By Staff Reporter

Bakkies may lead light commercial vehicle sales but some businesses find them impractical for their business needs. This is where vehicles like the Peugeot Partner come in. Lower load bays and multiple access from both sides and at the back makes these vehicles more practical than bakkies. Peugeot has revealed the new Partner and claims that the new model can combine practicality with pleasure, and make the daily commute in the mobile office stress-free.

What’s new?

Other than new exterior and interior looks, the French manufacturer has decked out its Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV), the Partner, with its latest technology craze found in passenger offerings, the iCockpit. The system incorporates a compact double D-style steering wheel for improved grip, head-up style display instrument cluster to ensure the driver can keep the eyes on the road and an 8-inch colour touch screen. The infotainment provides connectivity that is easily accessible to the driver without disturbance. It comes with Bluetooth, Mirror Link, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. In addition to this, space has been freed up with the use of an electric handbrake to provide a larger storage area. The

Convenience and features

Access to the Partner will be made easier by two dual sliding doors in order to be able to load long objects from either side and this be assisted by bulkhead passthrough panel the fold-down, side passenger seat. While at rear is a tall and wide load-opening and offers 4.4 cubic metres of loading space. The Partner has a claimed capacity of up to 113L and a payload of 1000kg. Darkness will no longer be in an issue in the Partner as six standard interior LED lights will brighten up those days. Other conveniences and features include, a higher ground clearance, load area floor protective covering, six anchoring rings, a full-size spare wheel and automatic drive away locking.

Safety

The Peugeot Partner is equipped with ABS with EBD, driver and passenger airbags, side and curtain airbags, rear parking sensors and cruise control.

Engine

The Partner is powered by a 1.6-litre turbodiesel engine with outputs of 68kW and 230Nm. This is paired with a five-speed manual transmission.

Pricing

The Peugeot Partner is priced from R389,900. It will be sold with a 5-year/100,000km warranty, 5-year/100,000km service plan and 5-year/100,000km Roadside Assistance.