The Peugeot Partner van, Continental Tyres Irish Van of the Year 2020, is Ireland’s best-selling van so far this year, writes Trish Whelan.
Capturing 8.9pc share of the critical January market, Partner van sales grew +35.9pc year-on-year. Peugeot’s total LCV market share grew by +28.1pc in the month, driving the lion-brand up into third position in the Light Commercial Vehicle sales podium, from fourth place in January 2019 to now command 11.5pc of the overall LCV market.
The Partner van is available in two lengths, payloads range from 650kg to 1,000kg and up to two Europallets can be accommodated.
New Partner’s cabin is spacious and airy and is protected with a full steel bulkhead with a moduwork for extra loading length (from Access up). It comes with three comfortable seats, overhead storage space, large door bins and a shelf on the passenger’s side of the dash. My driver’s seat had height, lumbar, rake and reach adjustment, to get a perfect fit behind the wheel.The Partner is the first light commercial vehicle in the range to receive the brand’s i-Cockpit interior comprising a compact steering wheel and heads-up instrument panel.
Six trims are offered with standard equipment from the entry model including USB, Bluetooth and Jack connectivity, 15-inch wheels, spare wheel, dual front airbags, overhead storage, rear panelled doors and full steel bulkhead. Options include the Overload Indicator for safe loading within the maximum authorised payload and Surround Rear Vision which provides blind-spot camera vision or rear view vision when driving (standard on Professional Plus trim).
Three diesel engines are a 1.5 BlueHDI diesel 75bhp/100bhp with 5-speed manual transmissions, and a 1.5 Blue HDI 130bhp 6-speed manual. A 1.5 diesel 130bhp 8-speed automatic is also offered.
The Partner range retails from €16,935 plus delivery related charges, or ex-VAT from €13,806 plus delivery.
Colin Sheridan, Sales and Marketing Director at Gowan Distributors, Peugeot Importer in Ireland, said: “Our LCV performance in January this year has been very strong as demand for the Partner, Expert and Boxer van continues to soar, backed by growing interest in our 308 and 3008 car derived vans. We now look forward to the arrival mid-year of the new all-electric e-Expert van, whilst the new e-Boxer will follow before year end.”
