Review - Peugeot Partner

Small commercial vans like the Renault Kangoo, Volkswagen Caddy and the Citroen Berlingo have become increasingly popular in recent years, as they continue to surprise buyers with their ute-rivialing cargo potential, combined with a sheltered, protective environment for more sensitive cargo. They’ve also proved a hit with those that are looking to escape into the great outdoors in a large, adaptable and versatile platform that doesn’t consume anywhere near as much fuel as a ute or a large van. 

With that in mind, then, just how good is the latest Peugeot Partner when it comes to taking the fight to its direct competitors, and how well can it suit your business needs if you’re in the market for a small commercial cargo van? Let’s find out. 

Starting Price: $26,990

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Peugeot Partner - 110 THP STANDARD (L1) Specifications

For more details and other variants, check Peugeot Partner car page.

How Much Does It Cost?

The Peugeot Partner lineup kicks off from $26,990 for the Partner City Short with a manual gearbox, while the automatic raises the price to $29,990. From here, the lineup moves to the Partner City Long with an automatic gearbox, which is priced from $32,490. Opting for the Partner Pro Short with an automatic gearbox is priced at $31,990, while the Pro Long Auto variant is priced at $34,490. The range then moves to the Partner Premium Short with an automatic gearbox for $34,480, while the Premium Long automatic is priced at $36,980.

Keep in mind that these prices are subject to change, and do not include on-road costs. 

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What Features Does the Peugeot Partner Have?

The entry-level Peugeot Partner City short wheelbase variant comes riding on a set of 15-inch steel wheels, and comes fitted with air conditioning, halogen headlights, 180-degree rear barn doors, a cargo bay bulkhead, a reversing camera, rear-mounted parking sensors, a 5.0-inch infotainment system and a full-sized spare tyre. 

Opting for the Partner Pro adds an automatic set of headlights and wipers, climate control, dual sliding side doors, a flip-down table, storage underneath the seats, an upgraded 8.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as safety equipment like autonomous emergency braking, lane departure alerts and forward-collision warnings. 

Moving to the range-topping Partner Premium adds a set of 16-inch alloy wheels, folding side mirrors, keyless entry and start, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and body-coloured panels for the door rails, side mirrors and rear bumper. 

Range Features: 

• 15-inch steel wheels 

• Air conditioning 

• Reversing camera

• Rear-mounted parking sensors 

• Halogen headlights

• 180-degree opening rear barn doors 

• Cargo bay bulkhead 

• 5.0-inch infotainment system 

• Full-sized spare tyre 

• Automatic headlights & wipers (Pro) 

• Climate control (Pro) 

• Dual sliding side doors (Pro) 

• 8.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (Pro) 

• Autonomous emergency braking (Pro) 

• Forward collision warnings (Pro) 

• Lane departure alert (Pro) 

• 16-inch alloy wheels (Premium) 

• Keyless entry & start (Premium) 

• Leather-wrapped steering wheel (Premium) 

• Body-coloured side mirrors, rear bumper and door rails (Premium) 

Peugeot Partner Colours

Is it Comfortable to Drive? 

The Peugeot Partner is offered with the option of two petrol engines, with the entry-level City short wheelbase receiving a turbocharged 1.2-litre three-cylinder unit producing 81kW and 205Nm of torque, which is paired with a six-speed manual transmission.

Moving to any of the higher variants means the Partner is powered by an upgraded version of the same turbocharged 1.2-litre three-cylinder unit that produces 96kW and 230Nm of torque, with automatic variants receiving an eight-speed automatic transmission. These figures translate to the road in a modest, albeit perky fashion, with the Partner offering a surprisingly engaging driving dynamic around town, and a relaxing, confidence-inspiring drive on the open road. 

Around town, the Partner feels more than capable of handling a load full of cargo, especially considering how keen it is to accelerate with an empty cabin. Power is transferred to the front wheels through either a robust six-speed manual or silky-smooth eight-speed automatic transmission, with the automatic offering a particularly smooth and relaxing drive around town. Short wheelbase variants benefit from the added agility of its shorter platform, although the long wheelbase variants also remain maneuverable at low speeds through traffic and while navigating tight spaces. 

While it might have been conceived as a predominantly commercial vehicle, the Partner is a surprisingly comfortable and relaxing small van to drive around town, where it soaks up the bumps and irregularities of Australian road surfaces without a problem. This suspension also helps the Partner eat up sizable amounts of cargo while fully-loaded, and hold the Partner relatively flat through corners for added confidence. All up, as a complete package, the Partner range is smooth, more than powerful enough for its size, and receives soft yet supportive suspension that means daily commutes are fairly relaxing for a commercial vehicle. 

How Much Cargo Can the Peugeot Partner Handle?  

Dimensions of the short wheelbase Partner variants stand at 4,403mm long, 1,921mm wide, 1,880mm tall and offer a wheelbase of 2,785mm. This translates to a potential cargo load volume of 3,300L, or 3.3 cubic meters inside the cargo bay, which measures in at 1,817mm long, 1,630mm wide (1,229mm with the wheel arches factored-in) and 1,243mm high. 

All up, Peugeot says that the Partner short wheelbase can handle loads of anywhere between 629-660kg, with a gross vehicle mass rated at 2,310kg; the Partner’s tare weight stands at 1,281. Braked towing capacity stands at 900kg, while unbraked towing capacity is rated at 690kg. 

The long wheelbase Partner variants, on the other hand, measure in at 4,753mm long, 1,921mm wide, 1,880mm tall and offer a wheelbase that stretches out to 2,975mm. Cargo volume is rated at 3,900L, or 3.9 cubic meters inside the cargo bay that measures in at 2,167mm long, 1,527mm wide (1,229mm inside the wheel arches) and 1,243mm high. 

Peugeot’s Partner Long has a payload capacity rated between 898-1000kg, depending on your variant, with braked and unbraked towing capacity rated at 950kg and 740kg respectively. 

All up, then, it’s clear to see that both variants in the Partner range offer some sizable cargo storing potential that will most likely serve the commercial cargo needs of a number of small to medium-sized businesses. 

Is it Safe? 

The Peugeot Partner has been awarded a four star ANCAP safety rating, scoring 90% for adult occupant protection, 58% for vulnerable road user protection and 74% for safety assist technologies. It’s worth noting that the Partner has not been fitted with ISOFIX anchors for child seats, so if you’re looking for something that can transport cargo and young children, this might not be your best option. 

As standard, entry-level Partner variants come fitted with six airbags, electronic stability control, brake-force distribution, electronic brake assist, hill-start assistance, as well as a reversing camera system with rear-mounted sensors. Opting for the Partner Pro adds more active safety technologies like autonomous emergency braking, forward collision alerts, lane departure warnings, lane keep assistance and speed sign recognition. 

Is it Fuel Efficient?

While the Partner range has no diesel variants on offer, the lineup offers fuel economy figures that are not only impressive, they’re some of the leading figures for a petrol engine. This is largely due to the small capacity, three-cylinder engine that offers impressive fuel economy for a cargo van. 

Officially, the entry-level Partner City Short with a manual gearbox returns figures of 5.8L per 100km on a combined cycle, which increases to 6.3L per 100km for the automatic variant. Moving to the City Long returns figures of 5.9L per 100km, while the Pro Short automatic is rated at the same 5.9L per 100km, and the range-topping Premium Short and Long variants are rated at 5.9L and 6.3L per 100km respectively, which are impressive figures for a vehicle of this size. 

Our Verdict: Is the Peugeot Partner Worth it?

If you’re in the market for a small commercial van that has some serious cargo-carrying credentials, a closer look at the Peugeot Partner range will undoubtedly prove well-worth your time. The Partner range manages to tick all the important boxes in terms of driving dynamics, cargo loads and practicality, fuel economy and impressive pricing, and while the entry-level models miss out on some important safety equipment, they still offer a rock-solid value for money proposition for a small cargo van. 

With this in mind, we believe that the Peugeot Partner is well-deserving of a spot on your shortlist of small commercial vans. On that note, if you’re in the market for a new car, you can get a free quote and see how much OnlineAuto can save you on your next car, or call us on 1300 719 925 

Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Five-year/200,000km warranty 

2. Five-years of roadside assistance included 

3. 15,000km/12-month service intervals with five capped price services included 

4. Four star ANCAP safety rating 

5. Cargo volume of 3,300L for Short and 3,900L for Long variants 

Pros 

• Perky engine with smooth eight-speed automatic transmission combination 

• Genuine cargo volume and practicality 

• Impressive fuel economy 

• Attractive ownership credentials 

Cons

• Entry-level variants miss out on some key safety equipment 

• Lackluster infotainment system on base model

• Rear view camera struggles in low light situations 

OnlineAuto Rating: 8/10

Peugeot Partner Competition