Peugeot 807 2.2 HDi 6-SPEED
Equipped With A Slick 6-Speed Manual Gearbox, The 2.2 HDi Version of Peugeots 807 People Carrier Is Now The Most Appealing Variant In An Increasingly Popular MPV Line-Up. Jonathan Crouch Reports
In contrast to its predecessor, Peugeots 807 people carrier is really selling rather well. Over 3,200 examples were registered here in its first full year of sale and, thanks to a helpful five star safety rating from the Euro NCAP people and constant tweaks, things continue to look positive for the French maker in the large MPV market.
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The version were looking at here is the one that many people tend to opt for the 136bhp 2.2-litre HDi diesel, a car recently improved by the fitment of Peugeots latest 6-speed manual gearbox, as developed for the 607 and 407 saloon models. This ML6C transmission aims to provide a number of benefits such as improved fuel consumption, more relaxed driving and a reduction in CO2 emissions. As important for families is the news, via Euro NCAP, that you cant buy a safer MPV at least in terms of passive safety.
Peugeot have thought about active safety too, deciding that all diesel buyers will get the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) as standard. Less worthy but equally enticing extra fitments include 16" Largo alloy wheels on Executive and Executive SE 2.2-litre variants as standard equipment, to replace the current 15" alloy wheels. The 2.2-litre diesel is one of four engines you can choose with your 807, but its by far the most preferable. There doesnt seem much point in specifying either of the petrol units (a 138bhp 2.
0-litre and a 160bhp 2.2) when the HDi engines are almost as quiet and provide much superior mid-range torque and infinitely better fuel consumption. The 110bhp 2.0-litre HDi diesel meanwhile, makes such a heavy vehicle feel rather under-powered.
To be honest, even fitted with the 136bhp 2.2 HDi, this 807 is no ball of fire. The 6-speed 2.2-litre HDi were looking at here has a pretty slick manual change and the prodigious torque of the engine means that you dont have to row the thing along with the gearlever.
We tried the automatic version as well and now that the manual box has that extra speed, wed probably opt for it over the auto. Prices for this variant start from £22,800 for the 2.2 litre HDi diesel GLX and run to £25,060 for the flagship Executive SE 2.2 HDi.
"The 807 is stuffed to its very gunwales with safety equipment"
Even the GLX model gets a CD stereo, digital air conditioning, a dash-mounted multifunction display screen and remote central locking, plus electrically operated sliding side doors which can be triggered via the key fob. If only they were a little quicker or the key fob had more range, the effect would be better but its still pretty slick stuff. They also remove the embarrassment of children opening rear doors into parked cars in public car parks. Recognising that driver distraction by children is a contributory factor in a growing proportion of accidents, Peugeot have fitted an ingenious retractable "child check" mirror. This allows the driver to keep a safe eye on the kids in the back or alternatively see what colour the little horrors would like the upholstery to be this week. As with all 807 models, practicality is a major plus. All three rows of seats are mounted on runners, which means that adjusting for optimal legroom is simplicity itself.
There are the usual zillion and one different combinations as to how you can arrange the seats and the front seats even capable of swivelling to create what Peugeot call "a sitting room environment." Somewhat comically, they then append this with "when parked." The 807 excels at shoulder room but others offer more total legroom. As with any MPV, the rear seats are removable, but they are very heavy and even a minor error in aligning the feet with the runners to re-engage them will cause the seats to jam, requiring a hefty shoulder to free them again. The range-topping Executive SE comes with six individual captains chairs rather than the usual two-three-two seating set up. As avant garde as it is, the 807 doesnt offer up a solution to the eternal MPV gripe that with all the seats in place there isnt space for luggage.
Perhaps Peugeot should offer subsidised roof boxes with every purchase. Four-zone air conditioning helps combat the effect of no less than three sunroofs. Multiplex wiring allows for such electronic niceties as light sensitive headlamps, automatic windscreen wipers and speed indexing of the stereo volume, as well as rear parking sensors, guide-me-home headlights and remote control operation of the sunroofs, windows, door mirrors and the sliding doors. The Peugeot 807 looks to have consigned memories of its underwhelming predecessor to history and offers an all-round blend of talents that are unsurpassed in the MPV sector.
Yes, you can buy a bigger MPV or a more powerful one, but nothing combines style, safety and innovation quite as convincingly as the 807. The days when the
Ford Galaxy/
Volkswagen Sharan/
SEAT Alhambra trio bossed this division have well and truly come to an end. In the 807 it would seem Peugeot have their number. Overall, if you want a large-sized people carrying MPV, you cant afford not to include the 807 on your shopping list.
And if youre looking at an 807, then you cant afford to ignore this particular version. Its as simple as that.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Peugeot 807 2.2 HDi 6-speed
PRICES: £22,800-£25,060 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 12
CO2 EMISSIONS: 199g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 12.6s / Max Speed 113mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 38.2mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Six airbags, ABS with EBD and EBA, ESP
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, mm 4727/1818/1752
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