New PEUGEOT Partner Panel Van – A Partner You Can Rely On.

New Peugeot Partner Van – A Partner You Can Rely On.

The new PEUGEOT Partner – voted ‘International Van of the Year 2019’ – and sporting a contemporary new exterior styling, is the first light commercial vehicle in the range to receive the acclaimed PEUGEOT i-Cockpit® interior.

Available with a wider than ever choice of trims, it comes in two different lengths and is powered by efficient, refined diesel engines. The new PEUGEOT Partner has been designed to master the impossible. An award-winner even before launch, two major innovations caught the International Van of the Year jury’s attention: the Overload Indicator and the Surround Rear Vision system, which uses cameras to avoid blind spots. The win is the fifth ‘International Van of The Year’ title for the lion-brand, since the trophy was created in 1992.

Wide Model Choice;

There are six different models to choose from in the new Partner range – Access, Active, Active Plus, Professional, Professional Plus, and Grip, with all models benefitting from the new Partner’s car-like driving characteristics. Under the skin, the new Partner uses a platform that features a mix of the old Partner’s technology with the latest EMP2 components from the Peugeot car range. That means PEUGEOT has been able to kit the Partner out with a range of cutting-edge tech that hasn’t been seen in the small van class before. There is new safety kit, plenty of useful features, and the efficient diesel engines help to keep costs down. Driving comfort is improved, while the broad selection of versions on offer mean there should be a Partner van to suit the needs of most small van customers.

Best-Selling LCV;

The Peugeot Partner is the French company’s smallest van – and one of the best-selling light commercial vehicles in Europe, typically outselling the rival Renault Kangoo, and the Citroën Berlingo. As always, the Partner and the Berlingo are the same van underneath the branding, although the differences in the cabin are more obvious this time round. For the first time the latest Opel Combo is also based on this platform, following the German brand’s purchase by PEUGEOT’s parent company – the PSA Group – in 2017. Practicality is at its best ever, with payload weights of up to 1,050kg available, but the real advances come in the cabin, where Peugeot has made the Partner more user-friendly than before.

Wheelbase & Payload Options;

In the new PEUGEOT Partner, there is a choice of ‘Standard’ or ‘Long’ wheelbases, while there is a single roof height offered. Cargo volumes range from 3.3 to 3.8 cubic metres, while payloads range from 667kg to 1,050kg. The Peugeot Partner has a development of the old Partner’s platform at the rear, although a comprehensive redesign has made more space, and increased payload weights. Different models have different payload weights, but these range from 667kg for the least powerful Partner BlueHDi 75, up to 1,050kg for the BlueHDi 100bhp in Standard body guise. The Long van has payloads ranging from 940-970kg. Cargo volume for the Standard van is 303 cubic metres, while vans with the Multi-Flex front seat have a combined maximum of 3.9 cubic metres, with an extra 600 litres of space when the front passenger seat is not in use. Go for a Long van, and cargo volume is 3.8 cubic metres as standard, and 4.4 cubic metres in Multi-Flex mode.

Europallet Compatible;

In terms of dimensions, the cargo area has 1,229mm between the wheelarches, so it’s wide enough for a Europallet to fit between them. The maximum load width is 1,550mm, while the load height is 1,236mm (1,243mm for the Long van). There is a load length of 1,817mm for the Standard van and 2,167mm for the Long version, which has a longer wheelbase and an extended rear overhang to create more space. The Multi-Flex through-load facility increases this to 3,090mm and 3,440mm respectively. Multi-Flex also adds a sturdy vinyl bag that helps prevent long items from damaging the interior.

Engine & Transmission Options;

The turbo-diesel BlueHDi engines in the new PEUGEOT Partner van are available with power outputs of 75bhp, 100bhp, and 130bhp, with a 5-speed manual gearbox mated to the two lower-powered (1.6-litre) engines, and the higher-powered (1.5-litre) unit attracting either a six-speed manual, or an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Test Van;

My test van was a new PEUGEOT Partner ‘Professional Plus’ 1.6 BlueHDi finished in Bianca White paintwork. With 100bhp available, the Standard length van I drove provided quick acceleration, while consuming as little as 4.2-litres of diesel for every 100km’s driven on a combined driving cycle in the process. Key standard features include an 8” colour touchscreen with MirrorScreen, Connect DAB radio, and Bluetooth, 2 USB ports & aux-in jack, rear parking sensors, VisioPark 180 with side vision camera, blind-spot detection, cruise control with variable speed limiter, air-conditioning, automatic electronic parking brake, Hill Assist, front fog lamos with cornerning function, automatic lights & wipers, side sliding door, on passenger side of van, hard plastic floor protection in cabin & load area, 16” wheels with a full size spare wheel, electric windows, driver & passenger airbags, electrically adjustable & heated door mirrors, multi-adjustable driver’s seat, multi-flex modular folding passenger bench, seat storage under central seat, overhead storage shelf in the cabin, full steel bulkhead with a load-through area to the cabin, and 6 floor-mounted load securing rings. I was very impressed by how ‘car-like’ the new PEUGEOT Partner van really is, and I loved the ‘VisioPark 180’ surround rear-vision system that gives drivers optimum exterior visibility from inside the vehicle, with a view of the areas around the van courtesy of a pair of cameras, one located at the base of the passenger side mirror and the other at the top of the rear doors. The images are displayed on a 5-inch screen located where the interior rear mirror normally sits and together provide a closer view of the immediate environment. For customers looking for a new van with a more rugged feel, then the ‘Grip’ model should fit the bill nicely. It comes with a Grip Control traction control system with hill-descent control, underbody protection, overload indicator, tyre pressure monitor, a 30mm increased ground clearance, and mud & snow tyres – all of which will appeal to drivers who work on building sites, and the likes.

Verdict & Pricing;

PEUGEOT has obviously put a huge amount of thought into the design of the new Partner, with terrific payload capability, a comfortable ride quality, stylish looks, and excellent driving dynamics making the new Partner a van that car drivers will love. VAT-inclusive pricing for the new Partner panel van starts at just €16,935 (ex-works), with my very-well specified test model priced at just €20,695 (ex-works). This wonderful new van from PEUGEOT is certainly a ‘Partner’ you can rely on.

Visit www.peugeot.ie for further information.