Peugeot Partner Tepee MPV (2008 – ) expert review

1. Exterior

The Partner Tepee shares its family face with the rest of the Peugeot range, but from the door mirrors back is more van-like in its appearance. Top trim levels benefit from tinted rear windows, while all Partner Tepees get sliding rear doors and a huge rear hatchback. Opt for the Outdoor trim level of our test car and you get a 10mm raised ride height, engine sump guard, silver grille surround and different tyres.

Our rating: 3

2. Interior

While it is first and foremost a functional interior, it’s not as workmanlike as you might expect, thanks to touches like a three-spoke steering wheel and circular air vents. However, the plastics are shiny and hard and some trim can be heard vibrating at certain engine speeds.

Our rating: 2

3. Practicality

Sliding rear doors make a big difference, allowing easy access to the rear seats or boot even in our narrow parking spaces. There’s a seven-seat model, but the rearmost seats are only suitable for smaller occupants. Boot space with five seats in place is 642 litres, and this can be increased to 2,800 litres by removing the rear seats. There are cubby holes everywhere, including a glovebox in the upper dash behind the steering wheel, a storage shelf above the windscreen and underfloor cubby holes for rear passengers. Only the Fiat Doblo offers slightly more overall space in this class.

Our rating: 4

4. Ride and handling

The Partner Tepee drives well, with decent feedback through the steering wheel and plenty of grip, it’s rather pleasant even on twisting country lanes. The ride comfort is good too, only becoming upset by nasty sequences of bumps. It can be slightly bouncy on rough sections of motorway.

Our rating: 4

5. Performance

Two 1.6-litre petrol engines are available, with 90bhp and 110bhp, but we’d recommend one of the 1.6-litre diesel motors, which suit the Partner better. Available with 75, 90 or 110bhp all give their power low down in the rev range, which is good for load lugging.

Our rating: 3

6. Running costs

Choose a diesel with 75 or 90bhp and average fuel consumption of 49.5mpg is possible, with emissions of 150g/km of CO2. The 110bhp is the greenest, with 50.4mpg and 147g/km of CO2. Both petrol engines emit 195g/km of CO2 and return 34.4mpg on the combined cycle.

Our rating: 3

7. Reliability

Built on the same platform as the Citroen Berlingo Multispace and the Peugeot Partner Van, this model should be tough enough to endure mega miles and wear and tear.

Our rating: 4

8. Safety

The mechanically-similar Citroen Berlingo scored four stars in EuroNCAP crash tests, suggesting the Partner Tepee would score the same. It’s, however, disappointing to see side and curtain airbags, along with electronic stability programme on the options list for most trim levels of Partner Tepee.

Our rating: 2

9. Equipment

The Urban trim level includes central locking, electric front windows, radio CD player, front seat armrests and a passenger airbag deactivation switch. S trim adds a carpeted load area, front foglights, electric heated door mirrors and storage drawers under the front seats. Outdoor adds 16-inch alloy wheels, raised suspension, body protection, roof bars, cruise control, side and curtain airbags, manual air-con and silver body trim.

Our rating: 3

10. Why buy?

While a family hatchback or estate offers practicality to a point, they can’t touch the interior space of a van-derived model like the Peugeot Partner Tepee, which offers seating for seven or luggage space in excess of 2,800 litres.

Our rating: 4