Peugeot 307 XSi HDi 136
Want To Know Where The
Smart Money Goes When Choosing A Sports Hatch? The
Peugeot 307 XSi HDi136 Could Well Be The Answer. Andy Enright Reports
I might be going out on something of a limb here, but right here, right now, I think the smartest and most admirable cars built are diesel performance hatches. In many ways they bring back the excitement of when the glory days of hot hatches back in the early eighties. The giddy realisation that here is a car with performance to spare and no real downsides in terms of cost hasnt quite sunk in with the car buying populace just yet. But it will.
When it does, the best cars in this class cars like this Peugeot 307 XSi HDi 136 will clean up.
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As youre probably aware,
Peugeot have a little history when it comes to making great sports hatches. The 205 GTi, the 106 Rallye and the 306 GTi-6 were all scalpel sharp buzzboxes that would make you feel like a hero right up until that moment you took a liberty, whereupon these cars would give you something a bit sharper than a rap across the knuckles. The XSi series is a little more mild mannered but in diesel form is still is cut from slightly different cloth, but its still a real hoot to drive and theres a simple reason why. Torque to weight ratio.
Torque counts for a lot in this car. Although its not quite as marketable as outright power an attribute the Peugeot features in the 136 part of its name its what gives this 307 such an invincible feel. This 2.0-litre common-rail diesel unit first appeared in Fords Focus C-MAX but in this guise adds a particulate filter to meet full Euro4 emissions standards crucial for the company car market.
Accelerate at full bore between 1,500 and 3,200rpm and an overboost facility kicks in, lifting the peak torque to a healthy 255lb/ft. That is a hefty swell of muscle, more than an Alfa 147GTA, more than a
Subaru Impreza WRX, more even than a
Porsche Boxster S. Accelerate the 307XSi HDi 136 down a motorway on-ramp and youll see. When the turbocharger wafts in it feels as if an enormous hand is inexorably propelling the car up the road.
It feels effortless and rather addictive and will have you sniffing out open strateches of A-road and motorway with which to dispatch dawdlers.
"When the turbocharger wafts in it feels as if an enormous hand is inexorably propelling the car up the road"
The engine isnt the quietest diesel powerplant weve ever come across at idle, but once warmed up it settles to an offbeat thrum thats not unpleasant. The turbocharger offers a surprisingly linear delivery with none of the lag and surge many such units are afflicted by. Peugeot quote a sprint to 60mph time of 9.6 seconds but the car feels a little quicker.
The six-speed gearbox manual is a little notchy in its action although youll be hard pushed to wrong slot a gear. Top speed is achieved in sixth gear at 125mph but perhaps more importantly, the wind cheating shape and efficient powerplant combine to return an average fuel consumption of 52.3mpg which hardly seems credible given the 307 XSis naughtier side. With excellent CO2 emission levels and Euro IV compliance, its likely that this 307 will find its way onto the wish lists of company car user/choosers as well as private buyers.
When you pause to consider the fact that its only a warm hatch, the XSis firm ride comes as something of a surprise. Its certainly a good deal knobblier than even the 306 GTi-6 and Peugeots claim that the chassis is far more rigid seems like no idle boast. The whole car feels all of a piece. Not markedly cosseting or pliant, but it seems indestructible and suits the diesel engines power delivery very well.
Its enormously confidence inspiring. It certainly makes amends in terms of safety, as the 307 is 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 307 XSi also features an impressive array of standard equipment, which includes a five-disc CD changer integrated into the dashboard and digital climate control. An ultrasonic alarm, electric rear windows on the five-door version, sports seats with part leather trim and 17-inch alloy wheels also make the starting line up. All very racy, but they do nothing to undermine the 307s practical bent, incorporating as it does 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.
If you need more space, theres also a 307SW variant available. The 100mm grafted into the 307 hatchs wheelbase have given this version a more elegant look, the elongated rear balancing the 307s lofty roofline quite superbly. When configured in standard five-
seat mode, the 307 SW is basically just the standard 307 Estate with a few clever lifestyle gizmos. What makes things interesting is when its specified in seven-seat guise.
Then it plays the
mini-MPV role or at least, thats the idea. The Peugeot 307XSi HDi 136 is a car with very few weak points. Some may accuse it of poor al-round visibility while others arent struck by its tall body style but on the whole it puts in an extremely strong all-round performance. The price may deter those looking for outright bargains but the premium over the petrol versions are partially offset by lower long term running costs.
If you want a sporting car that will last the course, embarrass far more expensive machinery yet offer similar bills to a common or garden shopping hatch, heres a great place to start looking.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Peugeot 307 HDi 136 XSi
PRICES: £16,720-£18,420 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 11
CO2 EMISSIONS: 142g/km (hatch)
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 9.6s/ Max Speed 125mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 52.3mpg
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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