Peugeot Rifter mid wheelchair user position rear ramp WAV from Southern Mobility Vehicles

The Peugeot Rifter short wheelbase (SWB) is a most excellent progression from the long-standing, heavily converted and highly rated Peugeot Partner and is a stunning all-around improvement on its predecessor. As a WAV or wheelchair accessible vehicle, it lends itself perfectly to the job. There have been some real improvements that make it superior to the Partner and many other WAVs. However, there is still plenty of entry and internal height, with great external views all around for the wheelchair user.

The driver is treated well, with a generous specification to include an 8-inch touch screen entertainment centre, Bluetooth and cruise control. There is no satnav as standard, but it’s straightforward to mirror your smartphone with the generously sized screen. A DAB/FM radio is included, plus a handy USB port just where you need it so you can stream your music from your phone. The screen is also the command centre for much of the Rifter’s controls, so you can electronically switch off or adjust many of the vehicle’s features.

Like its predecessor, the Partner, all Rifters come with a wheelchair winch, which is now fitted under the floor so more space and less ugly to look at, plus the winch can’t get in the way of a wheelchair user’s footrests. Previously winches were mounted on the Partner’s floor in a WAV, which presented a problem for wheelchair footrests coming fully forward. Of course, this also prevented the wheelchair user from coming between the second-row seats. With an underfloor winch, the footrests for the wheelchair can come further forward, and with the increased legroom, which also came with the new Rifter, this combination is a vast improvement for most wheelchair users. There is an inspection plate for easy access in the unlikely event the winch should fail.

The short wheelbase Rifter is built with one, two or even three second-row seats, or none if preferred. The three-second row seat WAV build option in the Rifter retains the original manufacturer seats so that this WAV can morph into a standard vehicle if desired should the wheelchair user not be present. You can even add a rear parcel shelf, and as the Rifter comes as standard with a fold-flat ramp system, it will look like and behave like the original car. If converted using the manufacturer build seats, the Rifter has a clever system in place allowing the 2/1 split seats to be tipped forward, giving a generous space should it be required. Of course, in the SWB model, you would need to tip the original seats forward to ensure almost any wheelchair user could board and be comfortable.

Coach built seats can be added or removed if need be. It’s important to remember that if in place, the gap between the two second-row seats is not particularly large because the vehicle isn’t particularly wide; the width for a wheelchair is much greater if you only need one rear seat. Still, with two seats, there is enough room for most wheelchair users to get far enough forward to be comfortable with their fellow travellers and feel included. The Rifter truly has a central wheelchair position, which is quite a rarity in the WAV industry.

Another big plus for the Rifter conversion is that the rear passengers get generous legroom on the comfortable and pleasing coach-built seats in this well thought out WAV. Legroom is just as generous if the original manufacturer seats are present, a real win for anyone in the rear of this WAV and a rare find in this industry. IsoFix is standard for the coach-built seats and the original manufacturer seats in this WAV and is an appropriate extra for good measure, which shows the converter is thinking about the WAV’s passenger potential.

SMV loves the thought behind the conversion, the variety of seating options, a smooth new gearbox, diesel manual, diesel auto or shock horror, a petrol auto! It comes with a generous specification, phone screen mirroring and music playback, plus there’s an underfloor wheelchair winch, ample second-row wheelchair user legroom, the higher driving position, and the new pretty front end.

Why not give Southern Mobility Vehicles a call if this WAV isn’t quite right for you. We are independent WAV advisors, so you will get the best of all worlds, whatever your wheelchair access needs are. Whether you are looking for a new Motability WAV, a Nearly New Motability WAV, short term hire, or an outright purchase, we are the WAV dealer to call first. We are here to help; we know how hard it is to be confident you are buying the right mobility vehicle for your needs.