Peugeot 307 HDi; Review

 

All of the mainstream French car makers are bombarding our market at the moment with a raft of new product, all of it reeks of the characteristic style and flair we have come to expect from the continent.

And, if you take into account the quality of the models, potential buyers have never been so well served.

Peugeot have especially come up trumps, Sime Darby Automotive, New Zealand's Peugeot distributors, have not long launched a brand new 407, in a multiple of guises, and along with it, the 206 has been kept fresh with a facelift, and the 307 options just keep on coming.

One of the more interesting cars from the Peugeot stable to come my way recently was the latter, the $36,990 307 in HDi guise, yet instead of it receiving a 2-litre diesel engine (which it has had since its arrival), it now has a 1.6-litre diesel engine.

When I first learnt of the 1.6-litre unit I couldn't imagine what Peugeot were up to. There was little wrong with the 2-litre and I wondered if any gains could be made into the diesel market with a smaller capacity variant.

Then the thought process really kicked in, you have to distance the 1.6-litre HDi from the 2-litre, and think of it as an enlarged engine that is fitted to other models in the Citroen/Peugeot group, bearing in mind that the two companies are aligned to the same owners.

The simple way to put it is that the 1.6-litre HDi is much the same engine that is fitted to the 1.4-litre 206 in Europe and the Citroen C3 here, except with a capacity increase. Both of these cars are already widely recognised as an extraordinary model in terms of performance, economy and environmental consciousness.

That being the case, the 307 1.6-litre HDi shares all of those attributes and stands out on its own with its brilliance. The 307 is not new, its been around for a few years now, but it is a model that will stay fresh thanks to its strong styling cues and characteristics which make it typically French. The front of it is steeply raked with an expansive windscreen that sits well forward, contrasting with a hatchback rear that has a short, abrupt overhang.

From all angles the 307 looks purposeful and the modern style is carried over to the interior which is characterised by dark trim. The test car had optional leather seats fitted and a Blaupunkt five-disc stacker fitted in the facia centre.

Analogue gauges are alloy rimmed and they contrast well with digital display for the odometer. Way forward on the centre dash is another digital display which shows the radio status, temperature, time, date and trip computer details.

Standard specification includes climate control with refrigerated glovebox, electric windows, electric exterior mirror adjustment (also foldaway), central locking with remote, tilt and reach-adjustable steering column, height-adjustable driver's seat, automatic headlights and rain sensing wipers.

The 307 HDi also gets a substantial safety package. Six air bags are fitted in total, ABS overrides a four-disc braking system, along with five full overshoulder seat belts. And, indeed, the 307 can be called an honest five-seater, for even though it isn't a big car, space on board is satisfactory and the comfort levels it exudes is rather remarkable.

Under the bonnet sits the new-generation common rail diesel engine of just 1560cc. It is a twin-camshaft type with four-valves per cylinder, the turbocharger intercooled and strongly boosted.

In this age of fluctuating fuel prices its time for us to embrace further the ability of the modern diesel engine, and in the case of the 307 its oil burner is an absolute stunner, it is quiet and powerful. Peugeot rate it at 80kW (4000rpm), and with 240Nm of torque at just 1750rpm it has an abundance of bottom end power. And, according to Peugeot the 1.6-litre engine, interestingly, pumps out 21% more power and 17% more torque than the old 2-litre unit.

At this stage the engine is mated only to a five-speed manual gearbox, but such is the huge bottom end strength it is not a gearbox that has to be manipulated often. The engine will haul from stall speeds without complaint, although it does take a little time for it to rev if caught off boost.

Even when working hard, the engine is fuss free and melodic, the traditional diesel clatter is available at idle, specially when cold, but it doesn't enter the cabin, the sound is more of a quiet rush as the tachometer needle hovers over the rev band with vibrant ease.

Performance is spectacular. When the turbo boost comes on strong the 307 surges with solid momentum. According to Peugeot, it will reach 100kmh from a standstill in 11.2sec which is faster than the 1.6-litre petrol-fuelled model, while an 80kmh-120kmh time of 7.2sec is pretty feisty.

At highway speed the 1.6-litre turns over slowly at just 2000rpm at 100kmh in fifth, providing fabulous fuel usage readouts. According to the trip computer, it sips fuel at the rate of 4.7 litres usage per 100km instantaneously at 100kmh, while my test average of 6.7l/100km was spectacular. These figures equate to 59mpg and 42mpg respectively.

Geared with ratios that provide easy driving characteristics at all speeds, the 307 HDi is by all accounts one very smart, well engineered model.

Sitting on MacPherson struts up front and rear trailing arms, the 307 has traditional front-wheel-drive handling characteristics. Peugeot are renowned for their supple suspension settings without a handling compromise, and the 307 carries on this tradition.

Even over patchy, uneven road surfaces, the balance of the car is unaffected. I took it over a mixture of inland roads and when confronted with a series of corners the 307 turned with precision. Engine power is such that it barely forces understeer, while stability, poise and balance are unsurpassed.

The test car had optional 17in wheels fitted with low-profile Pirelli tyres (225/45), grip was spectacular while the whole car relays a wonderful combination of handling and ride perfection.

Amidst the wealth of models in the mid-size hatch market, the 307 stands up to be counted for its honesty and outright flair. It has reached a new pinnacle with the HDi engine which Peugeot say is vastly more efficient in terms of power and economy, it is also an engine that is far kinder to the environment in terms of emissions, making an HDi purchase even more warranted.

Specifications:

Price: Peugeot 307 HDi, $36,990.

Dimensions: Length, 4202mm; width, 1730mm; height, 1510mm.

Configuration: Four-cylinder transverse, front-wheel-drive, 1560cc, 80kW/4000rpm, 240Nm/1750rpm, five-speed manual.

Performance: 0-100kmh, 11.2sec; maximum speed, 187kmh.