Peugeot 107 1.0 Urban 3dr Car Review - March 2012

Its 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder 998cc petrol engine produces 68bhp which is good enough for town demands. Torque figures of 70 lb-ft ensure that the Peugeot 107 can do a motorway run, just do not expect it to match bigger cars for speed. It accelerates slowly to reach 62mph in 14.2 seconds and has a top speed of 100mph.

The car is keen and responsive, but its handling capabilities are below those of the Ford Ka. It also lacks sufficient grip. Steering is good and accurate. Suspension is firm enough to minimise body roll but does not soak bumps fully. Driving on a rough road will therefore yield an unsettling ride.

The engine only gets noisy when revved hard. Wind and road noise is minimal at low speed but becomes unbearable at speed. You will also have to put up with noises from the suspension and occasionally, the gearbox when shifting gears. Other than this, the 5-speed manual gearbox is efficient and quick.

Small pillars, large windows and a medium-sized rear-view mirror ensure that visibility is good on every side.

The Peugeot 107 Urban is a good looking, 3-door hatchback. It has well-defined lines, streamlined dimensions and measures just 3430mm x 1630mm. The cabin layout is good even though the metals and plastics used are far from being posh. It has 4 seats in a 2+2 layout and big windows that give the interior an airy feel.

The Urban is the median trim in the range and therefore, does not have as much standard equipment as Sports XS, which is the highest trim. But it does eclipse some rivals with its power steering, central locking, electric front windows, driver airbags, passenger airbags, front side airbags, immobiliser, MP3 connectivity and CD player, all of which are standard.

Available cost options are air con, which goes for £550 and stability control, which costs £330.

The Peugeot 107 Urban was introduced into the market in 2005. To date, there have been no problems reported with specific parts or mechanics. What’s more, the entire engineering for the car was done by Toyota, a front runner in reliability. The engine is therefore expected to have the same strong motoring capabilities as Toyota models. Peugeot offers a 3-year/60,000 warranty, which will take care of any problems that crop-up.

The Peugeot’s performance in the Euro NCAP was not sterling. It scored 4 stars for occupant safety, 4 for child safety and 2 for pedestrian safety. Lack of stability control probably had a lot to do with this.

You should be able to find a good driving position by adjusting the steering wheel for height. The pedals are well-positioned, if a little close together. The seat is supportive enough though and the controls are clearly marked and easy to use.

Front passengers will enjoy plenty of space. But limited legroom makes the rear suitable for children only. Boot space is no better. You get only 139 litres but folding the rear seats increases capacity to 751 litres. The boot opening is small and the load lip high enough to give you a hard time when loading and off-loading.

You won’t have a problem with cabin storage as the glove box is a good size, plus there are a number of cup holders in place.

The list price for new 107 models is quite competitive. Peugeots generally do not hold their value as well as some top brands, but the 107 does well on the resale front. You can expect close to 50% of the original price on reselling, because the 107 represents a lot of the things that young people looking for a first car and city drivers want, and is quite desirable as a used car.

You will have minimal expenses running this car. A return of 62.8mpg in combined cycle is excellent for this class. Carbon emissions are also low, averaging just 103g/km to earn the car a position in road tax band B. As a result, you will only pay £20 in VED.