Partner For Life

2023 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 09:36

Hardly any other country produces cars as suitable for everyday use as France. Peugeot sends the Tepee to the start based on the new partner. The economical family pack has a pretty face and lots of inner values.

By Sebastian Viehmann

When car manufacturers renew their range of commercial vehicles, that is always the starting signal for fresh high-roof family station wagons. The new Peugeot Partner is available as a panel van - with two wheelbases and up to 4.1 cubic meters of cargo space. The “civil” version Tepee will be launched on May 17th and is supposed to make life difficult for Kangoo, Caddy or Combo.

Large passenger cabin

The highlight of the high-roof station wagon is the passenger cabin. There is ample knee and headroom in all seats, and the seats are comfortable. A sophisticated cockpit architecture with multicolored plastics distributes the commercial vehicle ambience. There are large vent windows in the rear. The optional “Zénith” glass roof consists of four separate window elements. Although they do not offer the panoramic view of a Citroën C4 Picasso or Renault Espace, they do create a more homely atmosphere than many a fully glazed van in which one feels somehow being watched.

If you have to stow a lot of odds and ends on your trip, the Tepee won the game. Folding tables are available for the rear passengers. Between the front seats there is a huge storage compartment that doesn’t have to surrender to two-liter bottles. In addition to the large glove compartment, there are numerous shelves and a folding compartment above the dashboard, which can even accommodate a small laptop. There are also storage compartments in the footwell, in the roof and a box with small sliding doors, which is mounted under the headliner in the load compartment and is accessible from two sides. The trunk remains reserved for bulky luggage and offers 505 liters of space. If you remove the rear seats, 3000 liters are available under the roof - even the Dacia Logan station wagon has to fit. And the back is happy about the low loading sill.

Glass roof for 750 euros

Of course, the full Tepee range is not already available in the basic model. The three removable individual seats in the rear are available from Escapade equipment or for an extra 180 euros. A rear seat that can be split in a 60:40 ratio is standard. The second sliding door (left) is available from Tendance equipment. The many storage options and special functions in the interior also vary depending on the equipment or can be ordered in different packages.

The unusual glass roof is available for 750 euros, but it is well invested - the Zénith package also includes the lengthways roof shelf with ventilation nozzles and fragrance dispenser, the roof box behind the rear seats and a roof rail. Their aluminum supports can be attached both lengthways and crossways to the direction of travel.

Two petrol, three diesel

The engine range consists entirely of 1.6-liter four-cylinder engines, including two petrol (90 or 109 hp) and three diesels (75, 90 or 109 hp). There is currently no natural gas version like its predecessor. With the 90 hp diesel, the Tepee is properly motorized and can be driven lazily - as long as there is no overtaking. For the intermediate sprint from 80 to 120 km / h on country roads and on the autobahn, the unit is a bit lean on the chest.

If you go on vacation with your child, cone, bag and pack, you should consider the more powerful diesel with 109 hp. Engine and wind noises are always reasonably low in Peugeot's family carriage. All versions are shifted with a five-speed gearbox. For the future, the French are still promising an automated manual transmission. An automatic start-stop system is also in the pipeline.

Soft chassis

The Tepee chassis, which is very softly tuned, is a bit disappointing. With fast load change reactions, the Peugeot kneels sharply, the steering is a bit spongy. But the suspension comfort on bumps is very good. The safety equipment of the Tepee includes front and side airbags, ESP and curtain airbags are standard on board from Tendance equipment and are available for an extra charge in the basic model.

The prices of the Tepee start at 15,500 euros for the rather lean Esplanade with the 90 hp gasoline engine. The Tepee Escapade with 90 hp diesel that we tested is available from 20,950 euros. The most expensive model is the Premium with 109 hp diesel for 22,000 euros. Peugeot wants to boost the launch of the new car with introductory prices. Until September 30th, all models are 1000 euros cheaper (applies to private customer orders). For comparison: A VW Caddy Life is available from 16,380 euros, but is sparsely equipped and does not offer as many interior ideas as the Peugeot. Incidentally, like its predecessor, it gets a sister model - the Citroën Berlingo. The old Peugeot partner is still being built as "Origin" and is available for 14,000 euros.