. Our test car is a GT, which is the smarter of the two models and costs £34,330; there's also the £32,300 Allure. It's not cheap, then, but by the standards of its electric rivals it offers a lot of space for the cash; Volkswagen's ID.3 and the MG 5 EV are both on a par cost-wise, but the Peugeot is far more practical than either, with three proper seats in the back. There's also an extended-wheelbase version, with another two seats. As Citroen has with its Berlingo, Peugeot has axed diesel versions of the Rifter. There's only one battery and motor combination – the s){kind=link}
It’s highly practical, affordable to buy and run, and eminently sensible – but would you put one on your driveway?
“It’s a van with windows,” says my wife, as I open the front door to show her the Peugeot e-Rifter we’ll be driving to visit her friends.
“Well, actually, it’s a multi-purpose vehicle with extremely versatile seating, a tree-hugging, newt-pleasing, electric powertrain and a whiff of SUV styling to help it appeal to the masses,” I suggest.
“No. It’s a van with windows,” she says.
The trouble is, she’s right. This is just one reason Peugeot will struggle to get too many British drivers interested in the e-Rifter. However, snobbery apart, the buying public might just find something they like here – the e-Rifter, after all, shares a common ancestry with the Citroen Berlingo, now a byword for wholesome, family-friendly motoring. Can Peugeot’s version deliver more of the same?