Working class hero

Peugeot’s selection of Partner, Expert and Boxer vans provides everyone with a transport solution, no matter the size of the operation or the goods being carried

The idea behind Peugeot’s versatile commercial vehicle range is simple: owners of businesses with multiple demands require a commercial fleet that can keep up with their company’s needs. This calls for a stable of reliable, durable work-horses that improve productivity by matching particular needs with specific vehicles.

Enter the compact Partner, intermediate Expert and sizeable Boxer van ranges. “Our vehicles are customise-able, so they can be adapted to function in very specific ways, regardless of the industry within which they operate,” says Peugeot South Africa’s managing director, Jean Francois Bacos.

There are also a number of vehicle models to choose from. The Partner is available in either 1.6-litre HDi or 1.6-litre petrol power-plant derivatives and is capable of carrying a 3.3 cubic metre volume and a payload of 850 kg.

The Expert is an efficient 2.0-litre HDi turbodiesel van that has been specifically designed for long hours behind the wheel. Minimal driver fatigue was a prerequisite in designing this van, while additional features include a height- and reach-adjustable steering column, a gear lever that sprouts from the centre console (and is therefore just a hand-span from the steering wheel) and a massive windscreen area providing a commanding view of the road. All this enhances the already exceptionally distinctive quality of Peugeot’s medium-van range.

However, the lynchpin of the manufacturer’s commercial vehicle line-up is undoubtedly the Boxer. A former European Van of the Year, the Boxer is available in no less than eight derivatives, including six vans of various sizes and a pair of chassis/cab models, offering 2.2 and 3.0-litre HDi turbodiesel engine capacities to boot.

And, although every aspect of the cabin layout and design is focused on minimising the driver’s load, loadability is the real crux of the matter in this segment. Boxer vans boast an impressive 1 870 mm wide load area, with a minimum width of 1 422 mm between the wheel arches. Double rear doors opening onto this space make for a versatile and spacious panel van.

In keeping with Peugeot’s value proposition, the Boxer comes standard with a comprehensive five-year/120 000 km full maintenance plan, including lubricants and parts for services as well as labour. The Expert and Partner van models come standard with five-year/100 000 km and five-year/90 000 km service plans respectively.

According to Bacos, the addition of these value-added service programmes is in line with the manufacturer’s strategy of providing a holistic solution across the small, medium and large van segments.

“Our vehicles already represent the confluence of intelligent, modern design with frugal and reliable power-plants, resulting in vans that are fit for purpose and capable of labouring day in and day out,” he elaborates. “With the addition of a bouquet of maintenance programmes that take the uncertainty out of calculating running costs, long term planning is now even easier.”

And, according to the manufacturer, this is just another compelling reason for buying a Peugeot commercial vehicle, with Partner, Expert and Boxer all offering an exceptional level of overall cost-efficiency and minimal down-time – exactly what every business owner looks for in a commercial fleet.