As well as entering the fray of the light-commercial Australian market with a large van called the Expert, Peugeot is also importing a smaller van with the equally interesting title of Partner.

Partner is less commercial than Expert, indeed in many other countries it’s sold with added seats as a tall station wagon. So the van variant benefits from the comfort and refinement built into the suspension and steering.

But first a word or two about style. It’s probably impossible for the French to come up with a vehicle, no matter how apparently mundane, that doesn’t have a healthy dose of chic in its looks. Partner has large sculpted headlights that sweep back almost to the windscreen. These follow a similar theme to the ever more adventurous one we are seeing in the latest generations of Peugeot cars.

The big side windows in the doors bite deeply down and forward, actually entering the area of the side guards. Thus they provide not only fascinating looks, but also improved outward visibility, a very handy feature when negotiating tight delivery docks and the like. While on the subject of tight spaces, grab a look at the oh-so-sensible bumpers. Bumpers not only front and rear, but also on the side.

The rear does succumb to an attack of boxiness, seems even the Peugeot stylists had to bow down to the demands of the engineers and maximise load space. The rear doors go right up to the roof and open through 180 degrees. The sliding side doors also go to the full height of the body so this small van is incredibly easy to load and unload.

Partner’s cabin is interesting in that it’s set up with three bucket seats abreast. We did test the centre position during our initial road test, and found it to be more comfortable than it looks. Then again, we wouldn’t be keen on spending a lot of time there.

The cabin is as stylish as the body, with neat curves and interesting angles proving that a van doesn’t have to be boring. The gear lever for the five-speed manual transmission sits in an extension beneath the dash. This is to clear space for movement from one side to the other during deliveries, and to provide reasonable kneeroom for the aforementioned centre passenger.

Standard features include air conditioning, a driver’s seat that adjusts for height as well as in the other conventional ways, cruise control, power windows and door mirrors, and a driver’s airbag. A passengers’ airbag is optional at just $250.

Peugeot Partner can haul a handy 850 kilograms in standard format, or 750 kg in the L2 variant. The latter has a longer body than the Partner L1, giving it the ability to transport loads up to 2050 millimetres long. The L1’s interior length is 1800 mm. Folding flat the front passenger seats means loads a further 1200 mm longer can be carried.

The Partner L2 comes with twin sliding side doors, Partner L1 either has solid sides or is offered with one or two doors as extra cost options. The wheelbase is the same in both vehicles, the extra length all being behind the rear axle line.

Power for the Peugeot Partner comes from a choice of petrol and diesel engines, with a strong emphasis on the latter, as befits operators in the commercial field. The petrol unit is a 1.6-litre producing 66 kW, and 132 Nm at a usefully low 2500 rpm. Much more likely to be selected is a pair of turbo-diesels. These have capacities of 1.6 litres; but a different state of tune sees them deliver either 55 or 66 kilowatts. Torque is 185 Nm and 215 Nm respectively, both at a handy 1750 revs.

We have sampled the 66 kW turbo-diesel and came away most impressed with the pulling power of this economy engine. Just as surprising was the way the 1.6-litre petrol worked, we have sampled it in other Peugeots and are amazed by how much is available from such a small unit.

Though Peugeot Partner is, obviously, aimed at the commercial operator, we can see some lateral-thinking private buyers using them as two-plus-one seat station wagons that can transport all sorts of interesting bulky items.

Peugeot’s new Partner van is reasonably priced at:
L1 1.6-litre petrol: $21,990
L1 HDi 55 kW 1.6-litre turbo-diesel: $23,990
L1 HDi 66 kW 1.6-litre turbo-diesel: $24,490
L2 HDi 66 kW 1.6-litre turbo-diesel: $25,490