Peugeot's new baby
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• by Colin Barnett After a few false starts Peugeot's 206 Van has finally hit the road. We got to drive the Ryton-built newcomer in the week that Peugeot celebrated the production of the millionth 206 car, 20 months after its launch.
Powered by a 1.9-litre naturally aspirated diesel producing 68hp, the 206 Van promises a class-leading payload of 450kg with a 75kg driver.
The 1:13m3 load space has a floor area which is 1,280mm long with a maximum width of 1,168mm. A one-third-height steel bulkhead is fitted as standard, with a full-height mesh grille as an option. There is also a hidden lidded storage box under the passenger seat.
Peugeot's car-to-van conversion is one of the simplest around, with just six screws per side holding a steel panel to the side windows' original hinges. As a result the interior is well trimmed, with only the insAe of the tailgate and the window panels displaying painted steel.
A comprehensive fist of standard equipment includes power steering, a driver's airbag, column-controlled radio-cassette and pollen filter. Among the options are a pas senger airbag, security upgrades, electric windows and satellite navigation—a first in this category.
Performance from standstill is not blisteringly quick, but the flexibility of the naturally aspirated engine allows it to cover ground at a respectable pace. Tall gearing gives a claimed top speed of 100mph: ideal for those courier deliveries to Munich.
A suspension setup which tends more towards the sporty than the luxury gives kart-like handling without being uncomfortable. Our only minor gripes are that the throttle pedal is rather heavy compared with the brake pedal, and the gear lever gate needs a much longer throw than we expected.
What you would also expect, with all that trim, is a quiet drive—and you wouldn't be disappointed. As is to be expected from the most modern carderived van on the market, the 206 Van's cockpit is a pleasant place to be. It successfully combines contemporary styling with an ergonomically efficient working environment.
All controls are logically arranged within easy reach and there's plenty of storage space for odds and ends.
Seven colours, including two extra-cost metallic finishes, are available on the 206 Van, which is now on sale at £8,000. (ex-VAT).