Peugeot E-Traveller Active Long Electric (2024 - )

The Peugeot E-Traveller, in its previous guise, was a very practical people mover, but was let down somewhat by its woefully low driving range between charges. But now the latest version boasts a 75kWh battery, increased from 50kWh, and that sees the range climb to a more respectable 217 miles (up from 143 on the outgoing model).

The vehicle can be specified with between five and nine seats and customers can choose from two trim levels called Active or Allure. In addition, there are two body lengths called Standard (4.98m) and (Long 5.33m).

It’s the sort of vehicle that will appeal to a range of business, such as taxis and shuttles that provide hotel or airport transportation, and we opted for the E-Traveller Active Long for our test drive.

There’s no denying the fact the Peugeot E-Traveller looks like a van from the outside with its boxy styling and larger-than-life dimensions, especially in the Long specification, as tested.

The vehicle adopts Peugeot’s very latest design language and that means it gets an updated grille featuring the company’s new-look emblem, upgraded full LED headlights with the now-trademark three-claw signature, plus a bumper that has been optimized for protection as well as efficiency.

The interior has been upgraded and now features a 10-inch infotainment screen with sat nav and a multi-media system. There is a voice assistant summoned by saying ‘OK Peugeot’ and this can help control the many on-board features without taking your hands off the steering wheel.

Creature comforts include an i-Connect system that offers quick links to the wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There is a DAB radio, plus TomTom connected navigation with over-the-air updates.

A 10-inch driver display offers all the vital data such as range, battery charge levels, speed and navigational directions and this can be customised to show preferences.

The front seats have fold-down armrests, and these seats, along with the steering wheel, can be heated.

Owners can also use a smartphone app to send destinations to the navigation system, as well managing the central locking, activating the headlights and horn, plus getting journey details. Possibly the best feature of this app though is the ability to schedule pre-heating or remote charging.

Powering our Peugeot E-Traveller Active Long was a 75kWh battery pack delivering 136hp and 260Nm of torque. The front wheel drive people mover can complete the 0-62mph sprint in 14.3 seconds (more of a saunter then) and it tops out at 81mph.

But perhaps the most important figure is the driving range between charges. This was a major issue with the outgoing E-Traveller which featured a smaller 50kWh battery and could only manage 143 miles, if driven carefully. The 2024 model boasts that larger 75kWh pack and that sees the range increase to a more respectable 217 miles.

Despite its size, the e-Traveller is deceptively agile making it easy to manoeuvre in and around town and steering wheel-mounted paddles can be used to adjust the strength of the regenerative braking.

When faced with the open road, the front-wheel drive vehicle offers decent grip on country lanes and can sit effortlessly at 70mph on a motorway, although the driving range will drop considerably quicker at higher speeds.

The acceleration through the single-speed automatic transmission is smooth with instant pace, and there are drive modes called Eco, Normal and Power to adjust the dynamics accordingly.

The ride is cushioned against any sudden bumps and dips and, for a vehicle of this size, the cabin remains well protected against any noise intrusion too.

The E-Traveller is a large, boxy, van-shaped people mover and is available in Standard guise measuring 4,959mm in length, or in Long (as tested), stretching 5,309mm. The width on both models is identical at 1,920mm (excluding door mirrors), as is the height which measures 1,890mm. Also, the same is the wheelbase which is 3,275mm.

With the batteries positioned beneath the floor, the is no compromise on space. Our E-Traveller had seating for eight with 60:40 split-folding seats in rows two and three. With all seats in an upright position, there is still room for 2,100 litres of luggage, increasing to 3,100 litres with the rear seats lowered and a whopping 4,900 litres with just the front seats in use.

However, it is worth noting that the tailgate is massive so keep that in mind if reversing towards a wall or the likes as it needs a lot of clearance to fully open.

Powered side doors can be opened from the dashboard, key fob, door handle or from inside the car, and the opening is nice and wide. That means getting in and out the second row of seats is easy. These seats slide, tilt and fold flat offering easy access to the trio of rear seats which boast ample leg room for adults to sit comfortably.

All vans come with lots of interior storage compartments and the E-Traveller is no exception featuring a chilled glovebox with further open boxes on top and below the dashboard. There are door bins, cup holders each end of the dash, plus two USB-C ports up front and two additional connections for second row occupants, although these are strangely both positioned to the far-left side of the vehicle.

Charging the E-Traveller’s 75kWh battery from five to 80 per cent via a 100kW rapid charger takes 45 minutes or, if using a 7.4kW wallbox, a zero to 100 per cent charge takes 11 hours, 20 minutes.

The new Peugeot E-Traveller is available in two trims called Active costing from £48,995 (on the road) for the Standard version (including VAT) and rising to £55,130 OTR for the Allure in Long specification.

Our test car, the E-Traveller Active Long, was priced at £49,895, although a number of options bumped the final cost up to £54,440. These included metallic paint, a tailgate with opening window, heating system and wiper, rear air conditioning with roof control panel in the back, an 11kW tri-phase on-board charger, an alarm system with Thatcham-compatible alarm, Peugeot i-Connect Advanced system that brings connected navigation, a DAB radio, 10-inch HD touchscreen with MirrorScreen (WiFi), 4G connectivity and an upgraded sound system. 

Additional extras included a Handsfree & Easy Access pack with power sliding side access doors and a hands-free sensor beneath the rear bumper for the tailgate. There was also an adaptive cruise control system with stop & go, plus a leather steering wheel.

Quite a list then, so fair to say our test model was packed to bursting with all the bells and whistles Peugeot could throw at it!

According to official figures, all E-Traveller models can deliver a combined 217 miles of range between charges, and the zero carbon emissions figure means the vehicle is exempt from road tax bills and is free from Congestion Charge and Ultra Low Emission Zone fees too. However, that will all be changing from next year when EV drivers will face added costs as their incentives are gradually withdrawn. At present, there is no charge for EV owners who purchase a vehicle costing in excess of £40k, but that is also being axed next year.

The E-Traveller is a sound choice for businesses though and this is the area that is likely to make up the majority of sales. They will profit from the Benefit in Kind tax rating of just two per cent.

Insurance group ratings are still to be announced, but the E-Traveller comes with a three-year, unlimited mileage warranty package.

The last generation Peugeot E-Traveller was a very practical piece of kit but was let down by the dreadfully low driving range between charges. Enter the new model with its larger battery pack and that issue is immediately rectified. 

It’s available with an array of seating configurations and is also well equipped, but there is a lot of hard plastic inside the cabin that rather lowers the tone.

However, it is competitively priced against rival models, and makes sense to anyone who needs to shuttle people from A to B without facing expensive Congestion Charge and low emission zone fees along the way.