New Car Road Test - Peugeot 307 Range (New)

Quite how you perceive the Peugeot 307 depends very much on what you look for in a car.

Driving enthusiasts view the 307 as some sort of anti-Christ, the car that terminated a long line of sporty Peugeot hatches.

Family buyers, on the other hand, couldn't get enough of it, loving its practicality and space. Times change, however, and Peugeot's family "face", as seen on the 407, 107 and the 1007 looked rather incongruous set against the bland front end of the 307.

With this in mind, the 307 has been brought into line and has received a few other improvements along the way.

In truth, the changes to the front end aren't that radical. The big front lights were already a 307 feature but the latest car merely grafts on projector headlamps and a gaping front grille with five black horizontal bars for mainstream versions and four chromed bars for the sportier variants. Sporty? That's another area where the 307 aims to build its reputation with the introduction of the 180bhp engine fitted to the 206 GTi 180. Move round the back and you'll spy some sexier tail lights. These are cribbed from the 307 Coupe-Convertible design with LEDs instead of conventional bulbs.

The engine line-up carries on largely unchanged. This means a 90bhp 1.4-litre petrol unit kicking off the range, followed by a 110bhp 1.6 and a 140bhp 2.0-litre unit that is up 2bhp on the old model. Diesel devotees are dealt a choice of powerplants starting with a 1.4-litre HDi and moving up to the latest 90bhp 1.6-litre HDi.

Performance is par for the course, with the 90bhp 1.6-litre HDi diesel hitting 60 in 12.2 seconds but step up to the 136bhp HDi engine offered in XSi trim and a huge 240lb/ft of torque at 2,000rpm makes for an interestingly quick car.

It's no great industry secret that Peugeot are hard at work on the 308, a car that's set to be revealed in 2008. Until then, this latest 307 version should make the numbers for them.

FASTFACTS

CAR: Peugeot 307 range

PRICES: £11,300-£21,100 - on the road

INSURANCE GROUPS: 4-14

CO2 EMISSIONS: 129-200g/km

PERFORMANCE: (1.6 HDi 90) 0-60mph 12.2s/ Max Speed 111mph

FUEL CONSUMPTION: (1.6 16v) (urban) 28.2mpg / (extra urban) 48.7mpg / (combined) 38.2mpg

STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Dual, Side & Curtain Airbags / ABS & EBD

WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: (5dr) Length/Width/Height mm 4202/1746/1512