Roy Lewis confirms the Peugeot 207 five-door 1.6HDi 92 Oxygo+ is brilliant (From Hereford Times)

Roy Lewis confirms the Peugeot 207 five-door 1.6HDi 92 Oxygo+ is brilliant

7:00am Saturday 10th September 2011 in Road Tests

WITH the economic outlook remaining gloomy just about everyone is looking for a little more colour in their life.

So a car that is fun to drive, good looking, practical and gives a brilliant fuel return is well worth putting on your wish list.

The motor is Peugeot’s top-selling new car, the 207, which now comes with more equipment for your cash.

Peugeot has been redefining excellence in small hatches for many years and lately the French company has been concentrating on lower CO2 emissions and cheaper running costs.

And leading the way are the 1.6- litre diesel Oxygo models which are designed to produce the lowest CO2 emissions possible within the 207 range. They sell from £12,645 to £14,695 which is not cheap but compares well with the energy-saving competitors.

The Oxygo models produce a CO2 figure of 98 (g/km) which means they qualify for free road tax and the low emission figure is achieved by using a combination of efficient engine technologies, energy-saving tyres and special aerodynamic styling.

And thanks to Peugeot’s attention to detail the models are exempt from London congestion charging and more importantly there is a brilliant fuel return of 61.3mpg in town, 85.6mpg on the open road and a combined everyday figure of 74.3mpg. In the real world these derv returns will probably be lower but nevertheless they will almost certainly mean fewer visits to the fuel station for most owners.

Despite its energy-saving tweaks, the 1.6-litre HDi diesel pushes out 92bhp at 4,000rpm to give strong pulling power up through the gears for safe and swift overtaking and the ability to keep up with the Joneses on the motorway.

The chassis rises to the challenge when the car is hurried on twisty routes so that there is plenty of grip, good body control and positive power steering, especially at speed.

The ride is firm and this is evident over bumpy surfaces but, all in all, the taut suspension is comfortable and will be preferred by many drivers and passengers to softer springing.

One minus point, however, is that the car picks up a good deal of road noise which appears to come from the tyres.

There is a lot new about the latest 207 in the way of looks.

Peugeot has given the model styling tweaks inside and out with a softer appearance to the more aerodynamic shape, particularly at the front, and the eye-catching looks alone should be enough to woo many buyers.

The driver has an adjustable steering column for reach and rake and plenty of seat adjustment to obtain a first-rate driving position.

Inside, the cabin is classy and is roomy enough for tall and large drivers. There is also decent room in the back for two adults, though knee room can be tight.

The boot is a reasonable size for this class of car and for extra space the rear seats neatly drop down.

The Oxygo models are well equipped with air conditioning and plenty of high-tech items, including Peugeot’s Connect USB with Bluetooth.

Backing the car’s leading fivestar Euro NCAP safety rating are electronic stability features, ABS braking and four airbags.

AT-A-GLANCE

Peugeot 207 five-door 1.6HDi 92 Oxygo+ Price: £14,695.

Top speed: 115mph.

0-62mph: 13.1 seconds.

Fuel: 74.3mpg (combined figure).

C02 emissions (g/km): 98.

Verdict: Brilliant economy, practical, good to drive, great looks, well built and equipped.

Picks up road noise.