Peugeot Partner 2019 revealed

Peugeot’s new small light commercial van, the Partner has made its debut alongside its French sibling model, the Citroen Berlingo.

Sharing a lot in common with Citroen’s third generation Berlingo, the Partner is built on PSA’s EMP2 platform.

Available in two different sizes, the standard Partner is 4.40m long and has a maximum load space of 3.9m3, while the long version is 4.75m in length and can hold up to 4.40m3 of cargo. Peugeot claims a payload capacity range of between 650kg and 1000kg.

The Partner will be available in two trim levels, Grip and Asphalt. Grip features higher ground clearance, larger wheels, and ‘advanced grip control’, which allows the driver to choose different modes to adapt the van’s traction control system to different road surfaces. The Asphalt is more focused on drivers who spend more time in their vehicle, and comes with upgraded soundproofing, electric parking brake and “comfort” seats.

Engines and gearboxes are also shared with the Berlingo. Offered is a 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol, 1.5-litre and 1.6-litre diesel, all of which are turbocharged. The lower powered diesels come with a five-speed manual while the higher output diesel can be had with either a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission.

The petrol will initially only be available as a manual but will be offered with an eight-speed auto in 2019. 

Like the Berlingo, the Partner features safety equipment such as Auto Emergency Braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, lane keeping assist and “surround view rear vision”, which replaces the rear-view mirror. Instead, a camera system sends images to a screen when the van is fully loaded so the driver’s view isn’t impaired.

Inside, there’s Peugeot’s i-Cockpit design, which is familiar from cars like the 208 and 308 and includes a digital instrument cluster and compact steering wheel. An 8.0-inch touchscreen comes with built-in sat nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The Partner hasn’t been confirmed for Australia yet, and nor has the Citroen Berlingo, but CarsGuide understands that the new local distributor for both brands, Inchcape, is currently assessing which route to take with its commercial vehicle offerings.

The previous generation Partner was last sold in Australia in 2014, and if the new version ends up on local soil it will compete with the Volkswagen Caddy and Renault Kangoo.

Would you prefer the Citroen Berlingo or Peugeot’s Partner to come to Australia? Let us know in the comments.