It’s easy to see why the 207 was one of the most popular cars in its class when new. Keen pricing and a wide choice of engines, trims and bodystyles made it very accessible. Now the 207 is available only as a used buy, nothing has changed; you’re still spoiled for choice. When Warranty Direct claimed in 2011 that the 207 was the most reliable European car, Peugeot’s transformation appeared complete, but online forums suggest not all owners think their cars are so dependable. That’s why you need to check any potential purchase carefully, but a good 207 can represent spectacular value for money.

Key dates

5/06: The 207 hatchback debuts, with three or five-door options and any combination of 1.4 or 1.6-litre petrol or diesel engines. 

1/07: A 120bhp 1.6 VTi petrol engine joins the range, along with the 207CC (Coupé-Cabriolet), the latter with 1.6 petrol (normally aspirated or turbocharged) or 1.6 diesel engines. 

6/07: A 95bhp 1.4 VTI petrol engine and a 175bhp GTi debut. 

7/07: The 207SW (five-door estate) debut, with a pseudo off-roader edition soon after, the Outdoor. 

8/09: A facelifted 207 brings a fresh nose and interior, a higher quality cabin plus standard Bluetooth.

3/10: Allure trim is added to the range.

4/10: The 1.6 HDi is tweaked to comply with Euro 5 emissions regulations. A six-speed gearbox replaces the previous five-speed unit.

Checklist

• Peugeot recommends 10 years between cam belt renewals; six years or 60,000 miles is more advisable.
• Pairing a phone via Bluetooth can be a pain. Disconnecting the battery for a few minutes can fix things.
• The interior trim isn’t very durable, so check for damaged or missing parts.
• The dashboard’s LCD can fail. The only effective cure is replacement, which is costly.
• Anti-pollution warnings lead to the car reverting to limp-home mode. Effective fixes can be elusive.
• Gear selection problems and difficulty getting out of fifth gear is down to the linkage being incorrectly set up. It’s an easy fix.
• The ECU that controls the anti-lock braking module can fail, leading to warnings on the dash. Replacement is costly.
• The 207 has been the subject of a lot of recalls, so make sure any necessary work has been done.

We like

• Wide range
• Lots available
• Looks smart
• Great diesel engines
• Cheap to buy
• Comfortable ride
• Good to drive

We don’t like

• Small boot
• Cramped back seat
• Uncertain reliability

Richard Dredge