Peugeot 307 (2001-) Review

Overview

• Next: Reliability and Quality

The tall 307 majors on space, with lots of headroom and cabin-storage, but it isn't trying to be an MPV despite what its short nose and enormous windscreen might suggest. Styled under the direction of British designer Keith Ryder, the 307 aimed to blend Golf-matching quality with the driving pleasure of its 306 predecessor (Peugeot's best-selling car ever, incidentally). However, the 307 appears not to offer trouble-free ownership, suffering a variety of problems affecting the electrics and assembly quality.

In 2005, the 307 range - including the 307CC - benefited from a fairly comprehensive make-over. Cosmetically, the 307 gained a much larger grille opening and more dramatically elongated headlights. This brought it more in line with the family look of the more recent 407 saloon, estate and coupe. There are new, chrome-rimmed foglights at the front, with 'over riders' on either side of the grille to protect the front bodywork from minor dings (suggesting this had been a problem with the previous model). At the rear, the revised 307 gains all-red rear lights that mimic the look of an LED tail light, even though they are actually the cheaper bulb type.

There's a new, more transparent structure for the 307 range, too. E replaces Style as the entry level model, then progresses up the range to S, SE, XSi and Feline. The CC convertible and SW models are available in S or SE trim, the estate in E or S, and the CC can now be had with the HDI 136 diesel engine.

Petrol engines available include 1.4-, 1.6- and 2.0-litre and 2.0-litre turbo units. The familiar 2.0-litre 136 HDI turbodiesel is joined by a 1.6-litre turbodiesel with either 90 or 110bhp. Besides the three- and five-door hatchbacks, there are an estate and the 307 SW with seven-seat capability (reviewed separately).