PEUGEOT 307 2.0 HATCHBACK RANGE
Peugeot Have High Hopes For The 307, But The Opposition Is Witheringly Good. Do The Well-Equipped 2.0-Litre Models Merit A Place On The Family Hatch Podium? Andy Enright Reports
As a nation were getting taller. Were still an inch or so behind the Dutch and the Swedes, but were loftier than the Yanks and dwarf any Asian country you care to mention. Having resorted to statistics and a calculator, it would still be another century before the average British driver found the headroom of the Peugeot 307 in any way lacking.
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Gazing up at that lofty ceiling, it seems more likely that robots will rule the earth before homo sapiens hairstyles harass the headlining of the
Peugeot. Whilst building upwards may work in terms of housing, in cars its of questionable benefit, raising the centre of gravity for what benefit? A perceived sensation of airiness? Having said that, the 307 disguises its altitude problem surprisingly well. The petrol 2.0-litre models examined here sit near the top of the range, and the sporty alloy wheels and clever use of design cues such as the rake of the windscreen help to disguise the cars inherent loftiness.
Only the rear-view looks slightly odd. This 307s problem is not so much any inherent deficiencies, first impressions suggesting a competent performer, but rather that the opposition is just so relentlessly good that competent may not be enough. Hence the importance of this engine which injects added ability into the top end of the 307 line-up. Its available in SE or Sporty XSi trim as a 5-door but 3-door buyers have their choice restricted to XSi.
The other alternatives if you must have this particular powerplant are the SW
mini-MPV and the Coupe Cabriolet with its folding hard-top roof.
"The ride feels agreeably knobbly, giving all the best hot hatch feedback through the
seat of your pants"
As anyone whos driven one will tell you, the 307 is such a massive step forward from the creaking 306 that youd be tempted to wonder what happened to the generation between the two. Interior quality just doesnt merit comparison with its flimsy forebear. From the drivers seat the base of the windscreen stretches away into the middle distance, the clap hand wipers reinforcing the mini-MPV impression. That inexplicably lofty roofline could well spark a resurgence in top hat sales, but move to the rear seats and youll find the MPV subterfuge falls a bit short.
Despite its apparently generous exterior dimensions, the 307 isnt the biggest car in its class. It certainly makes amends in terms of safety, as the 307 was one of the first cars in its class to feature six airbags as standard. In addition to the familiar twin front and side bags, curtain airbags protect both front and rear passengers from flying glass and side impact in the event of an accident. Active head restraints, ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution, automatic hazard light deployment under heavy braking and fuel supply cut-offs combine to make the 307 an impressively safe environment for the family.
The SE variant that many 2.0-litre customers choose also features an impressive array of standard equipment, which includes a five-disc CD changer integrated into the dashboard and digital climate control as well as electric rear windows, electrically folding door mirrors, automatic headlights and rain sensing wipers. It also incorporates lessons learnt from years of MPV production such as sliding underseat storage trays. It even features an air-conditioned glove box to prevent your chocolate bars from becoming astronaut food and cargo nets in the hatch to stop luggage from looking like its been on a spin cycle after spirited driving.
The leather steering wheel and gearknob, chrome rimmed dials and 16-inch alloys promise a sporting drive, although the fake wood trim is more MFI than Magny-Cours. The engine is super quiet and after snicking the cable-operated gearchange almost effortlessly into first gear, the ride feels agreeably knobbly, giving all the best hot hatch feedback through the seat of your pants. Unfortunately theres less coming back through the steering wheel, which combines with the overall refinement to give a mixed picture. Its certainly not in the mould of small Peugeots of the past, having matured significantly from manic to mainstream.
To wheel out a well used cliché, it genuinely does feel as if youre at the wheel of a much larger car. That 2.0-litre engine is one of the 307s best features, hitting 60mph in 9.7 seconds on the way to a top speed of 127mph.
A combined fuel consumption figure of 35.8mpg is also one of the best in class, especially for a car boasting 138bhp, once a respectable figure for any paid up member of the GTi brigade. Its difficult to drive the 307 and escape the thought that Peugeot were trying to move away from its GTi-dominated days, but that just enough of the old-school funsters managed to crash the party. The handling is lively and in the spirit of all Peugeot hatches, you can swing the back end loose with a sharp lift of the throttle pedal.
Not that many of this cars target customers will adopt such irresponsible antics. For many this will be their first Peugeot, attracted to the 307 by its MPV-style utility and manifold safety features. Itll also rest easy on your conscience too, with over 90% of its volume by weight being recyclable or recoverable. The 307 even utilises environmentally friendly constituent parts, such as mudflaps made from what were once polypropylene bottles and soundproofing that uses recycled textiles.
Odd thought. The shirt on your back could one day make somebodys Peugeot 307 that tiny bit quieter. In 1993, the Peugeot 306 moved the family hatchback game on so far that it took until 1998 and the introduction of the
Ford Focus to depose it. With a European Car of The Year title under its belt, the 307 represents a competitive product and thats a good performance in this ultra-competitive marketplace.
If you appreciate the looks, the safety provision and the great engine, the 307 petrol-powered 2.0-litre hits all the right notes.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Peugeot 307 2.0 hatchback range
PRICES: £15,320-£15,820 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 9
CO2 EMISSIONS: 188g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 9.7s/ Max Speed 127mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 25.9mpg/ (extra urban) 45.6mpg/ (combined) 35.8mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Dual, Side and Curtain Airbags / ABS and EBD
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: [5dr] Length/Width/Height, 163/79/60"
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