Used Peugeot 207 2006 - 2012 review

Inexpensive used small cars are plentiful these days. The Peugeot 207 was one of the most popular small hatchbacks of its day, which means there are an awful lot of second-hand examples out there. And the great news for canny buyers is that the 207 can often be purchased for a lot less money than rivals such as the evergreen Ford Fiesta.

Despite the fact it went out of production in 2012, the 207 continues to be a popular used car choice, thanks to its stylish looks, economical engines and five-star Euro NCAP safety rating.

There’s a range of 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre petrol and diesel engines in various states of tune. The least powerful 68bhp petrol is a bit too lethargic for everyday driving, because the 207 is a fairly heavy car. If you go for the mid-range 90bhp petrol and diesel options, then you’ll get decent performance along with respectable fuel economy.

At town speeds, the light steering is great for tight manoeuvring and parking in awkward places. Plus, the 207 resists body lean well in corners and its suspension absorbs most bumps. True, the steering is very light and devoid of feel at low speed, but it soon weights up as the pace increases.

The 207’s predecessor, the 206, was often criticised for its poor driving position, and although the 207 is better in this regard, you might still find it a stretch to reach the steering wheel. It’s not all bad news, though, because space for those in the front is great, but leg room in the rear is quite tight; higher-spec models have moulded front seatbacks that free up a bit of extra room.

The 207’s boot is a good, usable size and, as you’d expect, the back seats fold forward to let you increase the load area. There is a bit of a lip to lift items over and the opening is narrower at the bottom, which can make loading larger flat-pack items tricky. But if you do that regularly, you’ll probably want to go for the 207 SW estate instead.

You can easily find a 207 for around £500, provided you don’t mind going for a car that has covered mega miles or has had previous accident damage. We’d suggest you that you should spend about £1500-2000 for a decent petrol car with below-average mileage. Diesels are a little bit pricier, but £2500-3000 will find you plenty of tidy examples.

A post-facelift, petrol powered 207 will cost you around £2500, while a similarly refreshed diesel model can be found for £3500. Even a late, low-mileage example in plush Allure specification can be bought for only around £5000.

Check the value of a used Peugeot 207 with What Car? Valuations

The 207 should cost about the same as its rivals to run. Insurance is a reasonable group 5 for the less powerful 1.4-litre petrols and diesels, while the 1.6-litre models start at group 11. GT models are in group 15, while the GTi hot hatch can be a bit pricey, sitting in group 25.

Strangely, the 68bhp 1.4 and 90bhp 1.6 litre diesel engines have the same fuel economy, according to the NEDC result, of 62.7mpg and low CO2 emissions of 120g/km, making the latter a much better bet. The more powerful 110bhp 1.6-litre diesel option isn’t much worse, at 58.8mpg. The petrols are also efficient, achieving mpg figures in the high-30s in the real world – if you take it easy.

Every example of the 207 is over three years old now, so you can use Peugeot’s fixed-price servicing scheme. Intervals are every 12 months or 10,000 miles, with a minor service being £179 and a major one costing £299, and you get a 12 months parts and labour warranty thrown in as well.

The 74bhp 1.4-litre petrol engine might look tempting due to its low price, but it's too slow, so it’s worth spending a bit more to get the 89bhp 1.4 or even the 118bhp 1.6.

The 1.4-litre diesel is also underpowered, whereas the 1.6-litre diesel is worth considering. If you fancy something sportier, there are petrol and diesel GT models that make 148bhp and 109bhp respectively.

At the top of the range sits the GTi hot hatch, but while this produces 173bhp and offers lively performance, it drives too much like a regular 207 to feel worthy of the iconic GTi badge.

No matter which 207 you choose, those in the front are protected by front and side airbags, while the entry-level model is the only one to miss out on curtain airbags that protect the heads of those in the front and the back.

Only the Sport and SE Premium and GT models get alloy wheels as standard. Also, if you go for a 1.4-litre model, be sure to choose one that was specified with the optional air conditioning.

Our favourite used Peugeot 207: 1.6 Sport

The 207 went on sale just after the third-generation Renault Clio, and this remains a tempting alternative on the used market because it costs much the same to buy and run yet has more rear space. Make sure you go for one of the higher-spec cars, though, because these have a classy soft-touch dashboard, whereas the plastics in cheaper versions are hard and unappealing.

The Seat Ibiza is another small hatchback that’s worth considering, combining stylish looks with sporty handling. Under the skin, it’s related to the Volkswagen Polo, but it's a lot cheaper than that car.

You can be confident that any car that has won the What Car? Car of the Year Award is going to be superb, and the fourth-generation Vauxhall Corsa is just such a vehicle. It manages to feel like a big, grown-up car and is just as at home in town as it is on the motorway.

The Ford Fiesta is one of the UK’s most popular small cars, because it's so good at what it does. True, you’ll have to spend a fair bit more to get in an equivalent Fiesta, but it’ll be better to drive and really well equipped, plus it might even have Ford’s innovative quick clear windscreen that will save you freezing your fingers trying to clear ice from the windscreen.

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