Peugeot’s Rifter is the one for Mr Shifter
range GT Line version (from £24,259 on the road) which meant it came with a turbocharged 129 bhp diesel engine, cruise control, 8-inch touch screen infotainment, sat-nav, keyless entry and go, dual zone air conditioning, rear camera and parking sensors, auto lights and wipers and Peugeot’s i-cockpit instrument binnacle, mounted above the small steering wheel so more in the driver’s line of sight.
I used the Rifter for a petrolhead day out at the recent NEC Classic Car Show in Birmingham and loaded it up with a few friends and piles of bacon butties.
With a claimed 70mpg plus on a run it was ideal in terms of space and economy although I did get a few ‘mini bus’ jibes.
But with more than acceptable performance - 0 to 62 in 10.4 seconds and a top speed of 116 - and a comfortable motorway cruising ride those soon dried up as my passengers began to appreciate I had chosen the right vehicle for the job.
Peugeot say their practicality-focused Rifter isn’t a traditional MPV but instead a crossover with cues from the firm’s SUVs.
That aspiration to ruggedness is enhanced by body cladding around the wheel arches and pronounced roof rails with a definite ‘Tonka toy’ look.
There are actually a couple of different sizes of Rifter standard and long-wheelbase - and both are available with either five or seven seats (the third row removable). Choose the regular edition and you’ll have 775 litres of boot space with the second row in place, or up to 3,000 with them folded down. The bigger version, which is 35cm longer overall, offers 1,050 litres in five-seat form, rising to a huge 4,000 litres if you favour cargo over passengers.
You can choose from a variety of petrol and diesel options. The 1.2-litre PureTech three-cylinder petrol is offered with 109bhp and a six-speed manual gearbox then a 1.5 BlueHDi diesel comes in three states of tune - 74bhp and 99bhp versions get a five-speed manual while our 129bhp car gets a six-speed box or an auto option.
There are three trim levels, Active, Allure and our flagship GT Line, with prices starting from £18,775 with the lowest power diesel engine,
Our 129 bhp unit is at its best on a motorway cruise, nice and quiet with only the wind noise reminding you that this is a somewhat boxy, slab-sided vehicle. In town the comfortable ride soaks up minor road bumps well and you appreciate that raised driving position.
The cabin materials are focused more on durability than luxury, probably a good thing given that it is designed for the knocks of family life, but some of the plastics are still a little utilitarian.
The French have a long history of producing vanbased family people carriers, and there’s a reason for that. Boxy proportions and lowcost engineering make these cars the perfect choice for active families on a budget, especially those for whom a vehicle is simply a means of transport from A to B,
And for that the Rifter is perfect offering superb practicality, efficiency and value under a reworked van skin decorated with stick-on SUV cues.
With five or seven seats, long and short-wheelbase body styles and loads of engine choices, the Rifter has plenty going for it
More information at www. peugeot.co.uk