The 207 Hatchback is a medium-sized hatchback from Peugeot that was introduced in 2006 as a replacement for the French auto giant's long running 206 versions. The 207 is based on the platform of the Citroen's C3, which is Peugeot's sister company. It is produced in their home plant in Poissy, France as well as a new production unit that has been recently opened in Slovakia.
The 2012 Peugeot 207 hatchback comes as either a three or five-door variety. It was given a major external and internal facelift in the summer of 2009, with massive LED headlights being added to a revamped front end, in keeping with Peugeot's new rounder and sturdier look. The front end looks like an extreme sports car coming down the road, but as it gets closer, it offers a fun, and almost cute appeal.
The Peugeot 207 Hatchback draws its power from a choice of two petrol engines. The first is 1.4-liter engine that produce 95 horsepower. The second is a 1.6-liter engine that boosts performance just a bit to120 horsepower. There are also two diesel engines available for the 207. These include a 1.4-liter, 70 horsepower engine or a 1.6-liter HDi, which can produce 90 horsepower, or it can be pushed up to 110 horsepower, if an intercooler is added. Irrespective of the engine permutation, all 207s come paired with a standard five-speed manual gearbox. Unfortunately, this engine is the vehicle's biggest pitfall, as most agree that it is sloppy and difficult to get into gear sometimes.
Those individuals who have been convinced that the 207 is just a tidied up version of the 206 will be in for a pleasant surprise, as the 207 is considerably larger, at 140 inches long by 68 inches wide by 60 tall. This certainly does not mean that the 207 is blessed with too much space, but it will handle three back seat passengers in relative comfort, providing it is a shorter ride being taken. As was the case with the 206, available cargo space is a problem. With all seats in place, you are granted 18 cubic feet, which is just a little smaller than most drivers are hoping for. If the rear seat is folded down though, you are granted about another 10 cubic feet.
The 2012 Peugeot 207 Hatchback is surprisingly quiet for a small car. It is agile, yet it lacks sharpness. Is it fun to drive? Sure, as long as you aren't expecting too much in way of performance.