Peugeot 307 2.0 HDi RANGE
If Youre Going To Buy A
Peugeot 307, The 2.0-Litre HDi Diesels Make An Arresting Case For Themselves. Andy Enright Reports
Lets get this out in the open now. Were talking about a small Peugeot hatch here, not sporting in any way, but appealing to the well-informed and prudent family hatch buyer looking for slick design, reliability and miserly fuel consumption. In which case, this test of the Peugeot 307 2.0-litre HDi should get any GTi references out of the way good and early.
"The Peugeot 307 2.0-litre HDi produces even more torque than the much loved 306 GTi-6." There. Normal service will now resume.
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A few basics first: theres a 1.6-litre HDi developing 110bhp available in the 307 and a very good buy it is too. Its the 90 and 136bhp 2.0-litre HDi models we focus on here however.
Once upon a time the 2.0-litre HDi engines sat one above the other at the top of the 307 diesel line up but then
peugeot launched that 16-valve 1.6-litre HDi with its 110bhp output. This engine split the field by coming in above the 90bhp 8-valve 2.
0-litre HDi and below the range-topping 2.0-litre HDi engine which was similtaniously upgraded to feature 16-valves and a 136bhp rating. In the current scheme of things, the 2.0-litre HDi with 90bhp forms an entry level diesel choice following the delition of the 1.
4-litre HDi in the 307 and the 2.0-litre HDi sporting 136bhp resides at the top of the line-up. All Peugeot hatches are expected to corner like a demon, be powered by a peppy, fruity engine and have the driver chortling in merriment at their sheer verve. The 307 2.
0 HDi cars manage to fulfil one of those three criteria, and marks a change in perspective from Peugeot. Rather than concentrate on the range-topping cars and produce a whole sub-class of under achieving makeweights, Peugeot has instead adopted a bottom-up approach to the 307 range, pouring time and money into the development of the more prosaic models such as the diesels. That investment is apparent from the moment you slip behind the wheel.
"Peugeots investment is apparent from the moment you slip behind the wheel"
If youve not checked out a 307 before, its possible that the swoopy lines could lead you to believe it to be one of those
mini-MPVs. Like the
Honda Civic 5-door (a car it closely resembles), its not of course, as youll quickly discover upon taking a
seat inside. Though the cabin feels light and airy (thanks to all that glass), its not actually all that spacious, only the headroom being really exceptional. The fit and finish, even in the more basic versions, is light years away from the hard plastics and mis-matched textures that the average 306 brought to market.
The impression is that Peugeot have finally shaken off the frenetic buzz-box image that had for so long sold sports hatches in thousands but had hampered any move towards a quality image which was in any way capable of shifting high-value cars. There are three trim options available S, SE and XSi. Only the XSi models are available in more powerful HDi 136bhp guise but the 90bhp unit crops up in S and SE form, although the SE level is a 5-door only option. Prices range between £13,100 for the 3-door S HDi 90 to £17,220 for the 5-door HDi 136 XSi.
Equipment levels are everything you would expect maybe even more, given that all models get six airbags (including front and rear curtain bags to protect you against flying glass) as well as ABS with Brake Assist. There are also active head restraints and automatic hazard light deployment under heavy braking. Other thoughtful applications include a boot, which automatically locks when you pull away, protecting the contents from opportunistic thieves while stopped in traffic, and door linings that are fitted with reinforced cowlings that shield the lock elements. As for the rest of the specification, well as usual, it depends on your pocket.
Go for a S version and you can expect to find air-conditioning, a CD player, remote central locking, electric front windows, a height and rake-adjustable steering wheel, height-adjustment for the drivers seat, alloy wheels and powered mirrors. Meanwhile the SE boasts 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. XSi customers get a range of sporty add-ons, climate control and ESP stability control in addition to this. For those that want additional versatility, theres a choice of an estate variant in either standard or SW-badged mini-MPV guises.
Go for the SW with a 2.0-litre HDi engine and youll have the potential for carrying seven passengers. The 307 feels tightly screwed together, and uses a high grade of plastics, giving a subjective impression of quality to the interior that was so sorely lacking in the old 306. Many will feel that the interior perhaps lacks the visual drama of the exterior styling, and its a fair point.
Nevertheless, ergonomics are sound and the car will be 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. On the road, its all very smooth and easy if not quite as sharp as some enthusiasts might like. Everything feels nice to use steering, throttle, brakes, switchgear.
Come out of something larger into this and, assuming youve opted for one of the plusher trim levels, you should feel quite at home. The 90bhp engine is capable of reaching 60mph in 13 seconds on the way to 111mph, whilst averaging an excellent 54.3mpg. The brawny 136bhp versions reduce that sprint to 9.
8 seconds, add 15mph to the top whack and will return broadly similar fuel consumption figures. Both engines have a slight clatter on startup, and arent the quietest diesels on sale today, but once warmed up, youll forgiven their vocal nature due to the effortless surge of torque that can dispatch slow moving traffic with disdain. Rivals such as
Volkswagen and
Ford have recently come good with their diesel engines, but the 307 2.0-litre HDi, whether in 90bhp or 136bhp guise, looks to be the pick of the 307 range.
Its not as sharp as Peugeots of old and the diesel units suit this more languid nature perfectly. Its almost as if the 307 was made for these engines. After initial scepticism towards the 307, these powerplants give the car a feel-good factor missing from the petrol versions. Try one and see for yourself.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Peugeot 307 2.0-litre HDi range
PRICES: £13,420-£17,220 on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 6-9
CO2 EMISSIONS: 120-138g/km
PERFORMANCE: [90bhp] 0-60mph 13.0s / Max Speed 111mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [90bhp] (urban] 40.9 / (extra urban) 65.7 / (combined) 54.3mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front, side and curtain airbags / ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: [5dr] Length/Width/Height mm 4202/1746/1512
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