Responsive 1.6-litre turbo petrol engines
Frugal 1.6-litre turbo-diesel engines
Competent ride/handling balance…

… though torsion rear beam suspension upset by bumps
Light steering lacks feedback
For 207 GT, manual transmission has a long throw and sloppy action
Cramped driver’s footwell
Limited rear seat and boot space

Review: Peugeot A7.I 207 (2007-09)

Overview

Released in March 2007, the Peugeot A7 Phase I (A7.I) 207 was initially available as a three- or five-door hatchback, with a five-door wagon (‘Touring’) following in October. Manufactured in France, the front-wheel drive 207 range initially consisted of XR, XT, XE and GT variants, though the GTi was released in August 2007. A limited-run Le Mans Series was released in September 2008. In addition to the body styles and variants, there was also an array of engine and transmission combinations; the full range is given in the table below.

Dimensions

Compared to the Peugeot 206 , the 207 hatchbacks were 195 mm longer (at 4030 mm), 96 mm wider (1748 mm), 40 mm taller (1472 mm) and had 98 mm longer wheelbases (2540 mm). Relative to the hatchbacks, however, the 207 Touring was 129 mm longer (at 4159 mm) and 55 mm taller (1527 mm), though width and wheelbase length were unchanged.

Suspension

The 207 had pseudo-MacPherson strut front suspension and a torsion beam rear axle.

Peugeot A7.I 207 specifications
Body	Variant	Engine	Trans.	Peak power	Peak torque
3-door hatch	XR	1360 cc TU3A petrol I4	5sp man.	55 kW at 5400 rpm	120 Nm at 3300 rpm
	GT	1598 cc EP6DT turbo petrol I4	5sp man.	110 kW at 5800 rpm	240 Nm at 1400 rpm
	GTi	1598 cc EP6DTS turbo petrol I4	5sp man.	128 kW at 6000 rpm	240 Nm at 1600 rpm
	Le Mans Series	1560 cc DV6 turbo-diesel I4	5sp man.	80 kW at 4000 rpm	240 Nm at 1750 rpm
5-door hatch	XR	1360 cc ET3J4 petrol I4	5sp man., 5sp semi-auto	65 kW at 5250 rpm	133 Nm at 3250 rpm
	XR	1598 cc EP6 petrol I4	4sp auto	88 kW at 6000 rpm	160 Nm at 4250 rpm
	XT	1598 cc EP6 petrol I4	4sp auto, 5sp man.	88 kW at 6000 rpm	160 Nm at 4250 rpm
	XT	1560 cc DV6 turbo-diesel I4	5sp man.	80 kW at 4000 rpm	240 Nm at 1750 rpm
	XE	1598 cc EP6 petrol I4	4sp auto	88 kW at 6000 rpm	160 Nm at 4250 rpm
5-door wagon	XT	1598 cc EP6 petrol I4	4sp auto	88 kW at 6000 rpm	160 Nm at 4250 rpm
5-door wagon	XT	1560 cc DV6 turbo-diesel I4	5sp man.	80 kW at 4000 rpm	240 Nm at 1750 rpm

Safety equipment

Standard safety equipment for the 207 XR included dual front airbags, ABS, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist, front seatbelt pretensioners, load limiting seatbelts for the front and outer rear seats and anti-submarining rear seats.

The 207 XT added front side airbags and full-length curtain airbags, while the XE, Le Mans Phase, GT and GTi were further equipped with electronic stability control and traction control.

Euro NCAP crash testing

In Euro NCAP crash testing , a 207 five-door hatch with a 1.4-litre engine – and equipped with dual front, side and curtain airbags – achieved a five star adult occupant protection rating with a score of 34.59 out of 37. In the offset crash test, there was a slight risk of serious chest and leg injury for the driver. In the side impact test, there was a slight risk of serious chest injury for the drover. This result, however, was achieved prior to January 2008, such that ANCAP did not require electronic stability control to be fitted for a five star rating.

Features: 207 XR, XT, XE, GT and GTi

Standard features for the three-door 207 XR included 15-inch steel wheels, a six speaker sound system with CD player, air conditioning, rear fog lamps, remote central locking, power front windows, a height and reach adjustable steering wheel, height adjustable front seats, a 12 volt power outlet, trip computer and an immobiliser. The five door models were also fitted with power mirrors.

Beyond this, the 207 XT added 16-inch steel wheels, MP3-compatibility, automatic headlights, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, rain-sensing wipers, heat-reflective windscreen and sports seats.

The 207 XE was further equipped with 16-inch alloy wheels, dual zone climate control air conditioning (including a fragrance diffuser), combination leather/cloth seats, front fog lights, rear parking sensors with distance display, power folding mirrors and tyre pressure sensors; a full-length ‘Cielo’ glass roof was unique to the XE. Compared to the XE, the GT was differentiated by its 17-inch alloy wheels and black cloth interior with leather trim and other sporting touches.

The range-topping 207 GTi featured 17-inch ‘Pitlane’ aluminium wheels, five-stack CD player, steering wheel audio controls, cruise control, four bucket seats with Alcantara suede trim, carbon fibre interior highlights and chrome mirrors. The GTi was also equipped with Peugeot’s Steering Stability System (SSP) which acted as an interface between the electronic steering and electronic stability control to minimise braking distances.

Peugeot 207 Le Mans Series

In September 2008, a limited-run Le Mans Phase variant was released; special features included dual zone climate control air conditioning, front and rear bucket seats with leather bolsters, carpet mats, rear privacy glass, directional headlights, rear park assist and power retracting mirrors. Visually, the Le Mans Series could be identified by its 17-inch ‘Pitlane’ aluminium wheels, sport front bumper with aluminium grille, rear spoiler, racing stripe, ‘Le Mans Series’ decals, chrome exhaust extension, black chrome headlights and body-coloured side mouldings, bumper strips and exterior mirrors.

Brochures

Specifications

Specifications: Peugeot A7.I 207 (August 2009)

Review: Peugeot A7.II 207 (2009-12)