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Little car that could...

Posted on: 19th Sep 2012

Reading the press material for Peugeots 107 prior to its arrival was enlightening: “A compact car with an assertive character, versatile in use and above all, totally at ease in the urban environment”. If the 107 could carry all that off, I'd definitely be up for one.

On first glance, I was favourably impressed. You certainly cant miss this little citycar, the cheerfully grinning front end of the improved version I tried seeming more appealing than that of the Toyota Aygo and Citroen C1, two rivals developed off the same platform.

So far, so good.

Practicalities

There’s a choice of three and five-door hatch bodystyles, but only one 1.0-litre petrol engine and two trim levels - Active and Allure. Peugeot aren’t offering a diesel option which is curious when you think how budget-minded most potential buyers will be.

Mind you, they’d be probably put off by the premium being charged for diesel power – an extra cost you’d be unlikely to get back with the low mileages likely to be covered by a car of this type.

I wasn’t expecting this to be a spacious car inside - and sure enough, it wasn’t. Given that the designers were told that the length of the car wasn’t to exceed 3.5 metres, you can’t expect too much.

The tale of the tape shows the car to be 3.43 metres long, fully 25cm shorter than the old 106. I found that the dimensions of the 107 could really only be appreciated when walking around the car.

The three door shape looks the most comfortable from a design perspective, but the five-door I tried could well prove to be a bigger commercial success.

The angled window line gives the car a cute wedge profile and the flared rear haunches really emphasise the wheel-at-each-corner design.

I liked the black-finished glazed-in area surrounding the rear window, which gives the car a very distinctive rump, especially when it’s painted in paler colours. The front end also features the wide mouthed design debuted on the 407.

Coupled with the huge eyes created by the headlamps, this gives the 107 a more distinctive face than virtually any other car on sale today.

Behind the Wheel

The three-cylinder 1.0-litre powerplant is no ball of fire, developing 67bhp. You can see why Peugeot has launched here with the 1.0-litre, reflecting the 107s urban bias and offering a sprint to 60mph that takes around 14 seconds.

The good news is the fact that this 1.0-litre engine is predictably excellent in terms of fuel economy and emissions. The combined economy figure is 65.7mpg and emissions are pegged at 99g/km.

This overall design has placed the 107 in the best possible position to satisfy Euro NCAP criteria for the protection of occupants. In the design of the front of the vehicle and the layout of the different mechanical components of the 107, careful attention has been paid to the consequences of a collision with a pedestrian.

Thanks to a special impact beam in front of the bumper and a bonnet that creates the maximum possible distance between it and mechanical components underneath, pedestrian protection is maximised.

Value For Money

There’s not much to choose between the Peugeot and its obvious Citroen and Toyota rivals in terms of the asking price. Prices start at around £8,000 for the basic trim level. In the final analysis, it really comes down to what you want.

Could I Live With One?

The 107 is so close in concept to its Citroen and Toyota counterparts that it really comes down to which dealer gives you the best price.

If costs are comparable however, the little Peugeot’s smarter face might just swing a few undecided buyers.

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