Review: Peugeot Boxer (2006)

Peugeot Boxer (2006): At A Glance

• On average it achieves 86% of the official MPG figure

Peugeot Boxer (2006): What's It Like Inside?

Just as there’s plenty of diversity in engine choice with the Boxer, Peugeot also offers masses of choice when it comes to body options. There are four different body lengths that offer cargo bays stretching from 2670mm all the way to 4070mm, so there should be no problems fitting in your desired load. Payloads range from 1155kg to 1900kg and only the largest vans (L4/H3 and L4/2) exceed 3.5 tonnes GVW, which means you can drive most versions of the Boxer on a standard car licence. 

That is far from the end of the Boxer’s versatility as it also has a choice of roof heights and different bodies, including a chassis cab, tipper, dropside, Luton and minibus. The panel van models all come with twin side-hinged rear doors that open out to 180-degrees as standard or 260-degrees as an optional extra. Load sill height is a low 535mm for some models, while others come in at 565mm. A sliding left-hand door is also standard to allow easy access to the load bay from the safe kerbside of the road.

Inside the load bay, there are eight floor-mounted lashing hooks, or ten of these hooks in the L3 and L4 models. The standard panel van models come with a ladder frame protector behind the driver’s seat, while the Professional model and the window van have a full steel bulkhead. It’s a shame Peugeot charges extra for a 12v socket in the cargo area though.

If you intend to make the most of the Boxer’s upper weight limits, Peugeot offers a heavy duty suspension option. This is standard on the 440 Heavy Duty models, but can be added to any van in the range. Peugeot also offers a comfort suspension package for the 330, 333 and 335 models, while pneumatic air suspension with dashboard control is an option across the entire range.

Moving into the front cab, safety is taken care of by a trio of three-point seatbelts for all of the occupants, while the driver has an airbag as standard. An immobiliser, deadlocks and remote central locking look after security, while electric windows and a CD stereo are about the extent of luxury equipment as standard in the panel van models. If you want air conditioning or a Bluetooth connection, you’ll have to pay extra or choose the Professional model.

Space is generous for the driver and there’s a reach adjustable steering column to help obtain the best possible driving position. Height adjustment for the driver’s seat helps here too and the seat itself is well padded and supportive. The two passenger seats are also comfortable and, unlike some of the Boxer’s rivals, there’s decent space for passengers’ elbows and legs. Also, the dash-mounted gearchange frees up space for passenger feet without robbing vital kneeroom.

Visibility is good from the Boxer’s driving seat and there’s the option of a rear-mounted camera with screen at the top of the windscreen to help with reversing in tight spots. Lots of storage points are placed around the Boxer’s cabin, with twin gloveboxes and a pop-up clipboard mounted on the dash top.

What's the Peugeot Boxer (2006) like to drive?

All three of the 2.2-litre HDi turbodiesel engines acquit themselves well in the Boxer when it is running light or unloaded. The 110PS 2.2 diesel is nippy off the mark and out of junctions. It’s only offered in the smaller panel van models, so if you want to carry heavier items or need more load space, you will also have to look to the more potent engines.

This is not a hardship as the 130PS and 150PS 2.2 HDi engines also offer smart performance away from the traffic lights and for overtaking slower moving vehicles. They deliver a more rounded performance than their less powerful sibling so makes more sense for most users. However, these Peugeot engines miss a little of the oomph found in the Fiat Ducato with its 2.3-litre motor that also comes in 110PS, 130PS and 150PS forms.

Like the Ducato, the Peugeot Boxer also comes with a 180PS 3.0-litre four-cylinder range-topper engine. This motor has more than enough brawn to cope with whatever you throw in the load area, as well as carrying its three occupants in panel van form with surprising alacrity and refinement. Helping the refinement is a six-speed manual gearbox - and a six-speed transmission is now standard fit across the Boxer range. The five-speed manual of the previous 100PS entry-level motor has been dropped, thankfully.

In 2016 Peugeot downsized the engine choices, with the introduction of a 2.0 BlueHDi engine, with more power, Euro6 emission standards and better economy. Power outputs range from 110PS, 130PS and 160PS, with the latter providing 350Nm of toque.

Mid-range 130PS versions of the 2.0-litre engine provide the best balance between performance and economy, with 340Nm of torque and advertised figures claiming up to 47mpg and 154g/km of CO2. Most of the economy gains are achieved through the use of AdBlue, with the Boxer’s 15-litre tank providing a range of 6200 miles. 

Every Boxer comes with power assisted rack and pinion steering with 3.9 turns from lock to lock, which gives the Peugeot a tight turning circle and steering with good feel. This is just as well as the Boxer can feel a little light on its feet and nervous when only lightly loaded or running empty. With heftier cargo in the load bay, the Boxer is more settled and confident on any road.

In town, the Boxer’s excellent steering and turning circle make light work of city streets and turnings, while the Boxer’s slender width means pesky urban width restrictions are no barrier to it getting to the intended destination. At higher speeds away from the urban sprawl, there is some wind, engine and road noise audible in the Peugeot’s cabin. Country roads are tackled with considerable verve, where the firm-ish suspension makes the Boxer corner with little lean. Anti-lock brakes keep stopping in line and free from any dramas.

Real MPG average for a Peugeot Boxer (2006)

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their vehicles could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.