FIRST DRIVE
Peugeot 107 Urban - Test Drive
Small cars are becoming the in thing so we tried out the Peugeot 107 in Urban trim.
This is second smallest car in the French maker's line-up and it has a shared platform with the Citroen C1 and the Toyota Aygo. We put the 107 through its paces in Glasgow city centre to see if it really is as good as the marketing hype surrounding it.
STYLING
The Peugeot 107 is a neat looking supermini – the French maker has packaged the car well. You can tell the difference between the 107 and the Citroen C1 by its larger egg-shaped headlights, a restyled bumper and a prominent central Peugeot badge.INTERIOR
Jump into the 107 you'll find that the interior is pretty groovy with its simple but effective layout. The large and prominent rev counter has a Mini-esque feel to it and you'll have to pay £30for it, as it's an option. The plastics have a cheap look but they fell solid, there are no gaping-panels and the shut lines all look to be finished to a high standard. If you are one for nik-naks then you'll not be disappointed as there's plenty of cubbyholes for loose change and other small items. On short journey's you can carry four adults in the car but the rear passengers can get a bit cramped when on longer journeys. Our test car had five doors, which made getting in and out of the 107 a breeze. Even though boot space is limited if you fold the rear seats flat you can fit a 32-inch widescreen television in the car with two adults in the front seats. You will not have much space to work with but it can be done.PERFORMANCE
Under the bonnet the Peugeot 107 has a glorious sounding three-cylinder one-litre petrol power plant. It has an output of 68bhp so you will have to plan overtaking in advance when on B-roads. This supermini is at home in an urban environment. It's lightweight and gets away sharply from traffic lights while its size means this car is child's play to park in congested town centres. For a car of this size the figures are relative, the 107 can get from zero to 62mph in 14.2 seconds while it has a top speed of 100mph. The 1.0-litre power plant is mated to a smooth shifting five-speed manual gearbox. Take the 107 out of the city and onto B-roads and you will be impressed, the steering is a little light for this writer's tastes but it is communicative, which gives for a good driving experience. There is a downside with its size as the 107 can be buffeted by side winds on motorways.PRICE
The 107 Urban five door is priced from £8,150 (correct at time of going to press), add the options on our test car and the 107's price will start from £9,230. So what do you get for the extra? Metallic paint will cost you £350, while aircon with recirculation and pollen filter will add £500, the rev counter costs £30 and front and rear curtain airbags is an extra £200.OWNERSHIP
The Peugeot 107 was the UK's most popular and best-selling low emissions vehicle in 2007 (source: SMMT). It emits 109g/km of CO2, which means that you'll only pay £35 per annum for road tax while the 1.0-litre engine should return 61.3 according to the French maker on the combined cycle.At a glance
| Name/Price: | Peugeot 107 Urban/ £9,230 |
| Engine/power: | 1.0-litre /68PS |
| Co2 emissions: | 109g/km |
| Official Combined fuel economy: | 61.3mpg |
IMN Verdict
The 107 has plenty of urban character – it also has low emissions and a high combined fuel economy, worth a serious look for urbanites in this present economic climate.
Simon McBride