-topping Allure trim gets diamond cut 17in alloys, Peugeot's upgraded i-connect infotainment system with sat-nav, heated seats and a 180 degree camera.
You can have the E-Traveller with five or eight seats, and in Standard or Long (for long-wheelbase) form.
Pros
Vast amounts of room for passengers and luggage
Plenty of buttons and switches for secondary controls
Cons
Full of cheap, hard plastics
Touchscreen could be crisper
There really isn't anything that can come close to a van-based MPV when it comes to space and practicality.
Our Long test car (eight-seat Standard also available) felt cavernous inside: even with three rows and eight seats there's a 989-litre boot. Lower the 60:40 split-folding third row and luggage capacity grows to a whopping 2400 litres.
Remove both rows of rear seats and you have more than 4500 litres of load space to play with.
Head room is good throughout, but leg room is a bit limited for adults in the very back, much like the seven-seat Kia EV9. The lofty driving position means you have a good view out, and there's a decent amount of adjustability in the seat.
Hard, durable plastics are abundant, but for a big load lugging MPV it can be forgiven in this regard. Still, some more tactile materials on the dashboard wouldn't go amiss and would certainly help move the cabin away from its van roots.
The new 10in touch-operated infotainment screen is easy to use on the move despite some latency issues. You can hop between different functions without fuss, but it could be quicker and graphically sharper.
The dashboard itself is well conceived, with proper toggles and switches for the climate controls. You get plenty of cubby holes and charging ports for your phone, too.
Pros
Regenerative brakes are easy to control via the paddles on the steering wheel
Cons
Hamstrung by 2.2-tonne kerb weight and underpowered motor
Brake pedal feels mushy
Powering the front wheels is a 134bhp electric motor that also makes 192lb ft of torque, and while those figures would be suitable for most vans, in the big, heavy E-Traveller it's not very effective.
You need only look at its 14.3sec 0-62mph time to realise that 134bhp isn't enough to haul its 2240kg kerb weight – even in sport mode it feels sluggish and slow. Building pace on a slip road takes time but it's fine on the motorway – just be wary that the range will plummet when doing 70mph plus.
Speaking of which, the quoted range of 217 miles is more like 180 in the real-world, which does limit the E-Traveller's usability for families or airport shuttle fleets.
The regenerative braking system is controlled using the paddles behind the steering wheel (like many Stellantis EVs) and it works pretty well overall. The highest trailing-throttle regen setting is a bit too forceful, hence we opted for the mid-rung setting when driving around town.
Don't expect much feel from the brake pedal, which is a bit too long and soft for our liking.
Pros
Ride is settled around town
Untroubled at motorway speeds, but expect more wind roar
Cons
Light steering offers little by the way of feel or feedback
Unsettled at higher speeds with lack of control over lumps and bumps
Noticeable thunk over potholes and imperfections
Still here? In that case, you'll be pleased to learn that the E-Traveller is generally well-mannered to drive.
At 5.3-metres long, it does feel more intimidating to thread through town than say, a Kia EV9, but its lofty seating position does give you a good view out. The steering is light and lacking in feedback, with lots of dead weight off-centre and there's little feel to it when pootling around town at slow speeds.
It rides ok in urban settings, but on rural backgrounds it feels quite bouncy and unsettled, with the odd thunk over potholes and pronounced imperfections.
Unladen and with only the driver on board, it feels underdamped, with lots of jostle and jounce when travelling at a reasonable pace on an unkempt road.
Body roll abounds through corners, but that is to be expected of a long-wheelbase MPV with van-based foundations. On smoother roads at around 40mph it's settled, pliant and is generally easy to do miles in.
It's untroubled at motorway speeds, too, just don't be surprised by an increase in wind noise as a result of the Peugeot's large frontal area.
The E-Traveller's 100kW peak DC charging is a drawback, especially if you're reliant on the public network. 45 minutes for a 10-80% charge is less than ideal, and it can't match the sub-30 minute charging time of the ID Buzz, which can accept up to 185kW.
That sort of slow charging speed might not be an issue for the panel van version, which will likely do short distances during the day and get charged at a depot overnight, but it is an issue for a family hauler.
Then there's the elephant in the room: the price. Entry-level Active models start from £48,925, but our long-wheelbase Allure model came in at £54,440. Equipment levels are strong and you get acres of room inside, but the drive and range is no match for its SUV rivals.
It undercuts the likes of the Kia EV9 (£65,035) and the quirky Volkswagen ID Buzz (£59,135) on price, but both can travel further on a charge, are equally capacious and far less austere inside.
And what of the Peugeot E-5008? Surely, for private buyers at least, it makes more sense – it only costs around £400 more than the E-Traveller, but can be had with seven-seats, and it will do over 400 miles on a charge in big battery form.
Verdict
Good
Cavernous interior is spacious and flexible
Well-equipped with usable tech
Undercuts many seven-seat alternatives on price
Bad
Real-world range is poor
Struggles over potholes and imperfections; fuss and fidget at higher speeds
Cheap-feeling interior means it doesn't wear its price well
There will be a select few who will look upon the E-Traveller with interest and be taken by its vast cabin, versatile load-lugging capabilities and genuine ease of use.
Indeed, its breezily spacious interior is the key selling point, and it still makes sense for businesses who need to clean-up their fleets with a zero-emissions vehicle.
But has Peugeot addressed the issues with the E-Traveller's range? In short, not quite. It's fine for town jaunts, but beyond urban environments it becomes much less efficient and, fully loaded with passengers and luggage, you'll get even less mileage from its battery.
For private buyers, we'd be inclined to look elsewhere. If you need minivan levels of room and practicality it makes a strong case for families of five or more, but SUV rivals are far easier to recommend.
The Volkswagen ID Buzz and Kia EV9 might be dearer, the Kia particularly so, but they're greater range and general car-ness makes them a better buy than the Peugeot.