Peugeot 207 Range

The Peugeot 207 offers style with impressive quality and equipment. Steve Ghosley reports

To follow one phenomenal success story with another takes some doing, but to do it a third time has given Peugeot a huge challenge. Their 205 supermini started it all off in 1983 and things got even better fifteen years later with the 206, a car that was to sell over five million units worldwide. Now the onus has fallen upon the model we look at here, the latest 207.

Despite its sales success, criticism has always persisted over the rather low rent interior finish of the 206, something Peugeot were keen to address with the more up-market 207 supermini. Of course, better quality tends to mean bigger prices and Peugeot worked hard to keep the 207 at affordable levels. Priced from £9,095, Peugeot are taking care that the 207 is positioned closely to key competitors like Renaults latest Clio and Fiats Grande Punto. Thats despite the fact that they claim their latest model sets new class standards in terms of trim quality and equipment levels.

Build
Comfort
Depreciation
Economy
Equipment
Handling
Insurance
Performance
Styling
Value

The design of this car follows the corporate image seen on other models in the range like the 307 and 407 with the large smiling grille and sharky front light clusters. The neat styling has shades of 206 about it, yet the car is completely different, based on the companys Platform 1 floor pan which it shares with the 1007. The striking and rather sporty look, which was designed in-house by Peugeots own stylists, should ensure a strong customer following. The car is offered in both 3-door and 5-door hatchback form or as a CC folding hardtop coupe.

If you need estate versatility, there are also SW derivatives on offer. Peugeot is building the 207 at three sites in France, Spain and Slovakia, ensuring that theyll have sufficient capacity to meet demand.

"If you need convincing, just shut one of the doors. They close with a reassuring thunk"

Peugeot are offering a choice of six petrol and three diesel engines. The petrol models offered are a 1.4-litre 8-valve unit producing 75bhp, a 1.4-litre 16-valve unit producing 90bhp, a 1.

4-litre VTi with 95bhp, a 1.6-litre VTi giving out 120bhp, plus 150 and 175bhp 1.6-litre turbo options. The diesel offerings are all second generation common-rail high-pressure direct injection powerplants and start with a 1.

4-litre HDi producing 70bhp. This is followed by a 1.6-litre HDi 16-valve delivering 90bhp and a range topping version of the same engine with a variable geometry turbocharger producing 110bhp. All these units are a result of the joint venture between PSA Peugeot Citroën and BMW Group, the 207 being the first Peugeot model to use them. Sitting inside the new 207, you can immediately sense that this car is far removed from the 206 in terms of its quality and elegance. Plus the 207, even in its most basic trim level, is head and shoulders above its equivalent 206 model in refinement. The elegant centre panel houses all the usual heating, ventilating and audio switches and the binnacle behind the steering wheel features three circular dials, mirroring those usually seen on a motorcycle.

The overall effect is very pleasing and gives the impression of a very up-market product. The front seats are very comfortable and appear to give good support. In the rear, as with most vehicles in this sector, the available space is rather limited to the size of the passenger and driver seated in the front. With the front seats fully extended backwards, the space in the back can be a bit restricted.

Equipment levels? Well, air-conditioning is available in two specifications, dual zone manual or automatic. In addition, each vehicle is equipped with a fragrance diffuser which is discreetly incorporated into the fascia panel and dispenses one of seven selectable fragrances to keep the interior of your 207 smelling sweetly. Each fragrance has been specially developed by a leading French perfume supplier. Useful features include automatic activation of the dipped beam, automatic front windscreen wipers, electric front windows with one-touch automatic reverse control and a remote control for the radio situated under the steering wheel.

Safety has been designed into the 207 and has already earned a five star rating from the EuroNCAP tests. The 207s front end contains two impact absorption structures borrowed from the 407 that distribute impact energy more efficiently in the event of a collision. Sill reinforcements and tubular bars in the doors aid structural rigidity. Numerous airbags are installed in the 207 and the front two adaptive airbags have a dual-generator function that can vary their pressures according to the severity of the impact.

Side airbags and curtain airbags also feature as standard or as an option, depending on the model level. All 207s are fitted with two 3-point Isofix mountings in the rear outer seats, each of which can accommodate a childs Isofix car safety seat. Peugeot look like they have cracked it yet again. The new 207 looks the part, is well put together and is definitely a class above the 206.

If you need convincing, just shut one of the doors. They close with a very reassuring thunk. The same as you would experience with a Mercedes-Benz or BMW. The phenomenal success story looks set to continue.

FACTS AT A GLANCE

CAR: Peugeot 207 range
PRICES: £9,095-£17,112 on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 3-11
CO2 EMISSIONS: 120-166g/km
PERFORMANCE: [1.4 8v] 0-60mph 15.6s / Max Speed 104mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.4 8v] (urban) 33.6mpg / (extra urban) 56.5mpg / (combined) 44.8mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin and side airbags, ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Heightmm 4030/1720/1472