Peugeot expands LCV range with Partner, Boxer

PEUGEOT has continued the expansion of its light-commercial-vehicle line-up with the Partner small van, which is set to take on the Volkswagen Caddy and Renault Kangoo as it touches down in Australia this month priced from $25,490 plus on-road costs.

The French manufacturer has also released pricing for the largest member of its LCV line-up, the Boxer large van, which will kick off from $47,470 when it arrives in the fourth quarter of 2019.

Built on the same EMP2 platform as Peugeot’s passenger-car and SUV range, the Partner will be offered with the three variants consisting of a standard wheelbase with petrol engines and a long-wheelbase variant teamed to a turbo-diesel engine.

Standard-wheelbase versions come paired with a 1.2-litre turbo-petrol three-cylinder engine, which in entry-grade 110 Standard guise outputs 82kW and an unspecified amount of torque, driving the front wheels via a six-speed manual.

The other petrol derivative, the Standard 130, uses the same engine tuned to 96kW/230Nm through an eight-speed automatic, and is the most expensive variant in the range, at $30,990 plus on-roads.

Official combined fuel consumption is rated at 5.9 litres per 100km, while carbon dioxide emissions are rated at 130 grams per km.

Lastly, the $29,990 Long-wheelbase version extends vehicle length by 350mm and employs a 1.6-litre turbo-diesel engine developing 68kW/230Nm, with a six-speed manual the only transmission option.

The diesel is more frugal than the petrol unit with a combined thirst of 5.0L/100km, while C02 emissions are identical.

Payload for the Partner is rated at 1000kg for all variants, while 3.9 cubic metres of cargo volume is available on the long body, down to 3.8 for petrol versions.

Standard features across the Partner range will include autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, front and rear parking sensors, six airbags, speed-sign recognition, an electronic speed limiter, a left-side sliding door, rear barn doors and Peugeot’s i-Cockpit cabin design.

A pair of rearward cameras also combine to offer enhanced vision when reversing, particularly when vision is obscured by bulky loads.

Standard 130 versions also score the Multi-Flex modular folding passenger seat, which can provide 1273mm of additional load length or 0.6 cubic metres of volume, accessible via a hatch in the bulkhead.

Some examples of the Standard 130 have already touched down in Australia, while the other versions should arrive by the end of the month.

Meanwhile, the full-size Boxer van will be offered with standard and long wheelbases, with the longer version checking in at $48,990 plus on-roads.

Only one engine variant is available, namely a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine capable of 120kW at 3500rpm and 310Nm at 1500rpm, paired exclusively to a six-speed manual.

Combined consumption stands at 6.4L/100km, while C02 emissions are 168g/km.

Up to 11.5 cubic metres of cargo volume can be had in the standard, up to 13 cubic metres in the long wheelbase, which is 585mm longer, at 5998mm.

Like the Partner, safety equipment will be a priority with the Boxer, which will score autonomous emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, a reversing camera, rear parking sensors and four airbags.

Full specification for the Boxer will be announced closer to its launch towards the end of the year.

Peugeot relaunched its light-commercial-vehicle range in April with the release of the Expert mid-size van. It will be completed with the arrival of the Boxer.