Fridae

The Peugeot 207 Vive 1.4 is a new variant added to the successful and hugely popular French hatchback. With worldwide productions exceeding one million since its launch in 2006, the Peugeot 207 is - to state the obvious - certainly selling like hot cakes! In a fierce contention for being the 'best' supermini, the 207 comes in at a length of 4.03 m and that is on par with our 'grand' mini the Fiat Punto Grande which we reviewed in an earlier column.

The Peugeot 207 Vive 1.4's engine is shared with the Mini One. Having a whopping 1.2 tons of kerb weight to lug around, the 90 horsepowers and 133 nm of torque was surprisingly adequate for my heavy right foot madness driving. The Peugeot 207 Vive 1.4 comes with a 2 G-tronic, Peugeot's speak for a robotised manual gearbox, which is better left in auto mode.

Boasting high levels of refinement, the Peugeot 207 feels in control even while being driven at high-speed. The steering feels a tad synthetic at low speeds, but the chassis feels capable of handling much, much more than the 90bhp generated by the 1.4-litre engine. The damping is compliant yet it keeps the 207 feeling tight and responsive and offers unexpected grip.

Considered the backbone of transportation for the masses, supermini manufacturers vie to put out well-designed products that provide maximum comfort and safety, features, cabin space all while offering consumers a value buy.

Nor surprisingly, the new Peugeot 207 Vive 1.4 is shipped with a long list of features including ABS with brake assist, twin airbags, factory fitted stereo with MP3 compatibility, 15-inch alloy wheels, leather seats, dual zone climate control and also automatic wipers and lights.

The 207 silhouette is distinctively French and chic. Especially in 'Kermit the frog' green like on the test car we got, you would never lose the car in the multi-storey car park. The length of the new car gives way to a cabin that has space for a couple of adults at the back and a cavernous boot. The driving position on the 207 is spot on and the huge windscreen meant good visibility.

'Kermit the frog' was missed when I handed the keys back to the Peugeot. I appreciated the 207 Vive 1.4's abilities and style. It does not give much away to the bigger engine 1.6 L and offers better fuel efficiency.

	Peugeot 207 1.4 VTi
Engine	Front, Transverse, DOHC 16-valve Multipoint Injection 4 Cyls in line, 1360 cc, Petrol
Transmission	5-Speed "2-Tronic" with Economy and manual modes
Max. Power	90 hp@ 6000rpm
Max. Torque	133 nm@3250rpm
Acceleration 0-100 km/h	14.0 secs
Top speed	180 Km/h
Fuel Economy	6.2 liters/100 km (EEC dual cycle)
Fuel Tank Size	50 Litres
Emissions std	Euro 4 Compliant
Dimensions (L x W x H)	4030mmX1748mmX1479mm
Wheelbase	2540mm
Suspension (Front)	Macpherson struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar
Suspension (Rear)	Deformable cross member, coil springs, anti-roll bar
Price with COE*	$64,000
Road Tax Per annum	$770

*Prices quoted are indicative of prices in Singapore. Please contact your local distributor for prices in your country.