Peugeot Partner Tepee Review

Some families just need a vehicle that will carry a lot of stuff, and the Partner Tepee fulfils that brief fantastically. It is unashamed about its van underpinnings and it offers a huge amount of practicality as a result. 

It will easily take five adults, thanks to its three individual rear seats, and the huge amount of space means they can all take a decent sized bag for a group holiday away.

The lack of luxury also means that it was never an expensive vehicle, which means that it makes a good value used buy, too.

The speed and performance difference between the petrol and the diesel engines is negligible enough that it is not worth going for the petrols – the extra economy of the diesels is more in keeping with the sensible nature of the Tepee.

The mid-range, 100PS version is the most economical so shades it as being the pick of the range, although the gap in price between that and the 120PS wasn’t huge when it was new, and won’t be that big on the used market so the more powerful option is a strong option too.

The Outdoor trim brings more kit and more practicality, so is the one that makes more sense. It’s no off roader, but the under-body protection and raised ride height means it will cope better with the occasional track and field excursion that bit happier – perfect for a family camping trip.

The other major van manufacturers all have their own take on the van-based MPV, with the Ford Tourneo Connect and Volkswagen Caddy Maxi Life the others to consider if you want to get the most space for your cash.

The more expensive versions of the Partner Tepee with lots of optional extras are close to more conventional MPVs in terms of price. This brings the likes of the Renault Scenic, Citroen C4 Picasso and Peugeot 3008 into contention.

Although the cabin isn’t a total mirror of the Partner van, it is familiar in its robustness. The materials on the dash are hard and plasticky rather than soft to the touch. Those around the doors are no different, so if you want something that offers comfort and luxury then you are better off looking elsewhere.

The fit and finish is decent and the materials certainly feel like they will take a battering from small hands or larger objects. The plastics might feel scratchy, but they don’t feel as though they will break easily.

There are only the two trims, but the higher of the two still adds a few extra touches. These include a leather steering wheel and armrests for both driver and passenger. The Outdoor is also the only one of the two that can come with the ‘Zenith’ roof, which brings four glass panels in the roof and extra storage for rear passengers.

The basic infotainment offering in the Partner Tepee is simple at best, you get a radio with a CD player and that is about it – there is certainly no screen. However, you do get Bluetooth and a USB connection as standard, so you can make up for the lack of a digital radio by plugging your phone in and using that instead.

The Outdoor model gets a big step up, with a touchscreen infotainment system fitted as standard. This also comes with Bluetooth and USB, but it adds an aux input to this. The screen is a very upright system set high on the dash, which makes it easy to glance at without moving your eyes a long way away from the road.

It doesn’t come with satellite navigation, though, this was only offered as an optional extra. The system predated any phone mirroring, though, so Apple Carplay and Android Auto are not offered in any form.

The Partner Tepee’s space is its absolute forte, with vast amounts of room for passengers and their kit.

The tall design of the Tepee means that everyone gets a huge amount of headroom, even if you get the glass roof, while there is loads of room for taller passengers’ legs too.

The standard model comes with space for five with a basic bench seat across the back that splits 60/40, but this really doesn’t make the most of the Tepee’s space. You have to step up to the Outdoor version to get three individual seats that really up the flexibility of the rear and loading bay. The three seats can recline, fold, split and tumble forward. Best of all, though, they can be removed totally. The process for all of this is easy, with a simple lever or a handle.

The Tepee also came with a seven-seat version, but the seats in the back are really only suitable for smaller adults, despite all the headroom. Getting into all five of the rear seats is easy, though, thanks to the sliding rear doors – another feature borrowed from the van version of the Partner.

Unfortunately, the three middle-row seats don’t all come with ISOFIX for a child seat – only the outer two seats offer that. Getting a child seat in is fantastically easy, though, thanks again to the higher ride height and the sliding doors.

With all the seats in place, the Tepee has an excellent boot space, with 675 litres of room below the parcel shelf, but this grows to a huge 2650 litres if you fold the second row of seats down fully. If you take those seats out, as you can on the higher trim, then this space grows to a vast and van-like 3000 litres that is easy to get things in and out of thanks to the big boot door and the low loading lip. 

This is far bigger than most conventional MPVs, but it is slightly short of the space in the Volkswagen Caddy Maxi Life. However, it is big enough that it’s unlikely to make a jot of difference. There is also a wide array of storage – up to 94 litres – in various cubbies around the cabin.

If you need more room you probably need an actual van.

The Peugeot Partner Tepee engine range has remained largely similar over its lifetime, with a selection of 1.6-litre diesels and a couple of petrols the main options.

The diesels have consisted of a 75PS, 100PS and 120PS 1.6-litre, although the lower powered option was dropped from the range towards the end of the Tepee’s life. This is no bad thing as the other two versions were the better choice. The 100PS is the best all-rounder of the range, with a strong economy but compelling enough performance thanks to 254Nm of torque at just 1750rpm. 

This means that it shouldn’t have any issues with hills when you’re headed off on that family holiday with five adults and all their kit in the back.

If you want to strap a towbar on the back then the 120PS version’s 300Nm of torque will prove alluring. It’s worth stating that none of these engines are fast, though, with the 120PS diesel the quickest of all to 62mph and it still takes 11.4 seconds. That torque means it feels a little quicker than that when at lower speeds, but it’s still no performance car.

The petrols are a 98PS 1.6-litre that feels underpowered and, with just 152Nm of torque, it struggles with hills and you need to change gear regularly to get it to respond.

The majority of the range comes with a five-speed manual gearbox, although the 120PS diesel model gets a smooth six-speed ‘box. There is also a six-speed automated manual gearbox that is not as smooth as the more modern automatic options but doesn’t impact majorly on economy.

Vans are not renowned for their hushed driving experience and the Partner Tepee has to work very hard to bring its cabin environment up to car-like levels. It does a really good job but helped by all the extra insulation and sound deadening provided by the seats and interior fittings that it provides over its commercial vehicle cousin.

It is happiest on the motorway where it settles down to a relaxed cruise. Wind and road noise are inevitable given the large mirrors and the upright styling, but the engines are unobtrusive. The 120PS 1.6-litre diesel’s six-speed gearbox helps on this front as it means it sits at slightly lower revs while cruising at motorway speeds.

At lower speeds it is a little gruff and there is a bit of vibration that makes it through to the cabin, particularly through the pedals, but it is far from van levels. The petrol engine is smoother and quieter, although the lower powered version will get a lot noisier at times as you have to work the gears and rev it hard to get it to deal with hills when there is a heavy load on board.

The Peugeot Partner Tepee wasn’t tested directly by Euro NCAP, but its Citroen Berlingo equivalent, the Multispace, was and the two are practically identical bar the badges.

This test took place in 2014 and it resulted in a three-star score, which wasn’t great, especially when you consider that the tests have got stricter since then. The lack of safety equipment was the main reason for the poor score, as it managed just 48% in that category. There is no standard-fit autonomous emergency braking or lane assist – just ESC anti-skid control and a seatbelt reminder.

It didn’t do wonderfully well in the adult occupant test either, with a score of only 56%. It was marked down for its driver protection in particular.

You get two front airbags as standard, although the top-level models get side and curtain ‘bags included too. An active city brake is available, although only as an option so many used examples won’t have it.

Front and rear parking sensors are another thing offered on the top trims, while a parking camera is another possible added extra. All models get a standard size spare wheel.

The basic model of Partner Tepee is the one to go for if you want to keep insurance costs down – it sits in group 10E, with it going up a group or two for pretty much every step up the range you take. The pick of the range, the Outdoor with the 100PS 1.6-litre diesel, sits in group 15E while the 120PS model is in group 18E.

Having been on sale from 2008 to 2018, the Partner Tepee straddles different tax systems. The later models, from April 2017 onwards, qualify for the flat rate of VED, but those before will be taxed based on their CO2 emissions. 

So long as you avoid the entry-level petrol models then the Partner Tepee sits in relatively low CO2 groups, which keeps tax at a manageable level.

The basic nature of the entry-level trim means that it’s hard to recommend – the lack of airbags, basic stereo and bench rear seat are not great. The top trim makes the most of the Partner Tepee’s practicality and make it more of a family vehicle. There might have been a tricky financial decision to make when buying brand new, but as the Tepee ages the gap should narrow and make it a more compelling purchase.

The 100PS 1.6-litre diesel is the best all round option, although the 120PS’s extra gear makes it the more composed motorway cruiser. Either are a better bet than the petrol models.