23/12/08

• Price12,672
• We like...Space, comfort, ride
• We don't...Loses value fast second-hand

Super-talented French supermini will have you wondering why you ever needed a bigger carSmall cars are now getting so good, is there sense in buying bigger? It’s a thought that’ll buzz around your head if you spend much time in a 207.

Because Peugeot’s taken all that it knows about making bigger cars ride and drive well and – somehow – shhorned it into this supermini. Like most of its rivals, the 207 is bigger than the 206 it replaces, inside and out.

But you’ll notice first that the plastics and fabrics used in the cabin are much nicer than before. Where the 206 seemed cut-price, this is the full shilling. The second thing you’ll notice is that the 207 lets you, the driver, get much more comfortable. Where the 206’s pedals skewed to the left, leaving you to sit wonkily at the wheel, the 207’s are straight ahead – and there’s now also enough space in the footwell for your size 11s.

The driving position is now a good-un, particularly because the seat and wheel adjust every-which-way. The wheel, gears and pedals are sensibly weighted and easy, making it fine to drive. And that low-revving diesel suits the car to a T, serving up more than ample power, while promising up to 64.1mpg overall. It adds £1000 to the car’s price over the 1.4 petrol that closest to it in power and verve but we think it’s worth it – if only because it makes for such a pleasant drive.

Wind noise is reasonable at motorway speeds, and the diesel settles to a muted hum. The 207, meanwhile, rides easily at speeds and smothers bumps admirably. In town, and at lower speeds it feels stiffer, so that thumps from severe road craters will feed through to the cabin.

And while the steering and throttle responses aren’t up there with such rivals as Vauxhall’s Corsa or the Ford Fiesta’s for response or accuracy, they’re good enough.

Ours was the S model, so it’s one level up from the most basic but it has: six airbags, air conditioning, a trip computer, a good radio/CD and touches such as central locking that auto activates once the car is on the move. It feels complete, leaving us with little reason to suggest moving up to any of the three models above it.

The 207 design pitches the wheels as close to the corners of the car as it can, meaning the cabin is big relative to the car. So there’s good space in the back, even for grown-ups although they will feel pinched if three abreast, unless they’re skinny. And the boot is a good size, too. The rear seats drop to extend the load space, while the boot has hooks to keep shopping upright.
207s lose value quickly once second-hand, which makes them excellent buys. Check current prices on motors.co.uk.

But new or used, the 207 makes a top-drawer buy. And, if you’re moving up from a 206, you’re in for a treat.

• Engines1.6 Hdi diesel
• Power90bhp
• 0-60 mph12.9secs
• Economy64.1mpg
• CO2g/km117
• Insurance groups5
• EuroNCAP
• Airbags6
• Seats5

Motors.co.uk value verdict: