Peugeot Partner Pro LWB 2022 review

Partner Pro – I recently spent a week in the Peugeot Partner Pro delivery van. I have to say what a great little van it is.   In the world of light commercial vehicles that is dominated by Utes and larger vans, the Partner fills a gap for smaller yet capable vans.

Partner comes in three versions, the City, Pro, which I drove the LWB version and the Premium. Depending on which model you choose there is two engines, two transmissions and two wheelbases.

Built on the same EMP2 platform underpinning Peugeot’s passenger cars and SUVs and featuring i-CockpitTM cabin design, Partner Pro delivers maximum maneuverability courtesy of minimal front and rear overhangs and a tight turning circle.

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Features of the Partner Pro include:

• Three front seats
• Heaps of practical storage space
• Two side sliding doors and the rear barn doors
• Almost 4.5cubic metres of load area as well as up to 1000kg payload and 950kg towing capacity
• Smart phone connectivity, an abundance of safety features and
• Reverse camera and flip down centre table.

With a 1.2L, four-cylinder, Euro6-compliant turbo-petrol engine – 96kW/230Nm, 8AT it’s nimble around town and zips along the freeway.

However it would struggle with a full tonne on board.

The Partner Pro drives like an SUV, is small and nimble around town and comfortable for the driver for those long work days.

Priced from $26,990 through to $36,980 plus the usual costs the Peugeot Partner provides a viable alternative to Utes or larger vans.

This is a Motoring Minute

Im Rob Fraser

*MLP Includes GST and LCT but excluding statutory charges, dealer costs and dealer delivery. See your dealer for RDAP. Does not include price of options. Some features mentioned in the article are options. RDAP means Recommended Drive Away Price (without options but including all other charges)

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Some quick Partner thoughts

• The ride and handling is outstanding for a van, Its SUV like.
• Enough head, leg and hip room for me, more than many mid-size vans that dedicate everything to the rear cargo space
• Smaller engine is zippy around town and cruises smoothly on the freeway
• Lack of phone storage dedicated space means I held it under the elastic strap on the fold down table
• There are overhead and door storage section that are handy
• Large blind spots ‘A’ and ‘B’ pillars
• Practical load area. Long wheel base version is preferable
• iCockpit is excellent.
• Can’t turn off adaptive cruise control unfortunately

The New Partner Family, Model by Model

While Peugeot’s smallest van continues to be sold in two distinct body lengths, MY22 Partner introduces three new Long variants to the range in the form of City, Pro and Premium, each fitted exclusively with the eight-speed hydraulic automatic transmission.

Size and payload mark the three new arrivals as genuine alternatives to the mid-size van segment and at significantly lower cost, especially as automatic Partner in both Short and Long variants are the only three-seaters in the class.

The eight-speed automatic transmission is a smooth shifter with instant responsiveness and designed to maximise the turbocharged engine’s low-range torque – and all without adding to Partner’s servicing costs.

Built on the same EMP2 platform underpinning Peugeot’s highly awarded passenger cars and SUVs and featuring Peugeot’s acclaimed i-CockpitTM cabin design, Partner delivers maximum manoeuvrability courtesy of minimal front and rear overhangs and a tight turning circle.

As an example, its kerb-to-kerb turning radius is just 10.82m (Short) and 11.43m (Long), making it an extremely nimble city dweller.
Partner’s payload is also one of the best in its class with maximum load capacities of 629-660kg (Short) and 898-1,000kg (Long) and up to 3.9 cubic metres maximum volume. This increases up to 4.4 cubic meters in Pro Long and Premium Long variants that have load-thru bulkheads.

Power for Peugeot’s nippy city van comes from a Euro6.3-compliant turbocharged, 1.2 litre, four-cylinder petrol engine delivering 81 kilowatts when teamed with the six-speed manual transmission and 96 kilowatts mated to the eight-speed automatic.

City Short Manual is available only with the 81kW engine and manual transmission combination while all other variants have the 96kW engine and eight-speed automatic as standard.

Partner key product features

CITY

• Available in Short and Long body variants
• 1.2L, four-cylinder, Euro6.3-compliant turbo-petrol engine – 81kW/205Nm (6MT) and 96kW/230Nm (8AT)
• City Short offers a choice of manual or automatic transmissions
• City Long is automatic only
• Passenger-side sliding door, 629 -660kg payload (Short models)
• Dual sliding side doors, 898-1,000kg payload (Long models)
• Two front seats
• 1,200-1,300kg (Short)/950kg (Long) braked towing capacity
• Safety features include six airbags (front, side, curtain), Electronic Stability Control, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, Electronic Braking Assist, Hill Start Assist
• Windscreen-mounted reversing camera, reversing sensors
• Infotainment system with 5-inch monochrome display
• Manually controlled air-conditioning, lights and windscreen wipers
• Spacious cargo bay: 3.3 cubic metres (Short) and 3.9 cubic metres (Long)
• Glazed dividing cargo bay bulkhead
• 180-degree swing ‘barn door-style’ rear doors
• 5.8L (Short MT) and 5.9 (Long) /100km (combined) fuel economy

PRO

• Available in Short and Long body variants
• 1.2L, four-cylinder, Euro6-compliant turbo-petrol engine – 96kW/230Nm, 8AT
• Dual sliding side doors
• Three seats (Single driver, double passenger bench)
• Electronic park brake
• 898kg (Short) /1,000kg (Long) Payload
• 900kg (Short)/950Kg (Long) braked towing capacity
• Safety features include six airbags (front, side & curtain), Electronic Stability Control, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, Electronic Braking Assist, Automatic Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Warning, Hill Start Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keep Assist, Speed Sign Recognition
• Apple CarPlay™/Android Auto®-compatible infotainment system with 8-inch touchscreen
• Reversing camera (touchscreen display) and rear sensors
• Automatically controlled air-conditioning, lights and windscreen wipers
• Flip-down table
• MULTIFLEX under-seat storage with ‘Load Thru’ hatch adds 0.5 cubic metre cargo space
• 5.9L/100km (combined) fuel economy

PREMIUM (Optional on Pro Models)

• Leather steering wheel
• 16-inch alloy wheels
• Body-coloured painted rear bumper, side mouldings, sliding door rails and side mirrors
• Electronic folding side mirrors
• Keyless entry with push-button start