Little Charmer
by David Finlay (12 Jun 07)

Small automatics are not usually the kind of thing to get excited about, but there's a definite market for them, and the Peugeot 207 auto is a fine example of the type. In fact, of all the 207s I've driven so far, this might just be my favourite.

I must admit I undertook this test out of a sense of duty, rather than because I really wanted to do it. The error of my ways became apparent very quickly, as the 207 proved to be a charming little car.

This is largely because of the automatic gearbox itself. It's a simple enough unit, with just four forward gears, but it's the way it operates that makes the difference. For a start, it slides from one gear to the next with admirable smoothness, even - in the unlikely event that any owner will feel the need to do this - if keep your foot flat on the throttle pedal right up to the revlimiter.

The driver can also select which gear he or she wants to use in any given situation. This doesn't mean that if you select, say, third, the box assumes that it can choose from first, second or third. If third is what you pick, third is what you get, unless you either accelerate beyond the normal rev range or slow down to within stalling speed, in which case the electronics will select a more appropriate gear.

A small point? No, not really. It means that, compared with more conventional automatics, the driver has more control over the car. That's unless you want to leave the gearbox to make its own decisions (definitely the better option in town or gentle country motoring). If you do this, it makes changes that you hear rather than feel. A high-quality system, no question.

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