The government's car Scrappage Scheme has been quite successful in attracting buyers back into the new car market (source: BBC news, Aug 09). The promise of a £2000 saving is quite a draw, and with fuel costs going up again this month, it would seem the perfect time to be looking for a new quality hatchback.
Peugeot 207 Styling
The Peugeot 207 is certainly a good looking option. The styling is very Chic, but it mercifully stops short of Stalybridge Chintz. At £13,195, Peugeot’s offering seems to offer economy, space, spirit and value. Memories of elephant-effect vinyl and a flaccid clutch still resound from drives in the old 206, but the promise of 46mpg and a more lively chassis create a desire to give it a go anyway.
Peugeot 207 Comfort and Safety
The height-adjustable seat and a fully adjustable wheel offers settings for both reach and rake, so it’s easy to be comfortable in the driver’s seat. Getting there is more of a mission due to the vast door length, which makes tight parking spots a no-go, unless you are some kind of polypetyrus and have a fully adjustable spine.
The standard fabric looks good, but seems to have an eternal grasp on pasty crumbs and all manner of canine follicle fallout. The doors close with a reassuring German-esque thud which bodes well for future durability. The 207 also boasts five-star NCAP and ranks top for pedestrian safety too.
Peugeot 207 Interior
The interior is a pleasant place to be, apart from the high door sills which seem to envelope front seat occupants as they peer over the dash at the road ahead. With the driver’s seat set very low, the driver can at times feel like a toy clown peering out of a child’s Ottoman. Generally though the driving position is good, the dash is nicely styled and well executed, and the standard toys include air con and a trip computer.
The latter is fun briefly, if only to monitor the poor mpg when accelerating uphill in third gear. That’s kind of the only thing with this car, it’s lack of torque. The sporty dials encourage the driver to hold the gear longer, but the engine is whisper-quiet, and early up-shifts make the (quite bulky) Peugeot feel like a slug in a salt-shaker.
Peugeot 207 Driving Impressions
Around town, the 1.4-litre engine is eager and fun, and it’s only on sweeping dual carriageways that the keen driver will yearn for more thrust. The clutch is light and user-friendly, with a super-positive synchro-mesh which irons out any erratic inputs on down-shifts, and the steering has a reasonable weight.
There is a touch of passive understeer to push against, and it stays reasonably flat on negative camber dips and switchbacks. The ride is far better than would be expected from a car in this class, maintaining a good balance between stiff and slush. Interior room is good also, and covering big miles in this car would be no chore.
Peugeot 207 Comparison With Alternatives
All in, this is a cracking hatch for the money. It is more convincing than a Punto, less gimmicky than the Citroen C3 and less likely to disintegrate in several weeks than Alfa’s 147. It’s took a while for Peugeot to get their small car Mojo back, but it’s here now, and it’s good value.
 |
