Peugeot 207 Active 1,4 VVT

Stylish, nippy hatchbacks are the bread and butter (or is that pain et beurre?) of French carmakers such as Peugeot. Now that the popular Peugeot 207 has undergone some styling revisions and a bump up in power in VVT guise, does it make a stronger case for itself as a distinctive entry-level offering?

Judging by just how subtle a facelift the new 207 has undergone, it seems as though Peugeot was reluctant to mess too much with what was already an eye-catching design. The overall profile retains its ovoid shape and such character features as the "Manta ray mouth" that constitutes the grille, headlamps that sweep into the wings, and the central nose section of the bonnet remain largely untouched. A keen eye will spot a slight dip at the apex of the grille and the presence of two faux air intakes flanking the grille, but it's only when you get to the back that the most prominent change comes to light. Peugeot has dispensed with old brake lamp clusters and their fussy "perforated-look" indicator inserts in favour of a much cleaner design featuring LED elements.

The interior updates are also minimal - perhaps the most noticeable being the replacement of the cheap-looking heating and ventilation controls with more upmarket knurled dials that one tester likened to those on a bank safe. The architecture of the facia remains untouched, though. You're still confronted by a curvaceous upper section finished in a soft-touch material and adorned with sporty hooded dials (with European speed markings e.g 130 km/h highlighted, but not 120 km/h). The aforementioned ovoid shape of the car ensures that there's plenty of room up front, although rear passengers may feel somewhat short-changed by their accommodation's cramped legroom and lack of electrically-operated windows. Otherwise the specification is reasonable, with such features as power steering, cruise control, air-conditioning, a radio/CD audio system with auxiliary input, electric front windows and dual front airbags thrown into the mix.

Having spent a number of months at the helm of a 207 1,4 XR+, I've become accustomed to the 65 kW Peugeot feeling a little slow at times, as well as having to stir the gearbox and mutter a small prayer when attempting to overtake any lorries in my path. As such, I was eagerly anticipating the additional 5 kW served up by the variable-valve timing system bolted to this model's engine. With 70 kW and 136 N.m of torque the engine still feels a little underpowered. There's enough torque to prevent the odd embarrassing stall at pullaway, but the engine still feels a bit flat in the mid range and often demands a fair bit of tugging at the long-throw gearlever to keep the revs up. Thankfully the shifts are fairly positive and the clutch action is light and easy, however.

Driving the 1,4 VVT on the motorway was not a chore, it must be said. Once the car gets going it sits comfortably between 120 and 140 km/h. It's just a bit of a shame that there's not more urge on the way there... Granted, that could partly have been due to the fact that our test unit only had about 50 km on the odo' when it arrived at the CAR offices, but it seems that the 207 simply can't shake off the general perception that the baby Pug could use a more powerful engine.

The handling is predictable and composed with nicely-weighted, precise steering and a ride that soaks up big bumps with aplomb. Body-roll is also kept nicely in check and the general impression is that the 207 is a comfortable companion for most purposes.

So it seems that in the case of the 207, the more things change, the more they stay pretty much the same. There's nothing wrong with the subtle styling revisions that have taken place, but they've not really moved the car on in any way. Similarly, additional power served up by the new engine is welcome, but you still get the feeling that a 1,6-litre mill would punt the car along with a bit more urgency. These things are unlikely to faze those considering a 207 as their means of daily transport, though. What will catch their attention is the addition of a 4 years/60 000 km service plan and roadside assistance - perhaps the most eye-catching aspect of Peugeot's latest offering.

Look out for a full road test of the 207 Active 1,4 VVT in an upcoming issue of CAR.