Peugeot 207 Access 1.4 8v 5dr Car Review - February 2012

The dash is well laid out and pleasing to the eye and finding the ideal driving position is no problem thanks to the adjustment available on the driver’s seat and also the height and reach adjustment on the steering wheel. The cabin has a nice airy feel to it thanks to the expanse of glass, which also makes all round visibility excellent. Some people may find that the pedals are located a little bit too close together for their liking.

There are comfortable seats which give good support on longer journeys but space in the rear is a bit cramped for adults; the limited headroom and legroom is more suitable for children.
There’s a good range of both petrol and diesel engines available for the 207 range. This model comes powered by Peugeot’s 1.4-litre, 4 cylinder, 8 valve, 75bhp petrol unit. It’s nimble around town with 90lb-ft of torque giving it plenty of zip. Acceleration is not remarkable, going from 0-62mph in 15.7 seconds, but it is capable of reaching a top speed of 106mph and cruising on the motorway doesn’t worry it. If you need more power then the 1.6-litre diesel would be a good option and you’ll certainly notice the difference when overtaking.

The handling of the 207 is competent and sure. The power steering is precise and feels good at speed and when cornering. Body lean is kept under control well and the 207’s suspension deals with most road surfaces without any fuss giving a smooth ride. However, the 5-speed manual gearbox leaves a bit to be desired as it can feel a little vague at times.

Noise suppression on the 207 is good and overall it’s a quiet ride with only slight engine noise evident at cruising speeds.

The 207 still has those sleek refined looks that make it appealing. While it may not look as avant-garde or ‘edgy’ as some of its current competitors it does deliver on handling, safety and price.

This entry-level Access model comes with rather basic kit including power steering, central locking, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, immobiliser and CD+MP3 connectivity. You may want to think about upgrading to get air conditioning, alloy wheels and Bluetooth included. A stability control system is also available for £210.

The five door version makes it easy to get access to the rear seats in comparison with the three-door model. The cabin has the usual storage cubby holes and a decent sized glovebox. The boot is a bit disappointing in terms of space offering only 270-litres of space with the rear seats in place – enough for a couple of large suitcases. Removing the base of the 60/40 split rear seats and folding down the seat-backs gets you more space, but a lot of its competitors offer more.

Euro NCAP gave the 207 an overall rating of five stars in their crash test: 5 for occupant safety, 4 for children and an impressive 3 for pedestrians. Safety features include dual front, side and curtain airbags, three-point seatbelts, Isofix child-seat mounting points and strong impact protection both at the front and sides.

Anti-theft measures such as remote central locking; automatic door-locking over 6mph and an immobilizer help deter thieves.

The 207 has a nice solid feel to it and Peugeot has an excellent reputation for its diesel engines. It comes with Peugeot’s three-year-60,000 mile warranty, and service intervals of 20,000 miles which means you won’t be spending as much time in the workshop as with some of its rivals.

With a price of £10,895 it’s very attractive for the good ride and decent performance it gives. Fuel economy is respectable and this 1.4-litre petrol unit returns 44.8mpg on average. Insurance in group 5 and CO2 emissions of 145g/km put it in VED band F for Road Tax both of which help keep running costs at a reasonable level.

While it may not hold its value as well as some others, it is always a popular buy on the used market thanks to its reputation, so you shouldn’t have any problems selling it on in the future. The five-door model is more sought after than the three-door version so that’s a bonus too.