Car Comparo: Peugeot Expert Tepee vs Hyundai Starex as the best family van

Vans are best known for their flexible seating configurations and generous cargo space, making them a very popular choice for families. But not all vans out there have the amenities, safety features, and wiggle room to keep passengers safe and comfortable during a road trip. Two models that do, however, are the Peugeot Expert Tepee 2.0 HDi AT and Hyundai Grand Starex GOLD CRDI VGT 10 Seater AT.

These vans offer interior luxuries, great styling, and lots of passenger space for about the same price point. Thus we’ve compared them to see which one is the best family van.

Price

The Hyundai Grand Starex easily takes this one with its lower P2,018,000 price tag, compared to the Expert Tepee’s P2,200,000 sticker price. Realistically, a P182,000 difference is too small of a difference in this range, but we’re comparing apples to apples here and Hyundai offer some savings.

Can the Expert Tepee justify its higher price? Read on and learn which offers the best bang for your buck.

Performance

The Korean marque’s van is powered by a 2.5 L diesel engine mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission. It can produce up to 170 hp and 441 Nm of torque. In comparison, the Expert Tepee has a 2.0 L diesel engine that can squeeze out 163 hp and 340 Nm of torque. This is then paired to a 6-speed automatic transmission.

In terms of fuel consumption, the Grand Starex is rated to get 11.4 km/L while the Expert Tepee comes close at 11.1 km/L.

The Grand Starex has a bigger engine, with more power, torque, and better fuel consumption giving it a slight edge over the French automaker’s entry.

Dimensions

The Expert Tepee measures 5,143 mm long, 2,176 mm high, and 2,176 mm wide, compared to the 5,125 mm, 1,920 mm, 1,925 mm of the Grand Starex.

For passengers who want more personal space, the Expert Tepee’s extra 55 mm and 256 mm in height and width gives it a clear advantage. On top that, the Expert Tepee offers 1,195 L of luggage space with the 3rd row seats up. That’s 353 L more than what the Grand Starex can offer.

Here’s the catch. The Expert Tepee can only sit 8 passengers while the Grand Starex can squeeze 10. And in our books, 10 is always better than 8.

Interior

Peugeot takes interior amenities to a different level. It has a 7-inch touchscreen entertainment system that can play DVD, MP3, CD format. It's also navigation ready and can connect to your smartphone via USB or Bluetooth.

Passengers in the rear can also watch through 2 LCD screens mounted on the front seat headrests. Meanwhile, dual zone air conditioning keeps front and rear passengers cool and comfy.

These features easily trump the LCD touchscreen and leather upholstery offered by the Grand Starex.

Safety & Security

Both vans come standard with driver and front passenger airbags, ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), security alarm, and stability control.

However, the Expert Tepee steps up where it matters the most which is safety. It boasts more passive safety features that include Differential Slip Control, Emergency Brake Assist, and Anti-Slip Regulation.

In terms of maintenance, the Grand Starex offers 5-year unlimited mileage warranty versus the Expert Tepee’s 3-year/100,000 km.

Verdict

The Grand Starex took the early lead with its lower price tag and better performance figures. But the generous interior space, better comfort and safety features of the Expert Tepee might be more attractive for the family man (or woman) even at a price.

Now the question is, are you willing to sacrifice 2 seats for more luxuries and extra luggage space or go with the option that can carry more passengers for less money?

Do keep in mind that spec sheets don’t tell everything about these two vans. It would be better if you could schedule a test drive of each before making the big decision.

For more information about these vans, visit the AutoDeal Car Comparo Tool.