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23 Sep, 2016 2:00pm Tom Wiltshire

Peugeot is pitching the Traveller as the upmarket alternative to rivals on the same platform, but how does it stack up as a classy MPV?

Seven-seater people carriers are all very well, but for people with bigger families nothing can beat the outright carrying capacity of a van. The Peugeot Traveller is the MPV version of the new Peugeot Expert van, and it will carry eight full-sized adults with room to spare. It has two sister models in the form of the Toyota Proace Verso and the Citroen SpaceTourer, but Peugeot is aiming the Traveller at buyers who want a little more luxury from their people-movers. 

Our standard-wheelbase model had ample space for six-foot passengers in all three rows. It also offered a hefty 640-litre boot space even with all seats in position but that space is very tall and shallow so it isn’t quite as practical as the numbers suggest. Removing the bulky seats is no small operation, but if you manage to heave them out you’ll be rewarded with a capacity of 3,200 litres of space up to the window line. That’s truly (and unsurprisingly) van-like.

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Even entry-level Active trim gets plenty of goodies like dual-zone climate control, cruise control, automatic lights and wipers, and a slick 7-inch infotainment system offering Bluetooth and DAB connectivity. Our Allure model added to this with electric and heated front seats, a panoramic glass roof, a heads-up display, xenon headlights and keyless entry. Sat-nav is a £240 option, but Allure models do get leather trim to add to the luxury feel. The interior is well designed and trimmed in fairly high-end materials, but the Traveller can’t match the Volkswagen Caravelle for interior quality.

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On the move is where the case for a more car-like people carrier starts to make sense. Though there’s plenty of adjustment in the seat and steering wheel, the driving position is resolutely upright and won’t suit drivers with very long legs. The cavernous interior amplifies road and wind noise, making for a fairly noisy ride, although it’s comfortable even without a load in the rear. 

Performance from the 148bhp 2.0-litre diesel isn’t sparkling, but it’s got strong in-gear pace – it’s just a shame the six-speed gearbox has such a loose, baggy action. The Traveller is easy to drive, though, with great all-round visibility courtesy of that high-set driving position. It feels smaller on the road than its size too, and it handles tidily enough.

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Unlike the Toyota Proace Verso and the Citroen SpaceTourer, Peugeot won’t be offering the Traveller in a more basic trim level, so list prices seem a little high next to those vans. There isn’t a nine-seater version on offer, either. Look at it next to the Volkswagen Caravelle and things start to stack up a little better though. To nab a comparably equipped VW you’d be spending well in excess of £40,000 – making the Peugeot’s £36,985 seem decent value.

But if you don’t need the extra seat, you can look in the other direction. A top-spec Citroen Grand C4 Picasso still offers space for seven, a comfortable ride and efficient engines – plus far superior refinement and dynamics – for under £30,000.

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Peugeot’s pushed upmarket with the Traveller and it shows, with a comfortable interior packed with equipment. It’s spacious, too, and as a high-end executive bus it competes pretty well with the VW Caravelle. But it’s just a little too expensive to make it the best big MPV choice.

• Model: Peugeot Traveller Allure STD BlueHDi 150
• Price: £36,985
• Engine: .0-litre turbodiesel
• Power/torque: 148bhp/370Nm
• Transmission: Six-speed manual, front-wheel drive

• 0-62mph: 11.0 seconds
• Top speed: 106mph
• Economy/CO2: 53.3mpg/139g/km
• On sale : Now

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