Review
/5
- Pros:
- Versatile and spacious boot
- Cheap to run
- Wide engine range is competitively priced
- Cons:
- Notchy gearchange
- Limited rear seat space
- Cabin looks a little dated
pictured: Peugeot 207 estate 2012 5 door
reviewed by Carbuyer
"Good to drive and better built than its predecessor, the Peugeot 207SW is a practical all-round supermini estate"
At a glance
- The greenest
- Access 1.6 HDi FAP 92 5dr
£13,595 - The cheapest
- Access 1.4 8V 75 5dr
£11,995 - The fastest
- Allure 1.6 VTi 120 5dr
£16,195 - Top of the range
- Allure 1.6 HDi FAP 112 5dr
£17,545
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The Peuget 207 SW is a five-door supermini estate car similar to the Renault Clio Sport Tourer and SEAT Ibiza ST. Offering a well thought-out load bay featuring boot runners, tie hooks, plus a hidden six-litre underfloor area, the Peugeot includes separate opening tailgate glass and a low 555mm sill height, making loading bulky items much easier. The rear seat mechanism is also very clever– pull a single lever, the backrest flips forward and the base lowers to create a flat 1,258-litre luggage bay. Build quality is much improved with more space inside compared to the previous 206 SW. The 207 feels secure on the road and there are loads of safety features, too. The diesel engines are cheap to run and produce low emissions. It's best to steer clear of the cheapest petrol engines though, as they're underpowered and noisy.
Drive
Steering feel and strong diesel engines are highlights
There are few faults with the Peugeot's driving experience. It has pleasing handling and a well-judged ride. It has accurate steering, a tight turning circle and comes across as a capable car. While petrol engines are decent around town, they are a bit noisy. The HDi diesels are superb – quiet and responsive, with the 1.6-litre units being linear, vibration-free and refined. The biggest downside is that all models suffer from a very vague gearshift.
Comfort
Comfortable and very quiet interior
The 207's suspension offers plenty of comfort, but the system lacks the precision of rivals such as the Ford Fiesta. The Peugeot is impressively hushed for such a small estate car – road and wind noise are almost non-existent. Smaller petrol engines create a bit of noise on the motorway, but that aside the 207 SW is easy to live with.
Reliability
Woeful reliability but Fantastic safety record
Reliability is a weakness as the 207 finished 68th for reliability in the 2010 Driver Power survey and Peugeot ranked 24th out of 27 manufacturers in the JD Power Satisfaction survey. It did however score five Euro NCAP stars for adult occupants, four for child occupants and three for pedestrians, one of the best scores you'll find. Six airbags, anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control are all standard. Remote central locking, deadlocks and automatic locking when the car reaches 6mph are also part of the package.
Practicality
Practical boot shape but rear seats are cramped
The 337-litre capacity boot is well thought out offering boot runners and six-litres of shallow underfloor storage. A low sill height makes loading bulky items much easier too. The simple folding rear seat mechanism creates a flat 1,258-litre load area- ideal for carrying large dogs or flat pack furniture. Compared to the standard hatchback, there is definitely more rear leg and headroom, but it can begin to feel cramped on longer journeys, especially for taller adults.
Value for money
Entry-level models are basic
The 207 isn't one of the best value hatchbacks around, but it's priced keenly against rivals from Renault and Seat. Apart from the safety features, entry-level models get electric front windows, a CD stereo and power steering, not exactly brimming with kit. It's best to go for an Active model or higher, which adds air-conditioning, electric heated door mirrors, a trip computer, body coloured door handles and curtain airbags. Resale values are slightly lower than average, but not cripplingly so.
Running costs
Diesel models offer exceptional economy
The 1.6 HDi FAP models are exceptionally cheap to run - offering 64mpg and emissions of 110g/km. Meanwhile the petrol models offer figures of around 40mpg on a motor way run.
*Our monthly finance prices are updated on a regular basis, but due to the dynamic nature of the market are not guaranteed accurate. You can always confirm the monthly finance price with FinanceAcar.
