It’s a long way to go to drive a new car, but Peugeot probably figures that a special car deserves a special environment for its first showing on the road.
And there are not many places as special as the foothills of the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, deep Berber country with a history and romance as rich as our own Celtic tradition. Indeed, a place where perhaps they have retained their tradition and custom much more than we have in a race begun in the fifties to become Celtic tigers.
Maybe Peugeot were trying to make a point in their choice for the international launch of the car they expect to become the benchmark in a segment which represents 33% of the total European car market (over 40% here) and is growing.
Perhaps they wanted to say: ‘we are retaining a tradition, but moving forward at the same time’.
Moving forward from the 306, which arguably was one of the best handling and most comfortable cars of its particular generation, I’m somewhere on record as saying that I’d have bought one instead of the Astra I did buy if I’d had the chance to drive it first prior to its launch.
Not to say that the Astra (previous to the current generation) was inferior. But The 306 would have won.
Now, we have 307. Could be described in looks as a ‘growed up’ 206, certainly the hatchback form in which it will be available first in Ireland from the middle of July. In 3- and 5-door versions, my personal plump would be for the latter. Somehow it has more completeness in side view.
But there’s a sportiness about the 3-door, which is likely to win it many young friends in Ireland. In fact, while the 206 has been taken up by a surprising proportion of male buyers at home, given its very feminine feline looks, the 307 3-door may well divert that interest a bit. It’s as close to image glory as is the 3-door Alfa 147.
This, I should say, is praise.
But we’re talking Lion King here. And we’re talking a car more for us masses than Alfa. So let us then focus on what we’re driving, and who we’re driving for.
It’s a sure bet that there will be nothing prettier (or larger, or better equipped or more refined) ) in the class when it arrives in Ireland. Direct competitors are Ford’s Focus and Opel’s Astra. Each with respectively capital Style and capital Practicality.
The 307 has Chic. And better presence than its predecessor. Not to mention a much greater attention to interior excellence. In as far as that can be possible in something like a mass production car.
OK, I’d personally feel that from some angles the front might make it look more like an MPV than a sporty hatchback. But I still like it.
And the rear end is something of a tour de force, aptly in language terms, managing to avoid the slabbiness of the hatchback genre with a neat bit of sculpting under the glass. It is from the rear three-quarter view that the 3-door looks particularly well.
Inside, the dashboard is vastly improved over the 306, with better materials, a much more modern style, and a centre stack that in its metallised version is as attractive as they come.
The 307 is a car in which the comfort zone has been extended, with better seats, particularly in side support (they’ve borrowed from the luxury 607 design here) and a really significant attempt at providing accommodation for three people in the back seat.
The steering wheel looks and feels good, with a big Peugeot lion constantly reminding one about what is being driven. The overall feel of the accommodation is quality, the overall theme is strength. One small problem is not enough foot room beside the clutch (for size 12s).
Despite its streamlined looks, height is not a problem in the 307, and there’s plenty of room in the rear, at least as good as the best in the class. And there are lots of decent storage areas, including sliding trays under the front seats. In models with airconditioning, the glove compartment is also chilled.
The luggage area is pretty good too, and features a couple of sunken trays as well as a cargo net (the kind of thing that, the more I use them, I find should be mandatory in every car).
So, how does this new cat on the block drive? If it was less well than its predecessor, I’d be disappointed. But on a brief acquaintance as this was, there was no disappointment. Peugeot have few equals in terms of ride comfort, but this is also a very well worked out handling package, with equally keen steering. It is not likely that even enthusiastic drivers will cause it to misbehave.
It wasn’t the easiest of places to try it out, because Moroccan roads are a pretty extraordinary mixture, of tarmac highways and stone wadi beds. Around the sinuous roads in the Atlas Mountains, there were several times when we had to stop to allow small trucks to pass in the other directions, on the edge of some serious drops. It seems that in rural Morocco, a heavily-loaded Mitsubishi Canter is king and the overladen Peugeot pickup is crown prince.
There’s a veritable feast of safety technology on the 307, including ABS as standard along with the now de rigeur electronic brake force distribution thingie. And not one, not two, not four ... but SIX airbags suggest that this is the safest Peugeot ever to have to crash in. We saw an unexpected example of how well the curtain airbags work - wonderfully well.
The 1.6-litre engine is the same one recently introduced as an option in the 206. Outputting 110bhp and with a 0-62mph of 11.6secs - not rubber burning, but respectable - it is economical at a shade under 40mpg. It feels strong.
In Ireland, the car will be available with a 75bhp 1.4-litre petrol as base. There will also be a 2-litre petrol unit as well as a pair of 2-litre HDi turbodiesels. What’s most exciting in engine terms, though, is the fact that the 1.4-litre turbodiesel unit will be available in Ireland from November production.
There will be three spec versions - ‘Level One’ is the XR, which will come very highly specced against the competition. ‘Level Two’ has two different ‘streams’ - the XS which has a sporty ethos aimed at the young trendies and the techie types. Details include cloth seats, 15” or 15” wheels depending on engine size, ‘quick silver’ touches, auto rain-sensing and auto lights as well as aircon. The ‘Classic’ stream is exemplified by the XT, which has velour seats, woodgrain detailing, and climate control.
One really good trend these days is very stretched service intervals, and in the 307 you won’t have to bring it to the service technician for 20,000 miles in the case of the petrol, or 12,000 miles for the diesels.
At the moment there are no plans for a 4-door, but the 307 will be available in an estate and a hybrid estate/mpv called ‘Leisure’ next year.
Finally, the price. Well, £13,795 for the 3-door 1.4-litre, with an extra £400 buying you another pair of doors. OK, it is somewhat up on the outgoing vehicle, by almost a grand. But it is in line with the competition, and very well equipped to compete well. The XS and XT both start at £15,195. Best of all, the tax and insurance-busting 1.4 XT HDi model (due before the year runs out) is pencilled in at just IR£14,895, ex works. Roar in, new young lion!
June 2001
by Brian Byrne