After a brief absence from our market, Peugeot South Africa has just announced the re-appearance of the Peugeot Partner on our shores. Now in its third generation, the new Partner arrives with a load bay full of international accolades, fresher styling, and more equipment. We compare it to two popular alternatives, to find out which one is best. Published: 28 January 2020, 12:37 The little vans that can We won’t be paying much attention to passenger-biased derivatives this time around, because these compact vans are primarily made for cargo transport. As a result, they’re all fairly spartan in the front seats, and their panel van priorities mean that there aren’t any rear seats to evaluate. Loading capacity is the name of the game here, so that’s where we’ll focus most of our attention. Related: There's another small van which also warrants your attention: The Ford Transit Connect. Peugeot Partner From the time it first appeared back in 1996, the Peugeot Partner was essentially identical to its Citroën Berlingo cousin: they shared platforms and engines, and the only real points of differentiation were found in their styling. Unashamedly van-like, they have never really appealed to private buyers, while their success in the commercial sector was limited by the perception that Peugeots are expensive to run. As a result, the Partner (and Berlingo) couldn’t quite gather as enthusiastic a following as its competitors. But, thanks to a few years’ worth of depreciation, Partners are now very affordable in the pre-owned market, which makes for high-value used-van shopping. It remains to be seen how enthusiastically buyers will embrace the latest, much more appealing edition of this compact van. Engine, performance and consumption The latest Peugeot Partner is available with only one engine – a turbodiesel 4-cylinder mill with 68 kW and 230 Nm, mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. It’s tuned to prioritise efficiency, as befits a commercial vehicle’s powerplant. Performance is bound to be predictably pedestrian, but that’s not really critical in a compact, cargo-carrying van. Fuel efficiency is of far greater importance, and the Partner certainly delivers in that area, with its claimed average consumption figure of ℓ/100 km. Standard equipment Given that the latest Partner shares its platform with Peugeot’s well-regarded mid-range cars, there’s a surprising number of standard features thrown into the cabin. Highlights include air conditioning, electric front windows, a colour touchscreen infotainment system with smartphone mirroring, cruise control, and automatic headlight operation. Related: Windscreen washer top-up on a Peugeot Partner. Safety As with the cabin’s trimmings, the Partner’s standard safety equipment is also pretty comprehensive. Highlights include 6 airbags, rear parking sensors, and ABS, but Peugeot’s press release is unclear whether stability control also features in the mix. We’d wager that the Partner does indeed feature stability control, though. Either way that airbag count alone makes it worth considering. Loading capacity There’s only enough room up front for three occupants, but there’s enough space in the back to accommodate up to 1000 kg. Imagine that: a small van that can carry as much as a big bakkie, all in a safely enclosed metal box. The load area’s floor comes with a special protective covering, and it has its own lighting arrangement as well. That squared-off load box also means that it’s capable of swallowing large, awkwardly-shaped cargo, in the manner of any capable working van. Price and value proposition The new Peugeot Partner has a list price of R 389 900, which includes an excellent warranty, service plan and roadside assistance – all for 5 years or 100 000 km. That’s pretty solid after-sales backup, and the prospect of fixed-cost operation is sure to appeal to fleet managers all over. The competition Volkswagen Caddy In the interest of maintaining specification parity, we’ve selected a long-wheelbase, diesel-powered Caddy panel van. In this trim, the Caddy costs slightly less than the Peugeot at R 383 500, has more power, but suffers from higher claimed average fuel consumption. Under the bonnet is Volkswagen Group’s widely-used engine, which is tuned to deliver 81 kW and 250 Nm for the 5-speed manual Caddy. Average fuel consumption is a claimed ℓ/100 km (somewhat worse than the Partner’s figure), but the extra power and torque should make the Caddy more capable when faced with heavy loads. The LWB Caddy Maxi panel van should be able to match the Peugeot’s cargo carrying capability, however, but cannot come close in terms of standard equipment or safety features. While stability control is a confirmed standard item, the Caddy’s default airbag count amounts to only 2, with 4 airbags available as an added-cost option. Forget about smartphone mirroring, as standard equipment doesn’t even include a radio. Power steering and air conditioning are standard, however electric windows are optional. The Caddy’s value proposition takes a further knock when its service plan and warranty are considered: the warranty only runs for 2 years (albeit with no distance limit), and the service plan covers only the first 3 years or 60 000 km. That’s definitely no match for the Partner’s excellent aftersales cover. Related: The new vs used Volkswagen Caddy: what are the top 3 differences? Opel Combo Cargo LWB This one is a direct relative of the latest Peugeot Partner, seeing as Opel forms part of the same organisation these days. As a result, the mechanical bits are identical, and the load-carrying abilities are also much the same. The Opel is a fair bit less expensive, however, mostly due to its lower standard specification. The airbag count drops to only 2 in the Combo, but stability control is a confirmed fitment in the Opel (hence our assertion that it’s standard in the Partner as well). The Combo doesn’t have quite as many nice-to-haves in the cabin, either, and loses the touchscreen infotainment system in exchange for its lower list price. How much cheaper is the Opel Combo, compared to the Peugeot Partner? Its list price of R 354 000 is a cool R 35 000 lower than that of the Peugeot, mostly due to its reduced standard specification level. Its warranty and service plan are both also less comprehensive, with the former running for 3 years or 120 000 km, and the latter for 3 years or 60 000 km. Related: The Opel Combo also comes as a passenger-carrier. Read our review of the Opel Combo Life here. Facts and figures: Let’s quickly recap the important numbers: Peugeot Partner HDi L2 Volkswagen Caddy Maxi panel van Opel Combo Cargo LWB panel van Engine size (cyl/size) 4-cyl, turbodiesel 4-cyl, turbodiesel 4-cyl, turbodiesel Power/Torque 68 kW/230 Nm 81 kW/250 Nm 68 kW/230 Nm Length (mm) 4 753 4 878 4 753 Airbag count 6 2 (opt 4) 2 Seat count 2/3 2 2/3 Ave Consumption * ℓ/100 km ℓ/100 km ℓ/100 km Warranty 5 yr/100 000 km 2 yr/Unlimited km 3 yr/120 000 km Price R 389 900 R 383 500 R 354 000 * Manufacturer's official claimed figures. Related: The Volkswagen Caddy is also available with extra seats. Watch this video review to get more details. Verdict What the Caddy loses against the Peugeot Partner in terms of standard equipment, it recovers under the bonnet. We’re just not quite sure that 20 Nm and 13 kW is enough to compensate for the lack of creature comforts and safety spec, even if the Caddy costs R 6 400 less than the Partner. It also cannot match the Peugeot’s standard service plan, which in itself can eat up its slim pricing advantage. This makes the Caddy the first one to be eliminated here. Regarding the Opel Combo vs the Peugeot Partner, the matter is a lot less clear-cut. While the Peugeot’s superior service plan and more-comprehensive standard equipment are all very handy, they do exact a notable price premium. It’s perhaps best to consider the Opel Combo LWB as a lower-trim variant of the Peugeot Partner, leaving the choice to spend that extra money to its prospective buyer. As a value proposition, the Opel gets the nod here, but as a complete package, the Peugeot deserves serious consideration on its own merits. Let’s call this an honourable draw for first place, then. * Pricing was accurate at the time of writing, but may change without prior notice. Recommended Next: Shop for new&used Peugeot Partner cars on sale here. Shop for new&used Volkswagen Caddy cars on sale here. Shop for new&used Opel Combo cars on sale here.
Opel combines German quality, engineering precision, and connected innovation, making them accessible to a broad customer base globally.
In the warranty and service department, the Opel gets a 3-year/120 000km warranty and a 3-year/45 000km service plan while the Peugeot gets a 5-year/100 000 warranty and a 3-year/100 000km service plan and the Clio a 5-year/150 000km warranty and a 2-year/30 000km service plan.Vauxhall Combo running costs & value Turbo D diesel engines should prove frugal Average warranty and servicing intervals Good value, with plenty of standard kit The Vauxhall Combo Cargo is a good value small van, offering low running costs thanks to its frugal engines, competitive retail pricing and a decent range of trim levels. Standard equipment doesn't exactly correspond to the Berlingo and Partner, so make sure you're getting exactly what you want, whichever you go for. Vauxhall Combo running costs and mpg Since the Vauxhall shares parts with its Citroen and Peugeot platform-mates, they should be easy to replace and source, which should help keep maintenance costs down. Vauxhall says that compared with the old Combo, the new model is at least 16% more fuel efficient, which in turn means it's 8% more economical than ‘the closest relevant competitor’ (which is a cute way of saying the functionally identical Peugeot Partner and Citroen Berlingo are likely to achieve similar mpg). At launch, all diesel engines claimed to achieve over 60mpg. However, September 2019 saw a change in emissions regulations and the way fuel economy was measured, which means the on-paper figures have fallen somewhat to 40-50mpg. This doesn't mean the Combo is suddenly less efficient than it was, though. Especially as the original 75 and 100 engines have been replaced by newer equivalents that should prove more efficient still. The petrol version claims 36-44mpg, depending on spec, and is likely to be the least efficient choice by some margin, particularly if you mostly do longer journeys. Diesel models come with a 50-litre fuel tank, making room for a 17-litre AdBlue tank as well. Petrol models come with a larger 61-litre fuel tank. Vauxhall Combo service intervals Service intervals extend to 25,000 miles on Turbo D engines which means lower mileage drivers will only have to visit the dealership once every two years, in theory. The early Turbo D engines require a service every 15,000 miles or one year. However, there are on-board diagnostic systems, so the van may decide you need to see the dealer sooner than those intervals suggest. Don't ignore it. Vauxhall Combo Cargo warranty information The Combo comes with a comprehensive three-year, 60,000-mile warranty as standard. That isn't a huge amount of miles - the Peugeot and Citroen alternatives have 100,000-mile limits - but it is unlimited mileage in the first year. Vauxhall Combo Cargo trim levels The Vauxhall Combo van comes in a choice of three trim levels: Edition Sportive LE Nav Here are the standard equipment highlights for each one. Vauxhall Combo Edition standard equipment At the time of writing, the entry-level Combo costs less than the previous version of the outgoing Combo. For that you get the following standard kit: Four-way adjustable driver’s seat Under-seat storage on the passenger side Full-width overhead storage shelf 15-inch steel wheels Fixed steel bulkhead Sliding side door on the passenger side Overhead storage DAB radio with Bluetooth and display screen One-touch electric windows Electrically adjusted heated door mirrors Vauxhall Combo Sportive standard equipment The mid-range Combo Sportive also costs less than the old one. All of the following is included over the Edition – with air-conditioning and an improved driver’s seat the key items for us: Six-way adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar support, armrest and storage Four-way adjustable passenger seat Reach and rake adjustment for the s 16-inch steel wheels Air-conditioning Metallic paint Body-coloured bumpers front and rear Rear parking sensors Cruise control with speed limiter Alarm Vauxhall Combo LE Nav standard equipment The LE Nav trim echoes similar models previously available on the Vivaro and Corsavan, and as the name suggests it includes satellite-navigation as standard. Proven to be a popular trim level on the Vivaro, it also features a more premium exterior appearance, with all of the following items included in addition to the Sportive: Body-coloured door mirrors Body-coloured side mouldings Front bumper with skid plate 16-inch alloy wheels touchscreen infotainment system with Navi sat-nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Vauxhall Combo Crew van standard equipment The LWB-only Combo Crew van is available in Edition and Sportive trim. Its major feature is a second row of seats, but it also comes with a movable cage-style bulkhead that has two positions depending on whether the second row of seats is upright or stowed. Vauxhall Combo Cargo optional equipment There are a range of option packs available for the Vauxhall Combo van, including: Construction Pack: 30mm raised suspension, Mud/Snow tyres and engine sump guard Winter pack: heated front seats and steering wheel FlexCargo Pack: load-through bulkhead, electronic parking brake, third front passenger seat Safety pack: front camera, lane-keep assist, traffic sign recognition, autonomous emergency braking Sight and Light pack: automatic windscreen wipers, automatic rear-view mirror (when fitted with rear glazed windows), high-beam assist for headlights Parking pack: front and rear parking sensors, rear-view camera, Flank guard system, electric folding door mirrors, front fog lights with cornering function. Individual options include wireless mobile phone charging, head-up display, LED lighting for the load area, fixed windows for the side and rear doors and electronic climate control. Then there's the Intelligrip traction control system. Rotate the dial beside the gearlever to choose between Normal, Snow, Mud, Sand or ESC Off, depending on the road conditions to maximise traction. A spare wheel is a no cost option, but this will eat into your payload. How does the Vauxhall Combo’s Overload Sensor work? This was an absolutely brand new feature in the van sector, first coming to market on the Combo, Berlingo and Partner in 2019. It was available as a cost option on all Combo models, the sensor is there to prevent you accidentally breaking the law by unknowingly overloading your van. Sadly it wasn't always available, due to parts supply issues among other reasons, and it was finally removed as an option totally in July 2022. The system boots up automatically whenever you start the Combo’s ignition. If you’ve gone over 80% of the allowed payload, a white LED comes on to warn you that you’re approaching the limit. If you exceed the payload limit altogether an orange warning light with an exclamation light comes on. You can also press a button in the load area to activate the sensor, so you can check how close you are to the limit while loading, hopefully saving you from having to take things back out. Note: such was its rarity, we never actually saw a test van with the feature fitted, so were unable to confirm whether it works effectively. Opel Combo vs Peugeot Yeni Partner Van vs Kia Bongo vs Fiat Doblo Combi Araç Karşılaştırması ve Araba Kıyaslamaları, Opel Combo vs Peugeot Yeni Partner Van vs Kia Bongo vs Fiat Doblo Combi Hangisi Daha İyi? p56m.
opel combo vs peugeot partner
