Peugeot PARTNER COMBI RANGE
Maturity creeps up on all of us sooner or later. Whilst some are already wearing the sensible shoes in middle school, with others it takes a little longer. Getting married and spawning a family are usually pretty good indicators that you may need to modify your behaviour. Late nights out with the boys/girls may have to be shelved in favour of early nights in with the TV guide but all is not lost.
Even if you need to bite the bullet and buy some family-friendly wheels on a budget that has been holed below the water line by a brace of Tixylixed torpedoes, its still possible to inject a little fun into the equation. The Peugeot Partner Combi is a case in point.
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4 petrol unit and a 70bhp 1.9-litre diesel for entry-level Totem buyers and a superior 90bhp 2.0HDi turbo diesel if you go for either Quiksilver or Escapade trim. List prices officially open at £9,905 (though special offers often reduce this).
The suspension, brakes and steering have been fundamentally altered in recent times to give a more car-like ride and handling package and the interior has also been smartened up. A high quality fascia panel reflects the styling of current Peugeot cars and storage space has been increased. As well as having a passenger airbag that can be deactivated by a switch, the Partner Combi also has a lower glove box below the airbag and a CD/cassette holder on the central console. Three bottle holders and a 12v accessory power point underline the cars practicality.
"The Partner Combi effectively targets a market that values rugged, inexpensive family transport"
A rugged looking Escapade model with raised suspension, fog lights and lamp grilles will appeal to those looking to make more of a style statement. With beefy wheel arch mouldings, the Escapade aims to give Renaults Kangoo Trekka something less than a clear run at this most specialised of sub-niches. The dashboard has been redesigned for a more contemporary look and has been styled to echo Peugeots passenger car design cues. Storage space has been increased too with a huge array of bins and cubbies available front and rear.
A storage area for CDs and cassettes is located on the central console and there are no fewer than three bottle holders. The dash now features a rev counter and a BMW-style distance-to-next-service indicator, whilst theres a revised steering wheel with a radio stalk on the steering column. The steering itself is power assisted right across the range and multiplex wiring means that sophisticated options like cruise control are offered. Although this multiplex system has been offered on the Partner Combi since June 2000, the latest car features a more intelligent Built In Systems Interface which increases the number of functions to include a vehicle location device which operates from the key fob.
One plip in a crowded car park and the hazard lights will activate for ten seconds. No more pushing a shopping trolley up and down rows of parked cars after youve forgotten which level you parked on! Other functions are also standard. The radio can now be played with the ignition switched off and the volume level is linked to the vehicle speed. For added security, the doors can automatically lock when you get out.
Although the seats dont come out, theres still a huge amount of space on offer and access to the rear is made simple by the standard fitment of two rear sliding doors. On the road, given the car's commercial ancestry, you might be expecting a less than exhilarating driving experience. In which case, you'll be in for a pleasant surprise. As mentioned earlier, Peugeot offers four different units: the 1.4-litre petrol and the 1.9-litre diesel engines have been on offer for some time but the 16-valve 1.6-litre petrol and 2.
0-litre HDi diesel units are well worth a look. With new manufacturers muscling in on the sector all the time, the Peugeot Partner Combi needs to be good. It is, but doesnt really bring too much new to the sector, relying as it does on existing hardware. Nevertheless, its good fun to drive and the Peugeot image is a bit more dynamic than most rivals.
Wed be tempted to stretch a little further and plump for a base Peugeot 307, but if you do need the room, the Partner Combi makes the grade. Fun? For under £10,000 on the road? Its almost worth growing up for
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Peugeot Partner Combi range
PRICES: £9,905-£11,990 [ex special offers] on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 4-5
CO2 EMISSIONS: 152-181g/km
PERFORMANCE: [1.9] Max Speed 88mph / 0-60mph 16.9s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.9](combined) 41mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Driver airbag / seat belt pretensioners
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 4110/1720/1800mm
