Road test: Peugeot 307
From: hugo_steincamp (norgo@cybertrails.com)
Date: Thu 14 Mar 2002 - 22:06:03 EST
Another Peugeot classic
15 March 2002
By DAVE LEGGETT
The French have always produced good cars. They have often been
innovative and have also been good looking. Some of them have become
classics.
The past 12 months is proof that the French car industry is again on
a roll. There has been a number of cars from all three major French
car makers which have stood out among their peers. They have been
innovative and stylish and they have also been well appointed. And
competitively priced. There's Renault's new Laguna range of sedans
and sport tourers, Citroen's C5 saloons and now from the third big
French car maker the Peugeot 307, already highly acclaimed on the
European market and winner of this year's car of the year award.
All cars are quite different but all show a distinct French flair
that is not present in cars built in other countries.
The 307 has been keenly awaited on the New Zealand market and sitting
in the $30,000 to $40,000 market sector is set to notch up the most
sales. It is the replacement to the 306 which has done very well for
Peugeot here over the past six years.
The 307, like its predecessor, comes on to the market as a three or
five-door hatchback. But most sales here will be of the five-door
version powered by either a 1.6-litre or 2-litre engine.
The 307 is its bigger brother but with a more flowing style and a
front dominated by the large pointed headlights. It still a chunky-
looking vehicle with a long nose sweeping up across a huge front
screen that starts over the front wheels. Consequently the
lightweight aluminium bonnet is small and the engine is tucked back
under the front of the screen. The side profile of the car is a
distinct wedge gently rising to the nicely rounded rear end.
Because the 307 is a hatchback there is the impression of compactness
- and therefore of lack of space inside. And that's what Peugeot is
out to prove with the 307. A compact hatchback like the 307 can be as
big inside as a more conventional larger car. Ignoring length, and
the 307's dimensions are not far away from those of the larger 406 -
already one of the largest in the medium car class. The 307 is taller
and therefore makes up for the 10cm shorter wheelbase. But width is
virtually the same. As a result headroom is superb and legroom is
good. The 307 could never match the 406's boot space. But the 307
makes full use of what is available behind the rear hatch. The 60-40
split rear seats fold up to increase luggage space. With the rear
seats dropping down there is almost a long flat load area.
The 307 is a mass market hatchback just like the 306. But that hasn't
meant an interior presentation has been forgotten. The 307's fascia
is a neat affair with the audio and heat and ventilation controls all
nicely integrated into the overall design.
I drove the auto version of the 2-litre car. I wasn't disappointed.
It's an electronically adaptive unit that senses how the drive is
going and alters its change pattern to suit. It has also got a
tiptronic feature so there is the ability to use a manual mode.
Matched to the 2-litre engine the XS was a responsive vehicle. It
should be. The engine is the same unit used in the larger 406.
Peugeot have made a name for themselves with the driving appeal of
their cars. The 307 is no exception. It is nimble and the positive
steering gives it confidence. It turns winding roads into race
tracks. The result is it feels no bigger than a 206 despite the car's
extra size.
I found the speedometer difficult to read. Peugeot has again
graduated the speedo in 20mph increments but using uneven numbers.
When the key speeds are now probably 60, 80 and 100 it is difficult
to interpret.
The 307 is well appointed. Standard features include climate air
conditioning, remote central locking, CD player, power windows and
mirrors. There are six airbags and ABS braking with EBD.
But most of those features are normal for a car in this sector of the
market. The 307 has more. Like the automatic rain sensor that turns
the wipers on if it starts to spit and the automatic headlights that
switch themselves on if the car suddenly drives into a tunnel or a
dark spot on the road.
And then there is the audio controls on a stalk on the steering
column. That alone is a masterpiece.
It's easy to see why the 307 has won so many friends since its launch
in Europe last year. It's such a wonderful allround package –
interior appointments, driving appeal, as well as classic good looks.
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