These are laborious occasions to launch an MPV. As such, Peugeot is insisting that its newest practicality-centered providing, the Rifter, isn’t a conventional folks-carrier but instead a crossover with cues from the firm’s SUVs. Neither are we. But there’s little doubt that Peugeot has gone to some lengths to attempt to mask the fact that the Rifter - sister vehicle to the most recent Citroen Berlingo - is a field on wheels. There’s a a lot shorter entrance overhang, for starters, with the Peugeot family face and grille. The flanks have a useful quantity of surfacing - no imply feat after they even have to incorporate the rails for the sliding doorways. These also accommodate electric windows, due to some neat insets that give the automobile a chunky look. This ruggedness is enhanced additional by body cladding around the wheelarches and pronounced roof rails. Does it appear to be an off-roader? Not really (though a four-wheel-drive version is reportedly on the best way). But there's a whiff of ‘Tonka toy’ concerning the Rifter, which has curious attraction for one thing designed to be incessantly abused in household life - probably around city.
Mind you, loads of SUVs may learn a trick or two from the Rifter’s cabin, which actually is a masterclass in sensible touches. There’s as much as 180 litres of oddment house in the cabin alone; that’s 12 litres more in cubbyholes than a Toyota Aygo manages in its total boot. And this area is delivered in useful ways. There’s a giant top-loading field in the dashboard - massive enough for a laptop computer and accessible with a cooler - and a locker that drops down, aircraft-model, from the roof above the boot. It can be accessed from the rear seats, too. And the door bins are borderline preposterous; they will accommodate three or even 4 water bottles with ease. There are literally a couple of various sizes of Rifter - standard and lengthy-wheelbase - and each are available with either 5 or seven seats (the third row is removable). Choose the regular version and you’ll have 775 litres of boot area with the second row in place, or as much as 3,000 with them folded down. The bigger version, which is 35cm longer total, presents 1,050 litres in 5-seat form, rising to a startling 4,000 litres when you prioritise cargo over passengers.
Accessing the boot requires a hefty tug on the colossal tailgate (no motorised option is obtainable), however on some variations you’ll also have the ability to get to the cargo by opening the glass - like on many BMW estates. Peugeot is engaged on an electrified version of the Rifter, however in the meantime, customers can select from a wide range of petrol and diesel options. Peugeot UK remains to be crunching numbers on pricing however we do know that the automobile will probably be provided in three trim levels: Active, Allure and the flagship GT Line we’re attempting right here. Specs have but to be confirmed, too, however anticipate the entry editions to overlook out on the eight-inch touchscreen and get guide air-conditioning as an alternative of local weather control. They’ll probably do without snazzy wheels, too, making do with 15-inch items with plastic covers; higher-finish variations get as much as 17-inch alloys. It's going to hardly surprise you to be taught that the Rifter is not the last phrase in agility or efficiency on the highway - but the 128bhp BlueHDi auto that we tried had more than enough shove to try brisk progress.
It tries its finest to grasp on in corners and there’s really a stunning quantity of preliminary chunk within the steering - a outcome, maybe, of the EMP2-based entrance end that shares components with extra standard Peugeot hatchbacks and SUVs. But throw the Rifter at a corner with any amount of gusto and you’ll be greeted by a good quantity of physique roll. The nose will start to clean extensive shortly afterwards. It’s at its best at a motorway cruise, when the diesel engine fades away nicely, leaving solely a consistent whoosh of wind noise - a reminder that you’re driving a slab-sided vehicle. And in city, the place the comfortable experience soaks up minor street imperfections seamlessly and the auto field does a good job of shifting slickly and intelligently. Throw within the elevated driving place and the short overhangs and also you get a automobile that belies its dimension on congested roads. We doubt the lengthy-wheelbase one could be as forgiving, mind. We’d actually steer you in the direction of the BlueHDi as a substitute of the 109bhp PureTech petrol.
