Car Star of the month: Peugeot 207

The French lion celebrates its 200^th birthday this year, at the same time it celebrates 70 years of its ‘2’ series cars. Peugeot’s humble beginnings as a small family steel manufacturing business seem almost unimaginable compared to the carmaker we know and love today- a carmaker which sold 102, 574 cars in the UK alone last year and has a global presence across 160 countries.

The familiar ‘2’, a staple of the Peugeot line-up has likewise come a long way since 1930 when the first 201 saloon hit the road and became the first mass produced car in the world to be fitted with independent front suspension.

These days the 207 is one of the carmaker’s biggest selling models, building on the success of its predecessor, the 206-the best selling car in Peugeot’s history.

Available in three body-styles – hatchback, SW and CC – the Peugeot 207 has found homes with people from all walks of life from young executives wanting to drop the top, to families and individuals looking for a solid and sensible run-around. The range starts with the three or five door hatchback model powered by a range of class-leading petrol and HDi diesel engines with CO₂ emissions from 99 to 159 g/km.

The French carmaker has proved itself to be keen in its ability to make the most of fuel put into its cars and the 207 is a fine example of that. The 99g/km of CO2 Économique model in both three-door and five-door versions, the 207 S with standard fitment of air-conditioning, the comprehensively equipped 207 Sport and the 207 Millesim special edition- all these models qualify for zero vehicle excise duty and will use a gallon of fuel on average to cover 64 miles (or 74 miles in the case of the Économique).

The specially launched birthday celebration Millesim edition of the 207 throws in some extra goodies onto the current S hatchback and SW versions including 15” alloy wheels, Peugeot Connect USB & Bluetooth, front fog lights, sports front grille with chrome detailing, coloured coded side rubbing strips with chrome inserts, aluminium roof bars (SW only) and unique Millesim 200 badging.

Peugeot cars are known for their fun and free handling which if you are not used to can come as a slight surprise, however once you’ve adjusted its makes for a youthful approach to motoring.

Continuing in this youthful vein, the 207 CC builds on the success of first mass-produced car to feature an electric folding roof- the 206 CC-which was the top selling convertible in the UK for three years. It’s got to be one of the best hard top convertibles below the £20,000 mark and easily gives the likes of the Ford Focus CC and Astra CC a run for the money. It’s available with three different engine options, and an HDi diesel model which qualifies for zero vehicle excise duty. The GT petrol models are the most sporting but the thirstiest so thankfully Peugeot provide a good range of options to allow motorists to choose what’s most important for them.

Meanwhile the SW model takes the hatchback basis and provides a bit more space-ideal for those who make longer journeys or need a more family friendly model. Its increased load capacity provides at least an extra 55 litres of boot space up to a maximum capacity of 1258 litres while the extra height in the cabin makes it a much easier vehicle to live with. A full length glass roof adds to the appeal while like all of the 207 range, the standard equipment level proves strong too.

Central locking and electric front windows come as standard on the range and all 207 models prove strong and solid in their Euro NCAP results. The hatchback achieves a 5 star for adult, 4 for child and 3 for pedestrian safety. Equally a highlight among Peugeot cars and continued in the 207 model is the brand’s simple yet stylish interiors. The carmaker seems to know just how to make even the cheapest plastic dashboard look elegant, something it displays with confidence across its range-from the 107 right up to the genuinely gorgeous RCZ coupe.

The hatchback starts from £10,995 undercutting key rivals such as the slightly shorter Fiesta. Likewise the 207 CC starts from just £17,095 well under the Focus CC and Astra CC at around £20,000 each, although, admittedly these are slightly larger models. The SW version costs from £13835 although it’s worth noting that the Fabia estate in this situation is cheaper and more generous in boot space. However the 207 SW wins over on its increased headroom and width.

As the carmaker celebrates its 200^th birthday it’s the perfect time to acknowledge the contribution the carmaker has made over the years even though a big chunk of its history has nothing to do with motors. It’s fair to say that the brand has been an innovator and the ‘2’ series has been a perfect example of that. As a brand with its own unique approach to drive and handling, the carmaker has also been one of the best for introducing high-end new gadgets and gizmos onto affordable, mainstream cars. Looking to the future, the carmaker is planning to introduce electric and hybrid models and is just one of a handful willing to front much of the development costs alone, although its first model, the Peugeot iON is simply a rebadged Mitsubishi i-MiEV.

As for the 207, Peugeot knows that this is one of its staple models and a strong reason to praise the carmaker. Its the car in the Peugeot’s line-up  that has the broadest appeal so as we say ‘Happy Birthday’ to Peugeot, we can also give the 207 the Car Star status it so richly deserves.

Author: Faye Sunderland, July 1st, 2010
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