While I am fond of the skimpy attire of pretty air-hostesses and the view from above an aircraft, nothing comes close to a good road trip.
Surrounded by idyllic scenery, with nothing but vacant tarmac ahead and accompanied by favourite companions-the prospect of such trips during holiday time are a great incentive to endure the boredom and stress of the daily school/work grind.
Of course, one needs the right vehicle in which to cruise the national roads.
Introducing the new Peugeot Tepee…
Far from being a flimsy tent-like thing, as its name suggests, the Tepee is a four-wheeled mammoth that manages to transport 8 people and their luggage in excellent comfort.
It’s essentially a family-friendly version of the Peugeot Expert derivative, which is a panel van suited to commercial applications.
There’s space aplenty in the cabin of the Tepee and the large truck-like windows enable one to view scenery un-obscured. Other road users are guaranteed to see those rude gestures made by passengers in a bid to have some crazy road trip fun.
Interior trim finishes seem robust and durable.
The floor, instead of being carpeted, is covered by the same durable plastic on the door panels and dashboard, enabling easy cleaning of any inevitable spills.
I quite liked the handy storage compartments placed all around the interior of the vehicle. Even the rear-most passengers have cup-holders at their disposal.
The overhead stowage compartments were like that of an aeroplane’s-A Durban taxi-owners dream, allowing plenty of space for the installation of sub-woofers and DVD screens.
The Tepee is powered by a 2.0 litre diesel engine, producing 88kw @ 4000rpm and 300 nm of torque at an early 2000rpm.
While it does feel somewhat sluggish in stop-start town driving, which is to be expected with a vehicle of this size, the Peugeot manages to cruise effortlessly on the open-road, even feeling brisk at times.
This particular model came equipped with cruise control. And while we didn’t find ourselves straying above 120 km/h on the N3, it certainly enhanced the enjoyment of the long-distance journey and made driving a breeze.
But let’s face it: you’ll probably only make trips to the coast once, maybe twice a year. So is the Tepee a vehicle one can live with for the rest of those 350 days of the year?
It’s extremely versatile, practical and would probably tackle anything you’d have to throw at it-from transporting the brats to soccer practice, or carting around building supplies.
Although, with a width of 1998cm and an overall length of 5136cm you’ll find it difficult manoeuvring through the parking lot of your local Spar.
The Tepee is a competent alternative to rivals like the ever-popular Volkswagen Kombi and oddball Renault Trafic. It’s worth some serious consideration if you’re in the market for a people-mover.
Safety: ABS, EBD, Driver and passenger airbags equipped as standard.
0-100: 14,7 seconds (claimed)
Top speed: 160 km/h
Fuel consumption: 7,5 k/l (claimed)
Why buy? : Spacious, versatile, practical, frugal.
Surrounded by idyllic scenery, with nothing but vacant tarmac ahead and accompanied by favourite companions-the prospect of such trips during holiday time are a great incentive to endure the boredom and stress of the daily school/work grind.
Of course, one needs the right vehicle in which to cruise the national roads.
Introducing the new Peugeot Tepee…
Far from being a flimsy tent-like thing, as its name suggests, the Tepee is a four-wheeled mammoth that manages to transport 8 people and their luggage in excellent comfort.
It’s essentially a family-friendly version of the Peugeot Expert derivative, which is a panel van suited to commercial applications.
There’s space aplenty in the cabin of the Tepee and the large truck-like windows enable one to view scenery un-obscured. Other road users are guaranteed to see those rude gestures made by passengers in a bid to have some crazy road trip fun.
Interior trim finishes seem robust and durable.
The floor, instead of being carpeted, is covered by the same durable plastic on the door panels and dashboard, enabling easy cleaning of any inevitable spills.
I quite liked the handy storage compartments placed all around the interior of the vehicle. Even the rear-most passengers have cup-holders at their disposal.
The overhead stowage compartments were like that of an aeroplane’s-A Durban taxi-owners dream, allowing plenty of space for the installation of sub-woofers and DVD screens.
The Tepee is powered by a 2.0 litre diesel engine, producing 88kw @ 4000rpm and 300 nm of torque at an early 2000rpm.
While it does feel somewhat sluggish in stop-start town driving, which is to be expected with a vehicle of this size, the Peugeot manages to cruise effortlessly on the open-road, even feeling brisk at times.
This particular model came equipped with cruise control. And while we didn’t find ourselves straying above 120 km/h on the N3, it certainly enhanced the enjoyment of the long-distance journey and made driving a breeze.
But let’s face it: you’ll probably only make trips to the coast once, maybe twice a year. So is the Tepee a vehicle one can live with for the rest of those 350 days of the year?
It’s extremely versatile, practical and would probably tackle anything you’d have to throw at it-from transporting the brats to soccer practice, or carting around building supplies.
Although, with a width of 1998cm and an overall length of 5136cm you’ll find it difficult manoeuvring through the parking lot of your local Spar.
The Tepee is a competent alternative to rivals like the ever-popular Volkswagen Kombi and oddball Renault Trafic. It’s worth some serious consideration if you’re in the market for a people-mover.
Safety: ABS, EBD, Driver and passenger airbags equipped as standard.
0-100: 14,7 seconds (claimed)
Top speed: 160 km/h
Fuel consumption: 7,5 k/l (claimed)
Why buy? : Spacious, versatile, practical, frugal.
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