PEUGEOT 207 HATCHBACK 1.4 ACTIVE 5DR

With the advanced 1.4-litre VTi engine installed the Peugeot 207 is a fine product but is 95bhp enough to give it an energetic edge? Steve Walker reports...

PEUGEOT 207 HATCHBACK 1.4 ACTIVE 5DR

With the 1.4-litre VTi engine installed, the Peugeot 207 is a refined and comfortable companion that copes well with urban conditions and the open road. Buyers seeking a sporty side to their supermini might be disappointed by the performance served up by the 95bhp unit but others will happily put up with that in exchange for the generous equipment levels and safety provision.

PEUGEOT 207 HATCHBACK 1.4 ACTIVE 5DR

1.4 litres used to constitute a generous helping of engine for a supermini. 1,400cc cars would appear in the middle of the product range, sitting above weedier 1,200cc and even 1,000cc alternatives, they might even have been marketed as sporty little numbers only one step below the range-topping hot hatchbacks, but a look at Peugeot's latest 207 line-up will reveal that 1.4 is as small as things get. The reasons for this change are manifold but in the end, it all comes down to weight. The fact is that our superminis aren't as 'mini' as they used to be so our expectations of a model with 1.4-litre power have to be managed accordingly. Or do they? The 207 1.4 VTi has advanced technology up its sleeve so can it deliver a pleasant surprise?

It's true that the Peugeot 207 is available with a bog standard 8-valve 1.4-litre engine but the 1.4 VTi isn't it. This unit has been developed by Peugeot in partnership with BMW and is also found in the German marque's entry-level MINI models. With Peugeot's reputation for producing excellent small cars and BMW's for world-leading engineering, the 207 1.4 VTi comes with quite a pedigree. The latest models have been subjected to a mild facelift to keep things fresh.

PEUGEOT 207 HATCHBACK 1.4 ACTIVE 5DR

95bhp is a respectable amount to squeeze from a 1,400cc capacity powerplant and the engineers behind this unit have done it through the use of variable valve timing technology. This means that the engine actually adapts the parameters of its combustion process according to the way the 207 is being driven. Put the hammer down and it works to optimise performance but tread more softly on the throttle and it switches into a mode that maximises economy. In practice, it makes for a free-revving engine and produces good refinement at the low to middle end of the rev range. What it can't do is defy the laws of physics and with the 207 weighing in at nearly 1,300kg, this car is never going to set the road alight with the 95bhp at its disposal. The 0-60mph sprint takes 12.8s and the top speed is 115mph.

By contrast, the MINI which uses the same engine weighs 1,135kg and can get to 60mph in 10.9s, evidence of the impact that less weight can have. The advantage of the Peugeot's mass is its composure and the big car feel on the road. It's an unhurried, comfortable car to drive that's great on longer journeys and takes to twisty back roads with relish thanks to its well-judged suspension. As long as you don't expect too much pace from the engine, the 5-speed gearbox is the only real drawback. The slack action isn't what you want in a nimble supermini and it lets the rest of the driving package down a bit.

PEUGEOT 207 HATCHBACK 1.4 ACTIVE 5DR

The 207 represented a big improvement for Peugeot in terms of perceived quality and the latest versions aim to enhance that reputation. The materials in the cabin look and feel sturdy with no obvious flaws in terms of the way they all fit together. The lower specification models lack some of the fancy detailing you get as you ascend the range but the interior of a 207 is generally a pleasant place to be. The latest cars benefit from revised instrument panels designed to give a more modern feel and some upgraded trim materials. Rear legroom is not as good as in some rivals, although there's compensation in the shape of a 310-litre boot capacity.

The styling themes that have gradually rolled out across the Peugeot model range are nothing if not distinctive and as with anything so wilfully out of the ordinary, the look of the 207 may not be to everyone's taste. For the uninitiated, the 207's main distinguishing features are those elongated headlamps that stretch back from the nose into the front wings and the huge grinning grille below, its teeth braced by a dark central bumper. The current models have slight revisions to the front end the most obvious being the relocation of the fog lights, on models which have them, independent slots cut into the bumper. They were previously mounted on the side of the grille. Around the back, things are less extrovert but the overall look has real purpose about it. The LED rear light clusters could be the highlight and from any angle, it's immediately obvious you're looking at a Peugeot 207.

PEUGEOT 207 HATCHBACK 1.4 ACTIVE 5DR

The 95bhp 1.4-litre VTi engine sits below the 120bhp 1.6-litre VTi in the 207 hierarchy. It's in S trim with the three-door bodystyle but buyers wanting to jazz theirs up a bit can upgrade to the three-door Sport or five-door SE Premium models. The 1.6-litre VTi engine is usefully quicker but more expensive and is only offered in the plusher two trim levels. Even in S guise, the 207 features air-conditioning, a trip computer, a CD stereo, remote central locking, front fog lights and a comprehensive safety specification including curtain airbags, which goes some way to explaining where all the extra weight comes from.

Superminis have been getting bigger and bigger over recent years and the 207 is at the far end of that evolutionary scale. It's a substantial vehicle with features and systems that would have been unheard of in a supermini just a few years back. It sacrifices some of the liveliness and immediacy you get with lighter-weight cars in exchange for the comfort and refinement of a larger one and it asks a lot of a 1.4-litre 95bhp engine as a knock-on effect of its bulk. We are seeing signs that the unstoppable growth of the supermini has reached a peak with models like the latest versions of the Mazda2 and the Ford Fiesta actually lighter than their predecessors. Supermini buyers could be faced with a choice between the two schools of design, each with perfectly valid features to recommend it.

PEUGEOT 207 HATCHBACK 1.4 ACTIVE 5DR

Drive the 1.4-litre VTi 207 in a measured fashion and the variable valve timing technology will help it get somewhere close to the official combined cycle economy figure or 47.8mpg. That looks like a strong performance until you notice that the 1.6-litre VTi is only inferior by 1.5mpg. It means that there's a strong case for making the step-up to the car 120bhp car which has superior performance and with very similar running costs. Insurance groups are 4E for the 1.4 and 7E for the 1.6 so there is a saving to be made there. Emissions are 140g/km for the 1.4 and 145g/km for the 1.6.

Today's models feature a gear change indicator light which prompts the driver to change gear at the most efficient times. There are also a number of modifications that have been made to boost aerodynamic performance and reduce rolling resistance. All 207 models come with Peugeot's 3-year/60,000-mile warranty and Peugeot assistance breakdown cover, a fairly standard package in the modern marketplace.

PEUGEOT 207 HATCHBACK 1.4 ACTIVE 5DR

There was a time when buyers looking for feisty performance and an engaging drive would have found exactly what they were looking for in a 1.4-litre Peugeot supermini. Today, that isn't really the case. What you do get with a 207 1.4 VTi is a very comfortable and mature feeling product with strong refinement and a host of modern features. The 95bhp engine can sometimes get swamped by the weight of the 207 and its popularity is likely to be hampered by the existence of the 120bhp 1.6-litre VTi engine that achieves similar economy and emissions for only a little bit more money.

The 207 1.4 VTi makes most sense in S trim, a level where the 1.6-litre VTi alternative isn't available. As a capable supermini all-rounder covering all the important bases, the car looks good but you do find yourself wishing for a bit more power to make the most of what is a highly accomplished chassis. The sloppy gearbox and 'distinctive' frontal styling notwithstanding, the Peugeot is hard to fault and it makes a great choice for buyers seeking a safe, well-equipped and affordable supermini.