Peugeot 207 Sedan – Most Affordable Continental Car
The Peugeot 207 sedan comes from the very well established Peugeot family of cars offered by Nasim Sdn Bhd, the local importers, assemblers and distributors of the French brand, a brand which is a household name in Europe.
Priced at RM72, 888, the Peugeot 207 is the most affordable continental car available here. The 207 replaces the Peugeot 206, previously sold here as a hatchback – now the 207 is available as a sedan, reportedly due to the results of various studies that indicate the market favours a sedan over a hatchback. Further up the ladder, there is the Peugeot 308 VVTi at RM99, 888 and the Peugeot 308 Turbo at RM118, 888, both of which are hatchbacks, simply because there are no sedan versions available for CKD countries as of this moment.
What is obvious to me here is the conscious effort by Nasim to offer models with a wide price range to cater for different affordability levels – the specifications do play a significant part in determining the retail price level, and for this reason, the 207 comes with the engine series derived from the 207 model – which is a 4-cylinder, DOHC 16-valve fuel-injected 1.6 litre job that produces a healthy 110 horsepower and 147 Nm of torque. For the record, this is a well-proven and reliable engine.
In the B-segment, the 207 engine specifications stack quite well against its Japanese and other competitors – and Nasim has done well to add in other features that make this model a very good package in terms of bang per buck – as it stands, the 207 is probably the best value for money buy and is one of the lowest priced continental cars available here.
Driving it for the first time, I was actually quite impressed with the power delivery and responsiveness from the engine. It is not a road burner, but driven in the context of a base 1.6 litre sedan, it drives as a car of this size and capacity should. The automatic transmission is still a 4-speed, but the trimming on the top is that it is auto-adaptive (adapts to driving patterns), and comes with a Sport Mode and Tiptronic. Top speed is rated at approximately 180 kilometres per hour. Brakes are vented discs at the front, and drums at the rear, similar to what the Japanese cars in this category are generally offering, and with ABS, EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution) and EBA (Emergency Brake Assist). With dual airbags, and the option to deactivate the passenger airbag, the 207 is on par with any of its competitors. You may be getting a cheaper car, but you are not necessarily worse off in terms of key features with the 207.
In addition, there are two ISOFIX location points in the rear seats for families with children – many cars in this category still are devoid of this feature. Other features include an automatic climate control air-conditioner with a pollen filter and child safety rear door locks. For convenience, the rear seats do a 60:40 split, and fold down neatly for stowing long items.
Driver-friendly features also abound in the Peugeot 207 – keyless entry, a feature found only on more expensive cars, height adjustable driver’s seat, anti-dazzle rear view mirror, and a leather–wrapped steering wheel. On the exterior side, there are sensor activated headlights, automatic wipers, follow-me-home lights, rear park sensors, and electric side mirrors- features not found in many cars in this category, and certainly not at this price level
On the road, the Peugeot drives decently enough, with good handling, and a comfortable ride thanks to a stiff body and many hours of development in ride and handling versus occupant comfort – the result is a happy combination that keeps passengers happy while providing good handling. Interior noise isolation is at par with the competition in this class of cars. Putting myself in the shoes of a typical young executive who is looking for a value buy for a continental without compromising on features, I find no issues with the Peugeot 207.
For people who have a limited budget, but want a continental car with good features, then the Peugeot 207 is something to look at.
