The What Van? Road Test: Peugeot Partner Professional (2018)

Date: Wednesday, May 29, 2019   |   Author: Steve Banner

 

Partner Cabin

Interior and equipment

The Partner Professional comes equipped with a three-seater cab, and we frankly cannot understand why some manufacturers insist on trying to stuff in three seats when there clearly isn’t enough room for them.

Whoever is unfortunate enough to occupy the middle seat – or attempt to – will find that they have no legroom whatsoever because of the way in which the moulding that accommodates the gear stick bulges out from the dashboard.

Installing three seats means there is no space for a floor-mounted handbrake lever. An electronic parking brake operated with a switch is fitted instead. As a safety precaution you have to put your foot firmly on the brake pedal before the parking brake can be released. Its release is accompanied by a muted whine from the rear of the vehicle.

Electric windows and electrically adjustable mirrors are installed on all Partners. Upgrading to Professional specification gets you heated exterior mirrors and the ability to fold them inwards electrically plus air-conditioning and cruise control with a variable speed limiter.

Reversing sensors are fitted to Professionals with a schematic of the vehicle shown on an 8in colour touchscreen. Standing up in the middle of the fascia like a permanently fixed tablet, it controls the digital radio, with remote controls mounted on the steering wheel. The touchscreen also plays host to Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Mirrorlink on Professional models.

Two USB ports are fitted plus a 12V power point. Featuring a head-up display, the cab is Bluetooth-enabled.  

Storage facilities include a full-width shelf above the windscreen, two pockets in each of the doors, a cubbyhole on the passenger side of the fascia with a shelf above it, plus a deep, lidded but not lockable glovebox. You will find another shelf behind the up-standing touchscreen plus cupholders at each extremity of the dashboard.

Both the steering wheel and the driver’s seat are height-adjustable and there is stowage beneath the seat.

The aforementioned centre passenger Multi-Flex seat is at least good for a couple of things. It conceals a storage compartment, and flipping the back down creates a handy desk that the driver can use to complete paperwork.

Fold down the outboard passenger seat and flip a panel in the bulkhead backwards into the cargo compartment and you have instantly created a load-through facility. It allows the Partner to accommodate extra-long lengths of timber, pipe-work and so on.

To ensure the items do not end up rolling around the cab they can be slid into what is best-described as a large, detachable sock. While it seems like a good idea on paper, it is somewhat awkward to use. One suspects it will become permanently detached after a few weeks of service.

Turning to safety, ABS, electronic stability control, electronic brakeforce distribution and emergency brake assist all come as standard along with hill-start assist.

Cruise control is installed along with a programmable speed-limiter. So is a tyre pressure monitoring system.

The Peugeot Connect SOS and Assistance button is positioned overhead next to the buttons for the courtesy lights should you need it in an emergency.

All four wheels feature disc brakes – the front ones are ventilated – and driver and passenger airbags are fitted. So are front fog lights with cornering assist if you opt for Professional specification.

Our demonstrator sat on optional 16in Taranaki alloy wheels (named after a volcano in New Zealand) shod with Michelin Energy 205/60 R16 tyres. A steel spare wheel is provided.

Electric power steering offers a 10.85m turning circle.



Share



View The WhatVan Digital Edition