Peugeot 207 review
by David Morgan (3 April 2006)
Life's complicated. Logic suggests Peugeot's new 207 should replace the 206. It won't. It also suggests a 1.6 fuel-injected petrol engine should be more desirable than a 1.4 turbo diesel. It isn't. But whatever the logic-defeating qualities of Peugeot's new three- and five-door hatchback may have, one thing is for sure - it's the B-sector family car to beat.
On sale in the UK from June 8, this impressively roomy and well-sorted hatch will cost from around £9000 for a 1.4i petrol injection Urban three-door to £14,000 for a 1.6 HDi GT five-door. Look out Ford, this is a serious sales snatcher which will be produced alongside the smaller 206 and slot into the Peugeot line-up below 307.
At launch there will be five trim levels and six engines. Petrols include a modest eight-valve 75bhp 1.4, a smooth 16-valve 90bhp 1.4 sister and a dismal 1.6 offering a lethargic 110bhp. This dull lump will thankfully be replaced by a new jointly-developed PSA/BMW 150bhp 1.6 this summer.
Diesels deliver great choices with 1.6 HDi units offering superb torque with either 90bhp or 110bhp and a sweet new 1.4 HDi developing 70bhp and a massive 118lb/ft of pulling power at 2000rpm - that's 10lb/ft more than the poor-performing 1.6 petrol and at 2000 less revs.
I couldn't understand why Peugeot had marred the European launch of this fine new hatch by including this old-technology 1.6 in the line-up. The explanation is simple - the new 150bhp unit PSA created jointly with BMW for use in Peugeot/Citroen cars, smaller BMWs and the new-generation MINI is not quite ready for production.
But the underlying message is even simpler; if you must have a petrol 207, wait for the new 150bhp engine or swallow your prejudices and buy a 1.6 HDi 110 - it out-performs the 1.6i in every way. Compared to the disappointing 1.6i it is only 1mph slower than the petrol engine's quoted 121mph maximum, accelerates faster from rest and through the gears, is cleaner-burning and quieter, and with a combined average of nearly 59mpg it's 18mpg more economical.
I came away from the European launch of the 207 convinced it will succeed. It's hard to believe the same basic PSA/Citroen "number 1" floorpan used to build the safe, but silly, sliding-door 1007 can deliver such a crisp-handling and good-looking 207.
Automobile Peugeot's Communications Director, Christian Peugeot, told me: "We are very excited about the 207. It does everything well and meets every criteria for a modern family car." He's not wrong. The 207 is roomy, exceptionally well-trimmed, soundly-built, has outstanding safety credentials, rides comfortably and is fun to drive.
The hatch will be joined by a 207 CC (coupé-cabriolet) and an SW (station wagon) early in 2008. Later this year the 1.6-litre PSA/BMW-powered 207 GTi offering between 172bhp and 200bhp will join the range along with a breathtaking 207 RC competition model designed to meet homologation for the Rally 2000 series. This normally-aspirated two-litre petrol 4x4 207 will deliver around 280bhp through a six-speed gearbox. Cost? A cool £200,000.
The newcomer will be offered in well-appointed trim from Urban to S and SE alongside two "sporting" models badged Sport and GT. Equipment levels are excellent, but I was disappointed that even the long-legged HDi models only came with five-speed gearboxes. The brisk 110bhp HDi cried out for six cogs.
Steering is an all-electric affair, very light at parking and town speeds and a little lacking feel on the open road. But it's accurate and helps the 207 hustle along demanding side roads with real verve. Handling is boosted by wider front and rear tracks compared to 206. It adds up to a spacious bread-and-butter hatch that's great to drive with predicable handling and a good ride.
Safety will help this new arrival sell. The 207 has a full-house five-star NCAP rating for adult occupant protection and four stars for child occupant protection, and is the only car in its class to achieve three stars for pedestrian safety. Collapsing structures at knee and hip level and a "soft" bonnet to minimise head injury give it class-leading credentials. If you have to be run over by a hatchback, make sure it's a 207!
All models get front and side airbags and, apart from the Urban, curtain airbags. ABS, electronic brakeforce distribution and Brake Assist are all standard - but what a pity the best electronic safety aid on the road, electronic stability control, is only fitted to the range-leading GT models.
In many ways the 207 is a very conventional hatch. But it does everything better. Bigger and heavier than the 206, the 207's interior has a quality feel, good plastics, excellent design and superb instrumentation and controls. Storage spaces are plentiful and the seating is comfortable and supportive, even on the modest 1.4i Urban three-door.
Rear space is among the best, especially for headroom, while the mighty four-metre-plus length means plenty of cargo space. There's 10% more volume for luggage than the 206 - the 207 gets a full 310 litres. And if you drop the flat-folding rear seats you can cram 1195 litres behind the driver and passenger.
Make no mistake, this is a great little car. The 70bhp 1.4 turbo diesel is a real star, followed closely by its sweet 90bhp 1.4 16-valve petrol sister. The latter will be the volume seller, but the oil-burner is the headline model for me.
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