Rugged good looks with the ultimate in versatility makes the Peugeot Bipper Tepee the perfect combination of hatchback and MUV. Picture by Robin Crossley.
Car...Peugeot Bipper Tepee
Model...1.4l HDi diesel
mpg (comb cycle)...62.8 mpg
CO2 emissions...119 g/km
Price...£11,795
Loaned by Saddlestones Garage, Bembridge.
WHEN I was asked to test drive a car-come-van for the weekend my immediate answer was yes, no problem.
Not because I was desperate to drive a vehicle of that kind, whatever a car come van is, but because my experiences of driving new cars for the County Press have always been good ones.
I am pleased to say that still applies and on arriving at Staddlestones Garage, Bembridge, the Peugeot Bipper Tepee looked exactly like how it was described — a car-come-van.
But before the manufacturers phone the County Press to shout at me, that shouldn’t be taken as a negative.
The Bipper Tepee is half-way between a hatchback and an MPV and it has been marketed as a fun, friendly, practical and economical family car and, with £35 a year road tax, readers should take note.
It has a stylish robustness about it, created by the lower front panel, while the dynamic headlamps provide loads of light at night and look good too.
The Bipper Tepee has a compact body shape, large windows and one of its best features is the rear sliding doors, meaning those moments where doors fling out in front of oncoming cars or cyclists are a thing of the past.
The huge windscreen provides lots of light inside the car, where space is in abundance, even within the dashboard, where there are no fewer than 12 storage compartments.
At the rear the seats fold down in all sorts of ways to provide more room when required, while the designers have created a contemporary practical passenger compartment for extra comfort in the back.
There is plenty of seating room throughout the car, as the overhead clearance enhances the feeling of space and well-being inside.
The boot is also impressive, as the door opens and closes smoothly, aided by the grab handle which enables you to pull it down safely without struggling and, on top of the car, roof bars provide storage for extra luggage or bikes.
Although Peugeot hasn’t gone overboard on gadgets in the Bipper Tepee, it still boasts an overspeed alarm which transmits a audio signal if the programmed speed is exceeded and an anti-intrusion and anti-lift alarm, activated by the remote central locking key.
The 1.4 HDi diesel I borrowed has a maximum power of 70bhp, complying with European anti-pollution standards and it is environmentally sound with CO2 emissions of just 119g/km.
It drove superbly through the town and on the open road, while safety is a big feature in the car, as it comes complete with driver and passenger airbags and seatbelts that hold you in the seat in the event of a collision.
The metallic paint is an optional extra but in my opinion if you are planning on buying a Bipper Tepee, the extra £390 is worth it.