My time with our long term Peugeot 207 1,4 XR+ is drawing to a close and the stylish little hatchback has, by and large, weathered its stay at CAR remarkably well.
As 19 000 km clicked up on the 207’s digital odometer I allowed a ghost of a smile to break across my face. You see, I’m one of those churlish people who revel in proving my friends wrong. From the day I took custodianship of the “Pug”, I had to endure all sorts of French car ownership-related prejudice from a number of my mates. The inhalation of air through gritted teeth followed by engrained criticism of Peugeot’s build quality, stories of electrical maladies afflicting older cars and questions surrounding just how manly one can remain at the helm of such a car were giving way to a grudging admiration for its stylish looks and refined road manners.
It’s this last point, in particular, that has garnered the most respect for the 207 across the board. Normally, long journeys in a compact car are a torrid affair that entails a bouncy ride, plenty of booming engine noise and cramped conditions – afflictions from which the 207 is largely free.
Up front, there’s a good deal of room, accentuated by the copious glazing and the downward curve of the facia. Both front seats also offer a good deal of adjustment (including cushion height) and, when complimented by a reach and rake-adjustable steering column, serve up a comfortable driving position. Space isn’t quite as generous for those in the rear and the omission of electric windows back there managed to raise a few eyebrows, but there have been no serious complaints from those who’ve hitched a lift with me in the 207.
The boot has done an admirable job of swallowing almost everything I’ve thrown at it from the weekly shop to luggage for a four-day road trip with a girlfriend who’s penchant for acquiring rustic curios and potted Aloes, which she manages to kill within days of purchase, is without parallel. The one object that stubbornly refused to slide into the boot was my trusty bodyboard… Now, I know that bodyboard ownership should not necessarily be the benchmark against which the suitability of a hatchback should be tested, but if you exchange that with any item with dimensions exceeding that of a sizeable piece of luggage, you have to make peace with the fact that it’s journey will take place on the back seat or laps of your rear passengers. Admittedly, you could always fold the rear seats, essentially turning the “Pug” into a glazed minivan, but your ability to offer lifts will diminish.
Admittedly, the 207 is not a light car and while it does have a substantial feel to it, there is the prevailing sense that larger, more powerful motors suit this car better than the 65 kW 1,4-litre petrol unit in the nose of this XR+ model. At low speeds the engine struggles to propel the “Pug” with any great conviction, but thankfully the gearshift is slick and the powerplant gets into its stride as the rev and speedometer needles climb. One criticism that cannot be levelled at the engine is a lack of refinement. Even when you lean on the throttle pedal, the “Pug” barely emits more than a purr and its smooth nature often has you cruising along in fourth when you really should be in top gear.
Having lived with the rather top-heavy long-term Toyota Avanza for so long, the Peugeot’s ride and handling were bound to come under a great deal of scrutiny. In general, there’s nothing to really fault here – the ride is very supple and only really becomes upset when the “Pug” encounters sizeable road imperfections. Although the 207 does exhibit a bit of body-roll under spirited driving, it’s otherwise very well composed – especially at speed on the motorway, where it managed to make short work of a 1 300 km round-trip from Cape Town to Knysna and every farm stall and curio shop in between.
The only things that I can really gripe about are the tendency of that low-slung nose to plough into kerbs and steep inclines and what has to be the smallest glovebox I’ve encountered to date – and those are hardly damning indictments of what has been an enjoyable little car…
It’s fair to say that my time with the 207 has been a fairly pleasant experience. Which is why I’m somewhat puzzled by how little feedback I’ve received from other 207 owners. So, whether you sit in the “It’s a French car so I cannot stand it” camp that my friends occupied or if you’ve had a similarly serene ownership experience, please do feel free to comment below or drop an email to [email protected].
