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By Jonathan Crouch

Full electrification's the fashion at present, even for MPV buyers. Jonathan Crouch looks at Peugeot's improved E-Rifter

Ten Second Reviewword count: 117

Full electrification's the fashion at present, even for MPV buyers. Well here's one you might like - the improved version of Peugeot's E-Rifter. If you can afford the asking price and can cope with the now enhanced 199 mile driving range, then for those unafflicted by van segment snobbery there aren't too many other downsides in opting for this fully electric compact family MPV. It certainly might be tempting option if you're looking for a full-electric compact family car and don't want a compact SUV. Here, there's the option of a 7-seat cabin too, which is rare to find in an EV at present. Except with the Citroen, Vauxhall and Toyota models that share this one's design.

Backgroundword count: 164

The segment for compact People Carriers has recently gained something of a fresh lease of life, courtesy of EV power. The Stellantis Group has doggedly continued to sell small MPVs as sales in this sector have declined and now may reap the benefit, with fully electrified versions of the Citroen Berlingo, the Vauxhall Combo and the subject of this test, Peugeot's E-Rifter. All have been usefully updated in recent times and have been joined in the segment by another version of this same design badged as the Toyota Proace City Verso EV. The Rifter's been around on the market since 2018, but was initially offered only in combustion form. In 2021, the range switch to full-EV power and the E-Rifter was born. This improved version of that car was introduced in late 2023 and still uses the 50kWh battery that featured before, but in enhanced, longer-range form. And it's been built into the car in a way that doesn't compromise cabin space. Sounds interesting.

Driving Experienceword count: 315

As part of this update, we'd expected that Peugeot would fit the new 54kWh battery lately added to its more car-like EV models. Instead, the previous 50kWh battery is retained, but updated so that it can now take the E-Rifter up to 199 miles between charges, 27 miles further than before. It's a real pity Stellantis hasn't allowed Peugeot to offer the more modern 54kWh battery now fitted to the E-208 and E-308 that would add usefully to that figure and is paired to the kind of torquier 156hp motor that would make performance feel perkier too. As it is though, this model sticks with its previous 136hp motor, which in truth can struggle a bit when the car's fully loaded up and labouring up sharp inclines, where 260Nm of torque sometimes feels not quite enough. The performance stats suggest that 62mph takes 11.2s en route to a top speed of just 81mph. And you'll only get that kind of urge if you select 'Power', the most urgent of the three provided drive modes and the only one that liberates the motor's full output. That top 'Power' mode isn't really intended for sporty driving but for situations when you're carrying heavy loads. Peugeot recommends that you do most of your driving in the mid 'Normal' setting, which increases the motor output to 107hp. But the range figure we quoted earlier will only be distantly possible if you use the most frugal of the drive modes - 'Eco'. You won't want to spend too long in this most frugal setting unless you really are eeking out battery capacity because it reduces the powertrain's normal output to just 80hp and also restricts the climate system to conserve power. Range can also be enhanced by using this updated model's new regenerative braking system, which the driver can now adjust through three levels using paddles behind the steering wheel.

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