According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, a tepee is a conical tent used by North Americans. So when I saw Peugeot's cute new Expert Tepee, I understood exactly why they'd called it this name.

Okay, so the vehicle isn't conical. But it's tall enough to live in, practically, and whether you're using it for business or pleasure, you'll never run short of space.

Everything plus the kitchen sink

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With two sliding doors and a pair of double rear doors, you can load in the children, their mates and the family dogs with no sweat. And then when the entire family pitches at the airport from Outer Mongolia or wherever, there's no problem fitting them into this marvellous ferry-on-wheels - depending on just how many relatives you have, of course!

It's a sleek looking MPV, with brilliant seating configurations: fold down the third row bench seat and you have a massive luggage compartment, and there's also a rear parcel shelf as well as a retractable load space cover you can buy as an add-on, to conceal the boot area and its cargo.

Good command position

Powered by a 2.0-litre HDi engine, the 8-seater Expert Tepee has standard features like electric power steering, electric front windows, front and rear airconditioning, front foglights, front-loading CD - and that wonderfully large windscreen - and is a smooth, effortless drive.

You've also got cruise control, ABS with EBD, and dual airbags upfront. And if it's mini soccer teams you're transporting, there are also child locks on the sliding doors and the doors lock automatically once you're in motion. When you think about it, there's practically everything in here that you'd get in a standard sedan, with the added advantage of the space, of course.

I loved the lines of the van: it's classy, despite its size, and has gorgeous big wide-set eyes - er, I mean headlights.

Everyone could do with a Peugeot Tepee

Of course, if you're the kind of woman who carts stuff all over the pace, as opposed to people, if you're a sales rep or a camerawoman, for instance, and have loads of equipment that is schlepped around town on a daily basis, you can't go wrong with the Expert Tepee.

Perfect as a family wagon, perfect as a workhorse, the Tepee is a wonderfully versatile vehicle: a highly attractive option if you're in the market for this kind of runabout.

I'd park the Tepee in front of my wigwam any day...

Price: R339 000

Click here to see the Big family matters article.