Peugeot e-Rifter Long GT Electric (2024 - )

Peugeot has given its all-electric e-Rifter a make-over and, as well as some cosmetic enhancements, there has been an improvement to the driving range.

Customers can choose between two different lengths aptly named Standard and Long and also between a pair of trim levels called Allure and GT. It can also be specified with five or seven seats which means customers are offered plenty of flexibility.

Prices are fairly competitive with the e-Rifter starting from £32,230 and all versions have the same 50kWh battery pack with a driving range of 199 miles between charges.

The box-like design may divide opinion and it’s not the most thrilling vehicle to drive, but it does cover practicality bases very well.

We opted for the e-Rifter Long GT with five seats for our test drive.

If you can get your head round the fact the e-Rifter resembles a glorified box on wheels, then it has plenty going for it. It has recently been updated and that means it gains all the latest Peugeot design cues with a new-look grille, fresh badging, improved lights with the three-claw signature styling and a fresh palette of colours to choose from. There are tinted rear windows, body-coloured door handles, an opening rear windscreen and 17-inch alloys to complete the look.
Moving inside, the interior is very spacious and the GT model features three individual second row seats. The main focal point in the cabin is a 10-inch high-definition touchscreen which offers access to the many on-board features, including a six-speaker sound system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring, 4G connectivity with intelligent voice assist summoned by saying “OK Peugeot”, Bluetooth, navigation and lots more besides.
Behind the steering wheel is a 10-inch driver information screen where all the vital driving data, such as speed, battery charge levels and driving range, can be viewed. Even with plenty of seat and steering wheel adjustment, it can be awkward to view the screen either through or over the steering wheel at times, which is not ideal.
But that aside, everything else works well and, with the elevated seating, the driver benefits from great all-round visibility.
 

Powering the entire Peugeot e-Rifter line-up is a 50kWh battery with 136bhp and 260Nm of torque. Our model could reach 62mph from a standing start in 11.2 seconds and maxed out at 81mph and has a driving range of 199 miles.
While those performance figures are not exactly exciting, e-Rifter owners will be looking for a vehicle that delivers on the practicality front rather than sheer pace. 
That said; it is a pleasant vehicle to drive and can easily cruise at 70mph on motorways where refinement levels also impressed.
The acceleration through the single-speed transmission is smooth enough, but if you attack tight bends on B roads too enthusiastically, expect a little body sway. However, generally the e-Rifter is well grounded with fairly confident grip. 
There are drive modes called Eco, Normal and Power to alter the driving characteristics of the car, along with three levels of regenerative braking that are controlled via the steering wheel paddles. These are easy to use in busy town centres with lots of stop, start traffic and the energy recouped will top up the battery levels.
The steering is nicely weighted and, with soft suspension, the ride is well cushioned so most bumps and dips are smoothed out along the way.
 

The e-Rifter Long, as tested, has a stronger road presence compared to the Standard model. It stretches 4,755mm in length (Standard is 4,405mm), is the same width at 1,848mm (excluding mirrors), 1,837mm tall (Standard is 1,818mm) and has a wheelbase of 2,975mm whereas the e-Rifter Standard is 2,785mm.
Thanks to its boxy design with a high roofline, the inside of the e-Rifter is really spacious with easy access to the three individual rear seats via practical manually-operated sliding doors, which are ideal in a tight car park where there is not much room. The outer seats also have Isofix child seat anchors that are simple to reach.
Space within the cabin impresses with room for five adults to sit comfortably and, with those individual second row seats, there will be no complaints from the middle passenger.
There are storage compartments at every turn inside the cabin, including a huge overhead tray above the front windscreen, plus cup holders at each end of the dashboard, seat back pockets, a glovebox, trays on the dash, wide door bins, a large central storage compartment and some handy trays.
There is plenty of storage space behind the rear seats and then when you need more room, those second-row seats can be folded flat and the e-Rifter can swallow up to 3,500 litres of luggage.
Charging the e-Rifter’s 50kWh battery from zero to 80 per cent via a 100kW rapid charger takes 38 minutes or, if using a 7.4kW wallbox, a zero to 100 per cent charge will take 6 hours, 43 minutes.
 

The new Peugeot e-Rifter is on sales in two well-equipped trim levels called Allure and GT and these are on offer in Standard or Long body styles with prices ranging from £32,230 to £35,925 (on the road).
The model we tested, the range-topping e-Rifter Long GT was priced at £35,925 but Kiama Blue paintwork added a further £575 to the asking price. Generally, the vehicle is well equipped so there is no need to add anything else to the mix, although the likes of an electric panoramic roof, heat pump, full size spare wheel and a number of other options, are available.
According to official figures under WLTP testing, every version of the e-Rifter can achieve a combined 199 miles of driving range between charges, but this would drop like a stone if lots of motorway driving is factored in.
However day-to-day running costs can be kept low if the vehicle can be charged at home when tariffs may be lower, or at work. Regular motorway charging will see these costs rise considerably.
There are still a number of financial incentives for EV owners and these include being exempt from road tax, Ultra Low Emission Zone fees and Congestion Charge costs. Sadly, these are being withdrawn or reduced starting from next year.
Electric vehicles have fewer moving parts compared to a petrol or diesel car so there is less to go wrong. But, for added peace of mind, the Peugeot e-Rifter comes with a three-year, unlimited mileage warranty package.
The Benefit in Kind rating for business drivers is an attractive two per cent, while the car, as tested, sits in insurance group 20.
 

While the Peugeot e-Rifter is not the most exciting vehicle to drive, it does exactly what is expected of it and does it well. And that could make it an ideal alternative to the vast number of SUVs that have been flooding the sector recently.

In addition, the latest face-lifted model boasts a number of improvements. It looks smarter, features more high-end kit and is packed with safety tech and driver assistance aids to protect occupants and other road users alike.

We just wish there was a little more range.