Delivery drivers are a misunderstood breed. Imagine what their lives must be like with a never ending list of deliveries to make to various locations within a set time frame. This is only set to increase as online shopping becomes ever more popular. Remember this demanding schedule when one pulls out in front of you without indicating.
What do these drivers do when they can’t get there on time because of snow, for instance? Simple. Often appointments are missed and rescheduled at the customer’s inconvenience, in my experience, with no apology and certainly no compensation. This unhelpful and all too regular scenario is sure to have arisen many times over the recent inclement weather. Without doubt it leads to customer disloyalty especially when dealing with businesses who demand a reliable service to prevent a knock on effect down the supply chain.
Wouldn’t it therefore be helpful if there was a van that could handle the snow and ice? A van that is ideal for those remote parts of England or even the Highlands of Scotland. Well, I am pleased to report that there is in the form of the new Peugeot Partner all-terrain van, which is fitted with an indispensable grip control. This dial found to the left of the steering wheel allows the driver to select the appropriate mode for the conditions and responds accordingly. But I notice that this grip control falls back to its original setting when the engine is switched off so the driver needs to remember this when they set off again.
My test takes place as Britain emerges from a heavy snowfall and rain turns to ice. Needless to say that it remains in ice and snow mode for the duration of the test. There’s also an ASR (anti-slip regulation) providing further surefootedness. It makes light work of manoeuvring out of an ice covered car park while other vehicles remain stranded. With its extra 10mm height over a normal Partner van the driver of this all-terrain model enjoys a good view of the road ahead. It feels competent on the motorway with only a mere hint of buffeting. The upgraded 195/70 R15 tyres, specifically for mud and snow, give the driver added confidence that they will make their deliveries on time.
Parkers, the car experts, say: “Peugeot’s Partner is a versatile and capable city van, aimed at small businesses in need of something dependable and easy to live with. It’s built alongside the Citroen Berlingo and the two siblings rival each other at the top of the class. The trusty companion ticks all the right boxes, with some clever tricks, a hugely versatile model line-up (buyers have the pick of three engines, three payloads and two body lengths) and competitive list prices. As a result, Partner is one of the most tempting small vans on sale in the UK.”
The other striking feature of this van is that it has three seats in the cabin. This opens up the possibility of my wife and daughter in her baby seat travelling in the van, too. Forward facing child seats can be used in the front of vans but it is necessary to consult the handbook to check how far the airbag inflates. There is no problem with placing Harriett in the middle seat because there is no airbag in the centre of the dash. She loves it but we have to ensure that she does not change gear while daddy is driving. I then have to make sure the van’s seat is as far back from the dashboard as possible. It is almost a bench seat, but not quite because there is a slight gap between the driver’s seat and the two passenger seats, to make room for the handbrake. When three are travelling it’s relatively comfortable but snug. It is helpful that the stereo controls are also mounted on the steering column helping the driver to remain focussed on the road ahead. Economical, it will travel over 500 miles on a tank if driven sensibly and there is a sizeable amount of room in the wood-lined rear for transporting goods as you can see from the video at testdrives.biz. Delivery drivers will appreciate the fact that the useful sliding side door and double rear doors automatically lock when the ignition is turned.
This does give peace of mind. There are plenty of cubby holes in the cabin and places to slot drinks, too. This well-designed, agile and easy to drive van, could also appeal to carpenters and builders…
Peugeot Partner SE HDi 92
OTR price: £14,015
1.6-litre diesel
0-60mph: 14.1secs
Top speed: 99mph
Kerb weight: 1315kg
Length: 4628mm
Width: 2112mm
Height: 1834mm
Watch the video at: www.testdrives.biz
