Peugeot 207 Access 1.4 8v 3dr Car Review - March 2012

The car has a 1.4-litre, 8v 1360cc petrol engine. Unfortunately, the engine is the least powerful in the range and produces just 75bhp. With a torque of 90 lb-ft, it gives enough pull to remain competent in the face of motorway demands. Slow acceleration means that 62mph comes in 15.7 seconds. But its top speed, 106mph, is impressive for its class and enables the car to match motorway speeds.

Handling is good and the 207 is an easy car to drive. It has tons of grip and body roll is well-controlled. Light steering makes it easy to control in town. At higher speeds, the steering remains precise and there is impressive feedback from the chassis. Suspension is a bit firm, making the ride firm where the road is not smooth. It does not absorb road imperfections well so you will do yourself and the car a favour if you avoid rough roads.

The engine is quite refined and remains quiet both at low and high speeds. Wind and road noise are present at motorway speeds but not to an intrusive level. The car has good visibility, thanks to large windows and narrow pillars.

The Peugeot 207 Access 1.4 8v is attractive and classy. A 3-door, 5-seater, it is designed in hatchback style and is one of the most popular models in the small family car category. A distinct nose defined by a wide grille, fog lights and headlights gives the front of the car a soft, mature look.

The car interior is refined and every inch as classy as the exterior. Only high quality plastics and chrome detailing are used in the cabin, helping Peugeot achieve an upmarket feel and look with this car.

Standard equipment is very basic in this model. The car only comes with power steering, central locking, electric door mirrors and electric front windows, driver airbag, passenger airbags, front side airbags, immobiliser, MP3 ports and a CD player.

There are a couple of cost options available too: stability control costs £210 while metallic paint costs £440. Quite a number of driver aids and luxurious features are unavailable even as cost options. They include air con, climate control, cruise control, sat nav, Bluetooth and rear parking sensors.

Peugeot is a strong brand and while its cars are generally good, they are yet to come up to BMW, Audi and Toyota standards. But that does not make the 207 any less safe. Except for stability control, it is fitted with all other important safety features – airbags, deadlocks, anti-lock brakes, remote central locking, engine immobiliser and modern electronic car stopping aids.

It did well in the Euro NCAP crash test, scoring 5-stars for occupant safety, 4 for child safety and 2 for child safety. It is also featured in a low insurance group (group 5), and this is an indication that among other things, its safety levels are considerably high.

Peugeot has gone to great trouble to make drivers comfortable in this car. The dashboard is creatively designed and the controls arranged in an easy-to-reach, easy-to-use layout. There are lots of reach and rake adjustments for the steering wheel and the driver’s seat is height-adjustable. You can also adjust the angle of the seat, but the button for this is not as easy to use as everything else in the car. Finding a good driving position will still be easy though.

While the 207 exceeds many rivals in front cabin space and headroom, it does poorly in rear legroom. Adults seated in the back will have an awfully uncomfortable ride. The boot size is not class-leading but at 270 litres, it has a decent capacity and can accommodate quite a huge shopping bag or two.

Competition for small family cars is huge, with rivals such as the Vauxhall Corsa, Renault Clio, Ford Fiesta and Honda Jazz proving to be tough competition for the 207. Its current list price is competitive, but poor resale values may discourage you from selling in the near future.

The engine is frugal enough to return 44.8g/km, but this is still lower than what top rivals return. Emissions average 145g/km, placing the car under road tax band F to attract £130 in VED. Peugeot may have to do something about these carbon levels in the near future because a good number of rivals are below the 130g/km mark, with some way below 120g/km.

A lengthy service interval – 20,000 miles – and 3-year/60,000 mile warranty from the manufacturer are considerate.