Under the skin, the next-gen PSA Peugeot Expert and Citroen Dispatch medium vans are identical, and you would struggle to tell the difference between the pair once seated in the cab too. But from the outside they are easy to distinguish: while Citroen has gone for a fluid, softer face with a short bonnet and high headlamps, the Expert is more assertive with a prominent and aggressive grille.

PSA has broken new ground in the sector with the addition of a Compact derivative to the line-ups. This version is 4.6m long and has a 5.1m3 loadspace, but boasts a meaty and class-leading maximum payload of more than 1.4t in common with the other bodystyles. It has a turning circle of 11.3m, compared to the 12.4m of the Standard and Long vans, which should make life easier for the urban operators at whom it is specifically targeted.

The PSA vans will be available with a selection of Euro6 1.6 and 2.0 Blue HDI powertrains with outputs ranging from 95hp to 180hp, all incorporate selective catalytic reduction technology to meet the Euro6 standard and come with a 22.4-litre Adblue tank. The 115hp 1.6 engine is the most efficient with official consumption of 55.3mpg and CO2 of just 133g/km. These figures make the PSA models comfortably the most frugal and environmentally friendly in the sector.

Entry-level vans are reasonably well-equipped too with the likes of DAB radio, while loading is facilitated by a sector first of electric sliding side doors. The most significant addition for the mid-range trims is the Moduwork configurable passenger bench seat with load-through bulkhead, making it possible to carry longer pipes or ladders. It also allows the seat to fold upwards to increase load volume. The top trim level introduces front fog lights as well as cosmetic upgrades such as 17-inch alloys.