Peugeot 307
The Tall
Peugeot 307 Is Ideal For The Lady With Big Hair. June Neary Primps Her Beehive.
The long lamented Peugeots 306 was a fine car in its day but since its heyday things have moved on a long way. What was needed was change and that change appeared in the 307. At first, you would be forgiven for thinking that it was just a number change, a refresh but look deeper and youll find that the 07 is a world away from its forebears. On first impressions, I have to say that I was very impressed.
Aiming squarely at the
Ford Focus/
Vauxhall Astra market, the 307 has style, sophistication and would look just as at home in Camden as the local supermarket. I think that I will rather like this car.
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One of the first things that I spotted about the interior of the 307 was the vast number of storage pockets, luggage hooks and nets, slide out trays and cubbyholes. If you are carrying anything from a diamond dripping engagement ring to a 1.5-litre bottle of coke, youll find somewhere secure to stow it although the trick may be remembering exactly which pocket you put it in. For chocoholics like me, the air-conditioned glove box keeps your Cadburys just as you would want to find it, rather than the sloppy mess that so often results.
Once you have finished losing things in the storage bins, youll notice how spacious the rest of the car is. Not only is it the tallest vehicle in its sector (useful as it ensured that I could cultivate a wild hairstyle) but it has a seriously large windscreen adding to the ambiance of space and light. Rear accommodation is impressive and the décor, while a little sombre, feels as though it comes from a car high up the automotive hierarchy. Good fuel economy, a comfortable driving position and plenty of space make this an ideal car for work around town or for longer trips. I could even see my family going on holiday in one, such is the comfort and available space. For those that want additional versatility, the 307SW estate cum
mini-MPV is also available with a range of four engines and has the potential carrying capacity for seven passengers.
Being a
Peugeot, spirited driving is most definitely on the cards. Even the lowliest 1.4-litre version can scamper its way to 60mph in 12.8 seconds and the 2.
0-litre 16v version makes the same marker in only 9.2 seconds. Quick then but you need to watch for fierce wheel spin if you want to make a hasty getaway, across partially obscured junctions for example. All-round visibility is excellent thanks to a high driving position and every control falls easily to hand.
In emergency braking situations, not only does the ABS cut in to bring you safely to a halt, but the hazard lights will illuminate to show those following that you are stepping sharpish on the anchors. The idea is to alert them to the emergency ahead in the hope that they will actually notice that something is amiss and use the brakes themselves. You can but hope 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 and fuel supply cut-offs combine to make the 307 an impressively safe environment for the family, which would be one of my prime considerations in looking for a new car to join my household. Other thoughtful applications include a boot that 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. The Peugeot people seem to have thought of everything.
If you are looking for an individual car, then the 307 is likely to be for you. With six engines on offer from a 1.4-litre 16v 90bhp unit to the stunning 2.0-litre 136bhp HDi power plant, three trim levels (S, SE and XSi), five body styles (3 and 5-door hatch along with the Estate, SW estate and the CC convertible), seven interiors and five ambiances you are very unlikely to find another exactly the same.
With prices that range from £11,820 to £17,220 for the hatchbacks, it is shooting directly for
Ford Focus and
Vauxhall Astra sales. As a value proposition, the Peugeot has to be high on anyones agenda. Excellent build quality, high levels of equipment and engineering excellence combine into a competitive whole.
It would be a genuine pleasure to have a Peugeot 307 on my driveway. Cute looks, enviable performance, economy and style appeal to every automotive sense that I possess. As French is the language of love, Im not surprised that the Peugeot fits in so perfectly, and if you put in enough practice, you can even get it to roll off the tongue in the same alluring way as cherie. Lets try it Purrrrr-geot.
Perfect.
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