2011 Peugeot 207 Sedan Review
Price
from: RM70,833
to: RM74,729
Installment
from: RM676/mth
to: RM713/mth
2011 Peugeot 207 Sedan at a glance
The French's answer to the Honda City and Toyota Vios, the 2011 Peugeot 207 Sedan gives Malaysians a taste of Continental cars at an affordable price. Despite being based on an aging platform borrowed from the Peugeot 206 hatchback, the 2011 Peugeot 207 Sedan remains class-competitive in terms of ride-and-handling, performance and quality, while leading the segment with its equipment count and sheer value for money.
2011 Peugeot 207 Sedan quick specs
| Body Style | Sedan |
| Class | Small Family |
| Assembled | CKD |
| Engine Range | 1597 cc |
| Fuel Options | Petrol |
| Seating Capacity | 5 |
2011 Peugeot 207 Sedan ratings (overall rating : 4/5.0)
| Styling | |
| Handling | |
| Comfort | |
| Quality + Reliability | |
| Performance |
| Roominess | |
| Running Costs | |
| Value for Money | |
| Equipment | |
| Environment |
Styling
Find the 2011 Peugeot 207 Sedan awkward-looking? Despite Peugeot's decision to name this B-segment sedan “207 Sedan” instead of “206 Sedan” in line with its origins, a glance would reveal the car on which the 207 Sedan is based. The Peugeot 206 hatchback was perhaps the product of French flair, but the Peugeot 207 Sedan certainly cannot claim to be? Adding a boot, creating a sedan from a hatchback, rarely works; the end car is often awkward-looking towards the rear. The Mazda2 Sedan, the Ford Fiesta Sedan, the Suzuki SX4 Sedan, and now the Peugeot 207 Sedan are all proof of that. There are many things to like about the 2011 Peugeot 207 Sedan, but appearance is not one of them.
Handling
The 2011 Peugeot 207 Sedan inherits the chassis from the Peugeot 206 hatchback, suspended by MacPherson struts at the front and a torsion beam at the rear. The suspension has been recalibrated to account for the increased weight over the rear wheels. On the roads, the ride-and-handling characteristics are typical of Peugeot and most European cars, giving the Peugeot 207 Sedan on-road sophistication unmatched by Japanese rivals. The 2011 Peugeot 207 Sedan is tuned with a bias towards comfort, meaning that the handling is secure, predictable and stable, but not sporty or entertaining, with more body roll and less grip than enthusiasts would prefer. While not quick enough for spirited driving, the hydraulic steering is well-weighted—its heavier-than-the-norm weighting inspiring confidence.
Comfort
The ride quality is brilliant for this class of cars, proving to be composed and supple over broken surfaces and road undulations. The suspension rarely gets caught out; the same cannot be said for Japanese rivals. Occupants can sit in relative peace as well, as the cabin refinement is reasonably good by class standards even at highway speeds. Seat-height adjustments are available, but the lack of steering column reach adjustments means that finding an ideal driving position could prove futile. Moreover, the location of certain controls would require some time to get used to, in particular the front and rear power window switches that are located between the front seats instead of on the doors. The Jaeger-designed instrument panel is easy to view, however.
Quality + Reliability
The cabin design is borrowed from the Peugeot 206 hatchback, and so are the cabin components. The impression you immediately get upon entering the 2011 Peugeot 207 Sedan is how dated it feels inside. There is no glaring build quality issue to speak of, but as you might expect, the cabin plastics are only of a decent quality commensurate with this price range—nothing plush and soft like in more expensive Peugeot models. At least the steering wheel is leather-wrapped. The switches and buttons work precisely, just not with the kind of tactility usually associated with Peugeot models higher up the range. Given that the 2011 Peugeot 207 Sedan is mechanically-identical to the proven Peugeot 206 hatchback, reliability should be the last of your worries.
Performance
The 2011 Peugeot 207 Sedan is powered by a 1.6-litre DOHC 16-valve four-cylinder engine from the long-standing TU5 family, drawing upon a maximum of 110 hp at 5800 rpm and 147 Nm at 4000 rpm. A four-speed adaptive automatic gearbox with Tiptronic manual shifting, a sport mode and a snow/traction mode channels the generated power to the front wheels. The engine demonstrates itself to be smooth in delivery, responsive under throttle, and powerful enough for the 2011 Peugeot 207 Sedan's character and targeted audience. The four-speed gearbox performs in the same fuss-free manner, though occasional thuds can be heard.
Roominess
Interior room cannot possibly be great as the 2011 Peugeot 207 Sedan shares the same wheelbase as the Peugeot 206 hatchback. Expectedly, the driver and front passenger enjoy more room than those at the rear, which provides a merely adequate amount of legroom, though headroom is never lacking. Like for most cars in the B-segment, seating three occupants across the back is not recommended for long trips due to limited shoulder room. The boot is spacious at 420 litres, and can be further expanded via 60/40 split-folding rear seats that fold to form a completely flat floor.
Running Costs
The 2011 Peugeot 207 Sedan's fuel economy is officially rated as 16.4 km/litre, which is an impressive figure however you look at it. Real-world driving tends to be less than gentle, and you will do well to achieve 80 percent of that figure, or 13.1 km/litre. Costs related to maintenance and repairs are expected to be highly competitive with those for rivals. The biggest running cost could be depreciation, however, considering the Peugeot 207 Sedan's limited desirability and how the Peugeot brand has only recently found its footing in Malaysia. The generous equipment and proven reliability should work in preserving value, though.
Value for Money
The 2011 Peugeot 207 Sedan is the French's answer to the Honda City, Toyota Vios, and Mazda 2 Sedan, all cars converted from hatchbacks to sedans to cater for developing markets including Malaysia. The Peugeot 206 hatchback attached with a boot, the Peugeot 207 Sedan gives Malaysians a taste of Continental cars at an affordable price. In fact, the 2011 Peugeot 207 Sedan is the cheapest Continental car on sale in Malaysia, and, despite being based on an aging platform, it remains competitive in terms of ride-and-handling, performance and quality against Japanese B-segment rivals. One could dismiss the 2011 Peugeot 207 Sedan for its awkward looks and potentially above-average depreciation, but there is simply no denying the value on offer here, not least because of an equipment list that cannot get more comprehensive at this price level.
Equipment
The 2011 Peugeot 207 Sedan comes with generous standard equipment including 15" alloy wheels, automatic headlamps with “follow-me-home” function, front/rear fog lights, automatic wipers, keyless entry, rear parking sensors, leather-wrapped steering wheel, automatic climate control, and six-speaker audio system with CD changer, MP3/WMA compatibility and USB/Bluetooth connectivity. The safety kit comprises dual front SRS airbags (front passenger airbag can be deactivated), front seatbelt pretensioners, braking controls (ABS with EBD and EBA), and two rear ISOFIX anchor points. The SV variant adds on a body kit, door visors, rear spoiler, chrome tail-pipe, leather-and-suede seat material, leather door trim, and a special logo on the front seats.
Environment
Peugeot has not provided a carbon dioxide emissions figure. Going by the impressive official fuel economy of 16.4 km/litre, the official carbon emissions should be reasonable as well. The real environmental impact will depend very much on how the 2011 Peugeot 207 Sedan is driven. An aggressive driving style that involves consistently high revs may be fun, but ultimately hurtful to both the wallet and the environment. Stay away from the gearbox's sport mode, which improves the performance by down-shifting more readily and holding gears for a longer period.
Live Life Drive Verdict
Excellent value for money
Well-judged ride-and-handling
Generous equipment list
Awkward looks
Dated interior
Potential depreciation
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