Peugeot’s light-commercial stalwart has copped a fresh coat of French polish for 2025. The 2025 PEUGEOT Partner lands in Australia with a tidier snout, a smarter cabin and a long list of baked-in safety tech, yet it still feels like a cheeky mate happy to haul drywall one day and surfboards the next. This 2025 PEUGEOT Partner review looks at whether the facelift keeps it ahead of the small-van pack and, crucially, whether the upgrades justify the higher sticker price.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Punchy 1.2-litre turbo triple delivers surprising urge when unladen.
- Vast standard kit: wireless CarPlay/Android Auto, 10-inch digital dash, front and rear parking sensors.
- Tight 11.3-metre turning circle and short bonnet make city work stress-free.
Cons
- Entry price has leapt by roughly $7,000 compared with the outgoing manual model.
- Only petrol power for now; the e-Partner remains “TBC” for Australia.
- Third seat fits, but adult knees may find it hostage territory on long trips.
How Much Does It Cost?
Peugeot has simplified the range. The Partner Pro Short opens proceedings at $39,990 before on-road costs; the Pro Long is $3,000 dearer. Step up to Partner Premium trim and you will pay $42,990 (Short) or $45,990 (Long). The hike also covers extra kit such as LED headlights and dual-zone climate control.
Features and Benefits
Every 2025 PEUGEOT Partner scores the new 10-inch touchscreen, a matching 10-inch driver display and Peugeot’s fighter-jet-style toggle shifter. Wireless smartphone mirroring cleans up the dash, and the “Multiflex” passenger bench still flips to form a desk or swallows awkward pipes through the bulkhead hatch. Cargo volume ranges from 3.9 m³ (Short) to 4.4 m³ (Long), with up to six tie-down points keeping freight honest.
Safety
Peugeot has thrown the kitchen sink at active safety: autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, driver-attention alert and traffic-sign recognition are standard across the board. A clever digital rear-view mirror streams what is happening behind the barn doors, eliminating the traditional van’s massive blind zone.
Running Costs
Official combined fuel use sits at 6.3 L/100 km on premium unleaded, translating to about $11.30 per 100 km at today’s metro prices. Service intervals remain annual or 15,000 km, and Peugeot’s capped-price scheme averages a shade under $600 per visit over the first five years. That is steeper than Renault’s Kangoo program, yet residuals for the PEUGEOT Partner have historically held firm thanks to fleet loyalty.
Comparison To Its Competitors
Volkswagen’s Caddy Maxi beats the Partner on cabin polish and dual-clutch slickness but trails on sticker price and real-world running costs. Renault’s new Kangoo E-Tech offers silent electric punch; until the e-Partner lands, Peugeot concedes the zero-emission crown. Meanwhile, the Toyota Hiace dominates on outright cargo capacity yet feels half a class bigger on tight CBD runs. The revised 2025 PEUGEOT Partner specs strike a sweet spot: more performance than the Kangoo petrol, comparable fuel efficiency to the Caddy and a price advantage over the Japanese flagship.
Compact Yet Capable: 2025 Peugeot Partner Tour Focuses on Efficiency Gains
Conclusion
The facelifted Partner is not a revolution, more a well-timed spruce-up that keeps Peugeot’s smallest hauler feeling fresh. City couriers will appreciate the tech upgrade; weekend warriors will enjoy car-like manners and a cheeky turbo soundtrack. The steeper 2025 PEUGEOT Partner price takes some shine off, yet when you tally equipment, safety and drivability, the maths still makes sense.
Rating: 8.1/10
The 2025 PEUGEOT Partner nails the essentials, payload, tech, safety, and spices them with Euro character. A diesel or electric option would push it higher, but as it stands, the Partner remains one of the most convincing small vans on sale in Australia.