Peugeot's improved E-Partner van uses shared underpinnings but still manages to offer something a little different. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Review

The E-Partner is Peugeot's eco-friendly small EV van for urban businesses looking to make the switch to full-battery power and has been usefully updated here with a sharper look and longer driving range. It's a shared Stellantis Group design, but differs from its badge-engineered cousins with a completely different instrument binnacle and steering wheel design, which delivers a completely different feel at the wheel.

Background

Peugeot is a brand with plenty of track record when it comes to EV propulsion, with an electric history going all the way back to the VLV model of 1941, several hundred of which found their way onto the streets of Paris. And in the modern era, the company was producing mainstream EVs long before brands like Renault and Nissan supposedly pioneered them. Over 3,500 battery-charged versions of the little 106 hatchback were sold between 1995 and 2003. It's taken the company some time to get into its stride with sales of EV vans though. We had to wait until 2021 (ten years after Renault bought us its first full-battery LCV) for electric versions of the marque's three mainstream LCVs to appear. Including this model, the E-Partner, which shares its design and drivetrain with three other Stellantis Group models (the Citroen E-Berlingo, the Vauxhall Combo Electric and the Fiat E-Doblo) and one Toyota commercial vehicle (the Proace City Electric). Unlike those close cousins though, this Peugeot is differentiated by more than just badges on the grille and steering wheel. As we're about to see in our review of the updated version of this E-Partner model, launched in early 2024.

Driving Experience

The powertrain in use here is familiar from so many other small Stellantis Group EV models, now based around a new 52kWh battery powered by a front-mounted 136hp electric motor. Compared to other similar compact electric vans, what's different is the unique 'i-Cockpit' dashboard design with its smaller steering wheel, which encourages satisfying wrist-flick turns through town and makes parking easy. That steering is pretty light for open road use - and can get a little twitchy on faster routes. But the suspension feel is settled and well judged in town. There's a toggle switch for transmission settings and three drive modes - 'Eco', 'Normal' and 'Power'. You won't want to spend too long in 'Eco', unless you really are eeking out battery capacity because it reduces the powertrain's output to just 80bhp and also restricts the climate system to conserve power. Peugeot expects that you'll do most of your driving in the 'Normal' setting, which increases the motor output to 107bhp. The top 'Power' mode isn't really intended for sporty driving but for situations when you're carrying heavy loads. The powertrain also has a 'B' setting which increases the level of regenerative braking to a point where the van slows so much when you come off throttle that you'll very rarely need to use the brake, unless you're coming to a complete stop. And there's a regenerative braking system that can now be activated at three different levels using steering wheel paddles. You need that B setting to get anywhere near the now-improved official driving range, which is claimed at 205 miles. The rest to 62 mph sprint takes 11.7s and the top speed is restricted to just 81mph, so this EV won't be as good as its diesel counterpart for extended motorway runs.

Design and Build

Peugeot's aim here was to make this updated E-Partner's exterior styling as memorable as its cabin design. Well, it's certainly now a little more noticeable thanks to an updated front end with a revised front end featuring the latest brand shield at its centre. Smarter headlamps feature the company's usual 3-claw light signature and are upgraded with LED beams on plusher variants. As before, there's a choice of two wheelbase lengths (but just a single roof height). And it all sits on the usual Stellantis Group EMP2 platform. If you happen to be familiar with the original version of this E-Partner, the main change you'll notice once inside plusher variants is the addition of a larger 10-inch central screen, accompanied by a digital instrument cluster of the same size. As before, the cabin sets itself apart from similarly designed rivals with an unusual 'i-Cockpit' design that sees you looking at the little instrument cluster above the wheel rather than more conventionally through its spokes. As previously, you can have your Partner fitted out with a load-through bulkhead and a dual passenger bench with under-seat storage. The 'Multiflex' adaptable version of that bench seat allows three people to sit in the front and lets you push longer items through from the load bay. That means 400-litres more load capacity and an effective loading length of up to 3m for the Standard version and 3.35m for the Long variant. A writing table is integrated in the fold-down central seat back to convert the vehicle into a mobile office, and this layout features a padlocked storage area underneath the central seat. As you'd expect in this class, a Crew van' body style is also available with a fold-out second row bench.

Market and Model

After deduction of the available £2,500 Plug-in van grant, Peugeot wants from around £25,500 from you for this E-Partner electric model excluding VAT - about the same as a Citroen E-Berlingo. This is just under £2,000 more than the equivalent BlueHdi 130 EAT8 auto version. The Partner diesel range opens at just over £20,000. As with that combustion model, E-Partner customers choose between L1 and L2 body shapes and (with the longer L2 model) are also offered the option of a Crew Van variant with a fold-out rear bench. For the Crew Van, you'll need base 'Professional' spec. For more conventional L1 and L2 variants, there's also a plusher 'Asphalt' trim level. You have to stretch to 'Asphalt' trim to get this updated model's new 10-inch centre and digital instrument screens. You'll also need this plusher spec to get the useful load-through bulkhead and dual passenger seat with under-floor storage. Other 'Asphalt' features include LED headlights, body-coloured bumpers and door handles, along with 16-inch wheel trims. 'Asphalt' trim also includes a 'Dynamic Surround View' set-up. This system includes two cameras providing a clear digital view of the rear and passenger side of the vehicle, which would otherwise be difficult to see on a panel van. 'Dynamic Surround View' also includes blind spot alert, flankguard detection and a panoramic reversing camera.

Practicalities and Costs

As with the other Stellantis Group vans which share this one's design, you'll be pleased to learn that the EV powertrain doesn't compromise practicality. Total capacity depends on your choice between Standard-length L1 (4.4-metres long) and long L2 (4.75-metres long) body styles. There's the usual side-opening siding door (two on the Long version) and twin side-hinged rear doors that open to 180 degrees. The L1 body shape offers 3,090mm of cargo area load length, with a maximum load height of 1,200mm and a maximum load width between the wheel arches of 1,229mm. The L2 body shape offers 3,440mm of cargo area load length. More space can be freed up with the clever 'Multi-Flex' feature. This uses a folding front passenger bench to add an extra 0.4m3, while also increasing the maximum load length by 1.3m. Maximum load volume including the 'Multi-Flex' system on the Standard-length version is 3.8m3; on the Long model, it's 4.4m3. The maximum payload is up to 800kg (750kg for the Long version) and there's a 1-tonne towing capacity - all figures being the same as with the diesel varaint. We gave you the improved range figure - 205 miles - in our 'Driving' section: bear in mind that with any extended high-speed driving, you'll see that figure plummet very quickly. You can charge the 52kWh battery from a 100kW public rapid charger from 0-80% in 30 minutes. When connected to a 7kW garage wallbox, you'll need seven and a half hours to fully replenish the battery; or five hours with an 11kW onboard charger. This Peugeot can't match the 10 year warranty cover you get on a comparable Toyota Proace City Electric but there's the usual 3 year/60,000 mile warranty and the battery gets separate cover up that promises to retain up to 70% of its capacity over 8 years or 100,000 miles.

Summary

Peugeot's unusual 'i-Cockpit' dashboard design takes on added importance here as it's the one thing that properly differentiates this E-Partner from its Citroen, Fiat, Vauxhall and Toyota design stablemates. If you like the different interior approach and find prices similar to those other models, then the E-Partner is an easy pick. Provided you also think it superior to the Renault Kangoo and Nissan Townstar shared EV van design that also competes in this segment. That alternative is a strong contender, but so also is this E-Partner. Peugeot is a decade behind its home market rival Renault in bringing a small EV van to market but this one gives that Kangoo E-Tech model line strong competition. The charging times, range figures and practicality stats all add up. Whether the premium for electric van ownership will for your company is of course another story. If it does, that this one deserves a place on your shopping list.