Peugeot e-Expert vs Citroen e-Dispatch vs Vauxhall Vivaro Electric

The ultimate electric van showdown: Peugeot e-Expert vs Citroen e-Dispatch vs Vauxhall

Which lease van is right for you?

If you’re looking for a medium-sized electric van lease, chances are you’ve been eyeing up either the Peugeot e-Expert, the Citroen e-Dispatch, or the Vauxhall Vivaro Electric.

But did you know that all three vans share the same underpinnings, and are very similar?

Engineered by the PSA Group (now part of Stellantis), the bones of the three electric cars are the same, with the Toyota Proace Electric also enjoying the same underpinnings. There’s not huge amounts that differentiate the three, aside from their badges and their kit.

So, how do you decide which van lease to go for?

It’ll mostly come down to personal preference. If you’re loyal to a particular brand, opt for that van. If you like the look of the Vauxhall’s tech better than the Peugeot’s, then you’ll want to go for the Vivaro Electric.

The good news is, they’re all very good. Some of the best range in the mid-sized electric van class, topped with some of the best tech and comfortable interiors.

Whichever you choose, your business will be in safe wheels.

Peugeot e-Expert

Available in three wheelbases – compact, standard and long – the Peugeot e-Expert is a very nice medium van.

There are two battery sizes on offer, depending on which wheelbase you opt for, with the 50kWh battery giving a claimed range of 143 miles and the 75kWh battery pack upping this to 205 miles. How much range you get out of your van will vary, with how you drive the van, the temperature and how much cargo you have in the back, but you should still get a respectable distance before having to charge the van.

And with most van drivers averaging under 100 miles per day, you’ll likely run into no issues swapping to the e-Expert as your everyday work vehicle.

The battery doesn’t make a difference to how much clobber you can fit in the back either. Though the payload is slightly reduced compared to the diesel, it retains the same load volume of between 5.3m3 and 6.1m3. You’ll also benefit from Peugeot’s Moduwork passenger seats that come with a load-through flap.

If you often cart about longer items like pipes and wooden planks, this is a very handy feature.

The main differences between the Peugeot e-Expert and its cousins are the trims and the tech available. It comes with DAB radio, Bluetooth, cruise control and remote central locking as standard. The Professional Premium trim adds the 7in infotainment screen and Moduwork passenger bench (which lets you turn the cab into an on-the-go office), while Asphalt Premium adds sat nav, a head-up display, review-view camera, all-around parking sensors and 17in alloy wheels.

Sure, the upfront cost of the e-Expert is more than its diesel equivalent. But if you like the diesel Peugeot Expert, but you’re looking for something more sustainable, then the e-Expert is a very good electric equivalent – and its whole life cost should end up costing you less.

With electric charging still working out cheaper in the long run, and less moving parts to need maintenance and servicing, opting for a Peugeot e-Expert lease could help you keep more of your hard-earned cash in your pocket.

Citroen e-Dispatch

Like the e-Expert, the Citroen e-Dispatch is available with two battery sizes and a range of between 143 miles and 205 miles, and three different wheelbases (though Citroen label these XS, M and XL).

So far, so similar.

It’s also very similar to the combustion engine Dispatch, which is no bad thing. The Citroen Dispatch is already a very nice van, and adding the electric motor and battery pack hasn’t changed it – only improved it. Your van is so often the first thing people will see of your business, and a well-maintained electric van can give customers a good first impression.

The only real difference in the interior is with the instrument cluster, where instead of a rev counter you’ll see a power meter to tell you how much energy you’re using, and the fuel gauge has been shunted in favour of a battery charge level indicator.

The rest of the interior mimics the diesel Dispatch – comfortable, well put together, and hardy enough to withstands the bumps and knocks of life on the road.

There are four trim levels on offer with the e-Dispatch, which is again the only real place where you’ll notice a difference from the e-Expert and Vivaro Electric. The entry-level X model comes with air con, cruise control, electric windows, twin sliding read doors and a passenger bench with under seat storage.

If you’re after something with a few more mod-cons, then the Enterprise trim is the one you’ll want to go for. It has all the same tech as the Professional trim – rear parking sensors, automatic headlights, automatic windscreen wipers, load-through bulkhead and a 7in infotainment screen – but adds an alarm and all-around parking sensors for not a lot more money.

It’s also capable of towing up to a tonne, which is rare for an electric van.

If you’re looking for your next business van lease, the Citroen e-Dispatch is worth some serious consideration.

Vauxhall Vivaro Electric

Last, but by no means least, the Vauxhall Vivaro Electric (formerly known as the Vauxhall Vivaro-e).

It has the same two battery sizes and claimed mileage as the Peugeot and the Citroen, but also makes use of the same technology as the Vauxhall Corsa Electric – a very good EV, and no mean feat seeing as the Vivaro Electric could almost transport the Corsa Electric if it was broken down and loaded into the cargo area.

The load space is unchanged from the combustion engine, with up to 6.6m3 available, while the payload is a competitive 1,226kg. This one only comes in two wheelbases, but unlike the Peugeot or the Citroen it is available in two different roof heights, so if you’re looking for uber-practicality, a Vauxhall Vivaro Electric lease is for you.

The interior is identical to the diesel Vivaro – electric-specific instrument cluster aside – and there’s plenty of space for all your everyday equipment and spare snacks.

Vauxhall have made it pretty easy to choose the right van for your business too. Once you’ve decided on wheelbase length and roof height, there’s only two trims to choose from, unlike the Citroen e-Dispatch which makes life a little more complicated.

The entry-level Dynamic trim comes with an adjustable driver’s seat, cruise control, 7in touchscreen infotainment system, rear parking sensors, automatic lights and wipers and an electronic hand brake. The top-spec Elite trim adds more creature comforts, bagging you sat nav, a rear-view camera, lane-departure warning system and speed sign recognition, a drowsiness alert system, electric door mirrors and front parking sensors.

If you’re a Vauxhall fan looking for an electric van, you can’t go wrong with th Vauxhall Vivaro Electric.