Although the overall look and feel of the Partner is as basic as what you'd see on the roads, it's no ordinary box vehicle. It's robustly built, quicker and a better drive as compared to other vans.
But what really matters isn't the outlook or how refined it is. After all, it's a van and with the price you need to pay for one, it had better be spacious and hardworking.
And the Peugeot Partner offers just that.
Exterior
The compact exterior dimensions make for an easily maneuverable van that is reasonably attractive thanks to the front end of the cat-eyed headlamps and large chromed Peugeot badge that is not dissimilar to the rest of the Peugeot family. The seemingly long lateral perspective as well as the rear end view is not entirely unlovable either and makes for an excellent vehicle from a visual marketing standpoint, without being quirky or tacky.
But what really matters isn't the outlook or how refined it is. After all, it's a van and with the price you need to pay for one, it had better be spacious and hardworking.
And the Peugeot Partner offers just that.
Exterior
The compact exterior dimensions make for an easily maneuverable van that is reasonably attractive thanks to the front end of the cat-eyed headlamps and large chromed Peugeot badge that is not dissimilar to the rest of the Peugeot family. The seemingly long lateral perspective as well as the rear end view is not entirely unlovable either and makes for an excellent vehicle from a visual marketing standpoint, without being quirky or tacky.
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The Partner is highly accessible. Front doors provide a large aperture which allows passengers to slide easily into the van's front seats. And as always with most vans, the two sliding side doors that offer convenient side access are inadequate as they don't open up as wide as they should.
However, the asymmetric hinged rear doors provide for an excellent access and loading as they open to a wide angle of 180 degrees without much needed difficulty, giving hardworking owners the space and convenience they deserve.
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Interior
Offering an effective load volume ranging from 3,300 litres to 3,700 litres, not only does the robust van provide a generous capacity, but an accommodating payload area too. Peugeot Partner boasts a 1250mm load area height, which coupled with an accessible payload of up to 770kg, immediately places it as the market leader.
Apart from the ample proportions, ergonomic positioning and, perhaps most surprisingly, a very comfortable ride for both the driver as well as front passenger, the standard wheel base (2-seater), which was my test drive vehicle, comes with a flexible folding passenger seat in front which can be converted into a convenient "on-the-road" desk to place necessary documents.
On the other hand, the long wheel base (3-seater) comes with the Multi Flex passenger seat which helps to increase the load capacity and storage area of up to three metres in length, making long items such as ladders look small.
Offering an effective load volume ranging from 3,300 litres to 3,700 litres, not only does the robust van provide a generous capacity, but an accommodating payload area too. Peugeot Partner boasts a 1250mm load area height, which coupled with an accessible payload of up to 770kg, immediately places it as the market leader.
Apart from the ample proportions, ergonomic positioning and, perhaps most surprisingly, a very comfortable ride for both the driver as well as front passenger, the standard wheel base (2-seater), which was my test drive vehicle, comes with a flexible folding passenger seat in front which can be converted into a convenient "on-the-road" desk to place necessary documents.
On the other hand, the long wheel base (3-seater) comes with the Multi Flex passenger seat which helps to increase the load capacity and storage area of up to three metres in length, making long items such as ladders look small.
Once inside, the easily noticeable chromed Peugeot logo on the steering greets the driver with pride. The simple dash layout with clear instrumentation and clever use of otherwise wasted space as storage despite its chunky feel also makes the Partner a practical van. Coffee cup holders and a movable ashtray with lid, which can be slotted in any one of the cup holes, have been added, giving workers the luxury of sipping their hot morning coffee while taking a drive to work.
Peugeot has certainly considered the amount of hours drivers are likely to spend behind the wheel. Simply because apart from the cheap-looking but functional controls, the sturdy van offers a considerable range of standard, yet necessary interior features including air-conditioning, power-steering, radio tuner, AUX-in option, CD player, power windows and mirrors as well as remote central locking to name a few.
An almost luxury van for hardworking lads to have indeed.
Peugeot has certainly considered the amount of hours drivers are likely to spend behind the wheel. Simply because apart from the cheap-looking but functional controls, the sturdy van offers a considerable range of standard, yet necessary interior features including air-conditioning, power-steering, radio tuner, AUX-in option, CD player, power windows and mirrors as well as remote central locking to name a few.
An almost luxury van for hardworking lads to have indeed.
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The Drive
Whilst the 1.6-litre Peugeot Partner has no pretensions of being anything other than a simple van with foldable seats, it effectively targets a market that values rugged, inexpensive family transport.
The van is reliable and the engine provides plenty of power. Despite the maximum torque of 185Nm at 1750rpm, it feels like the Partner is doing more. The van's pick-up does your bidding at the slightest tap of the pedal and it manages to deliver a good ride even at speeds with excellent handling. Best of all, you can barely hear the sounds of diesel clatter, something not many vehicles running on diesel has. Although the suspension has room for improvements and body-roll is inevitable, I reckon it's bearable.
Parking the Partner is fairly easy. The van provides good forward visibility but rear visibility is somewhat limited. However, the availability of reverse sensors limits the knocks and is almost a must-have for the Partner.
Conclusion
Peugeot Partner was not designed for performance but it does do what it was designed for really well. It carries passengers comfortably and offers enough versatility for load carrying. The car does drive and handle well, and the diesel engine offers plenty of power.
It's not particularly luxurious but it has an infectious charm that endears itself to most. The layout is simple and everything is easy to find and where you would expect it to be. Its vast load area and many stowage bins means it can carry loads that far bigger vehicles would flinch at, yet it's more powerful than its competitors.
The outlook isn't much of a priority, given the fact that making heads turn and creating envious stares aren't its main responsibilities. But if you require an unpretentious and cheerful transportation that won't extinguish your will to live every time you get in, the Peugeot Partner 1.6 HDi is a decent bet.
What do you think? Jot down your opinions at the comment box below.
Peugeot Partner was not designed for performance but it does do what it was designed for really well. It carries passengers comfortably and offers enough versatility for load carrying. The car does drive and handle well, and the diesel engine offers plenty of power.
It's not particularly luxurious but it has an infectious charm that endears itself to most. The layout is simple and everything is easy to find and where you would expect it to be. Its vast load area and many stowage bins means it can carry loads that far bigger vehicles would flinch at, yet it's more powerful than its competitors.
The outlook isn't much of a priority, given the fact that making heads turn and creating envious stares aren't its main responsibilities. But if you require an unpretentious and cheerful transportation that won't extinguish your will to live every time you get in, the Peugeot Partner 1.6 HDi is a decent bet.
What do you think? Jot down your opinions at the comment box below.
