Compared to the petrol unit, the frugal diesels should be cheaper to run. This increases their desirability and they will command a stronger premium when the time comes to sell. Those who do opt for a petrol unit should expect to visit the fuel pumps more frequently: on average, diesels return 14 miles per gallon more. Well-spaced servicing intervals keep maintenance costs down and low-mileage drivers should only require servicing visits every two years.

Most new family cars are greener than the model they replace, to keep costs and emissions down. The Partner Tepee manages to buck the trend and the petrol units, in particular, release high levels of carbon dioxide (195 g/km) compared to similar-sized cars. This results in expensive tax discs as the Partner Tepee falls into the higher tax bands. Diesels are greener and much cheaper to tax, emitting 147 g/km CO2.

Partner Tepee and Partner Van share the vast majority of components, so the car should have van-like endurance and prove very tough long-term. Interior components are well assembled and the chunky cabin plastics ought to stand up to the rough-and-tumble of family life.