Peugeot Rifter: the practical and affordable alternative to an MPV

Name: Peugeot Rifter 2019
Brand: Rifter

Yago González Mato 18 April 2019 8 min.

Peugeot Rifter: the practical and affordable alternative to an MPV

The Peugeot Rifter, due to its versatility, is not limited to the working world alone. In its passenger version, its added family focus, space and comfort place it among the most useful cars on the market.

Among light commercial vehicles, the Peugeot Rifter stands out as an excellent option. And not only for transporting goods or loading and unloading products. It also offers a family-oriented approach as an alternative to the traditional MPV.

Peugeot places the Rifter’s offering within the segment of affordable compact MPVs, especially considering that the latter have evolved toward SUV territory, as is the case with the Peugeot 3008 and the 5008, which, incidentally, share the same EMP2 platform with the new model.

The Peugeot Rifter offers many virtues and, after having had the opportunity to test it and travel with it, we can confidently state that it is one of the most versatile vehicles in its class.

An engine that performs perfectly

The Peugeot Rifter offers a wide range of engine options. On the one hand, there are two petrol options: the 1.2 PureTech, available in 110 and 130 CV versions.

As for the diesel, the manufacturer offers three options: 75, 100 and 130 CV 1.5 BlueHDi engines are the available diesel units.

In our case, we had the opportunity to test the 130 CV BlueHDi 1.5 diesel version.

All engine options come as standard with a 5- or 6-speed manual gearbox, depending on the version. On the more powerful versions, an optional 8-speed torque-converter automatic gearbox can be fitted, the same one we used.

The 130 CV BlueHDi engine delivers excellent performance. Thanks to its 300 Nm of torque, its pulling power and its responsiveness, especially from low revs, are perfect for its size. It offers all the thrust we could need, delivered precisely, comfortably and progressively, even with the car fully loaded. Its top speed reaches 183 km/h.

As for fuel consumption, we measured an average of 5.2 litres every 100 kilometres, outstanding figures considering the dimensions and aerodynamics of the model, although we will discuss this in more detail later.

The 100% electric option of the new Peugeot Rifter will be available in the future to, among other things, offer an alternative in the face of new traffic regulations and environmental protection measures.

A distinctive exterior design

At 4.4 metres long and 1.8 metres tall, this is a large vehicle, especially in terms of height, which can sometimes make it difficult to access certain garage entrances or low points in some specific areas. Something to keep in mind if we have limited access to our usual car park.

These dimensions, on the other hand, make transporting and loading goods much easier. After all, the Rifter has also been conceived with commercial versions primarily in mind.

As for the overall look of the model, this is, as always, a matter of taste. We are looking at a vehicle that conveys robustness and versatility in its lines. A commercial vehicle with the soul of a family MPV; one cannot ask for miracles. But overall, it is aesthetically well resolved.

The brand’s interest in modernising its lines and making the car more attractive is evident, another attempt to position the Rifter not just as a transport vehicle but as an excellent option for travelling with the family.

A wide range of colours for wheels, mouldings and other details is available to achieve a distinctive and customisable design, much more in tune with the world of leisure driving.

Interior design and complete, modern equipment

The interior of the new Peugeot Rifter could be summed up in two words: spaciousness and comfort.

The model’s great height and its length are obvious features that make the cabin easy to use. The model is available in 5- or 7-seat versions, depending obviously on the intended use. The range has recently added the long-wheelbase Rifter.

It comes with the i-Cockpit system, focused especially on the driver and trying to resemble a passenger car in many respects. It offers, among other things, a great infotainment system controlled by an 8″ touchscreen. It naturally incorporates the latest technology and is compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

The i-Cockpit system is intuitive and easy to use, becoming familiar within a few journeys, which makes it an efficient and comfortable solution for interacting with the vehicle’s systems.

A 180º rear-view camera, a Head-Up Display, a blind-spot monitoring system and automatic emergency braking, are some of the safety systems available on the model.

However, the most notable feature of the interior is undoubtedly its space and versatility. It has a multitude of compartments and extra modules to hold all kinds of objects, backpacks and more.

The seats are particularly wide and comfortable, and you can fit, for example, a child seat in any of the 3 rear seats without any problem.

In addition, the third-row seats slide, making them easy to handle, and, to top it off, they can be easily removed if needed, as in the standard version of the model.

No one will have comfort issues in the Rifter; everyone will feel at ease thanks to the space and the comfort of the seats, regardless of size.

As for the boot, the cargo volume ranges from 775 litres up to 4,000 with the seats folded. In other words, you will have no space problems at all: the Rifter can carry a whole family’s luggage with ease, bicycles, or flat-pack furniture from IKEA…

On top of that, the Peugeot Rifter features a huge panoramic roof that lets passengers enjoy incredible views of the night sky or a sunny day.

How does the Peugeot Rifter drive?

As we said before, we had the opportunity to test one of the top-of-the-range versions of the Rifter, specifically the 130 CV BlueHDi diesel.

Thanks to its performance, the engine is genuinely capable, with an almost perfect balance between power and weight. It gave us no trouble during the days we spent with it, and it handled different terrains and gradients without issue.

As for consumption, this version averaged 5.2 litres/100 km, which in our view is impeccable, especially considering the dimensions and weight of the vehicle.

The engine’s power delivery is progressive, although it is true that downshifting and working the gears is often necessary, especially when tackling a mountain pass.

Its handling on winding roads is even more agile than one would expect from a car that looks like a “van”. It is important to highlight the vehicle’s comfort, for both driver and passengers: the Rifter has a suspension tuned for comfort and a high ride height, which allows it to deal with uneven surfaces, potholes, bumps and speed humps with barely any feeling of them. Much appreciated. But don’t ask it to behave like a passenger car on bends.

When the car is loaded or carrying several passengers, revving it harder than usual will often be necessary, because in the end, despite its generous torque, the power, though not low, can sometimes feel a little short.

In short, the Peugeot Rifter does not stand out in driving dynamics: it has some inertia, and its tall stance does not inspire much confidence on winding roads. However, it was not designed for that. Its main goal is to be useful and comfortable, two aspects in which the model scores highly.

Prices, versions and rivals

As we have mentioned, there are all kinds of options depending on your preferences when choosing a new Rifter. If we had to choose, however, we would recommend the 130 CV diesel version, which we think is the best balanced.

As for the competition, the closest alternatives would be the Citroën Berlingo and the Renault Kangoo, both also good options.