Peugeot 207 Sport 120 VTi: Big And Small

2023 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 09:36

A sporty small car is now almost a must for every manufacturer. The Peugeot 207 Sport 120 VTi suffers from the strictly francophile corporate policy.

By Marc Leimann

The 207 is of existential importance for PSA Peugeot Citroen. Although the successor to the legendary 206 is the smallest in the B-segment group after the 107, it is still an undisputed best seller. But that is also necessary because the grapes hang high. Its predecessor, the Peugeot 206, made sure of that. As a heartthrob, the sweet little one with the teardrop eyes was built over 5.5 million times worldwide, making it Peugeot's top seller in the company's 111-year history. So what is supposed to ensure that the Peugeot 207 with its 1.6 liter petrol engine follows in these footsteps?

Convincing space

True to the motto “You will never get a second chance to make a first impression”, the 207 is extremely cheeky. The front section of the “Sport” equipment variant we drive has a sporty, aggressive look thanks to the chrome-plated radiator grille and suggests dynamism. This is emphasized by the 16-inch alloy wheels and the chrome-plated tailpipe.

Once you take a seat in the driver's seat, you quickly forget that you are sitting in a small car. No question about it, the “little one” has grown significantly, towers over its predecessor by an impressive 20 centimeters and thus almost exceeds the total length of four meters. This gain in length benefits the driver and front passenger in particular, the space in the front is good, only the usual compromises have to be made at the rear. This is especially true for tall passengers in the rear, to whom the headliner comes dangerously close.

Looks for panoramic roof

Speaking of the sky: the panorama glass roof, which can be ordered additionally for 410 euros, offers real added value. It's really addicting to use. Unfortunately, it also has a shortcoming, as it cannot be opened.

The trunk is easy to load. It holds 270 liters, which is suitable for shopping, and in the “Sport” equipment variant also has a luggage net attached to the back of the rear seat bench. Even fragile or small items are safely transported to their destination.

Driving pleasure after overcoming weak starting

A particular focus is on the 1.6 liter petrol engine developed jointly by PSA Peugeot Citroen and the BMW Group. This shines with the latest engine technology. Its fully variable valve control regulates the engine output without a throttle valve by continuously adjusting the valve lift and the opening times of the intake valves. As a result, both manufacturers promise extremely spontaneous responsiveness with a high level of smoothness and low fuel consumption and emissions.

However, the spontaneous response behavior was a bit long in the practical test. The paper form was reminiscent of the good old 205 GTI times, when 102 hp were enough to ignite real fireworks. These fireworks did not materialize, the engine had to be brought up to speed, especially in city traffic, in order to develop its power.

Sixth gear is missing

But once you get up to speed, it's enough for decent driving performance, which only requires upshifting to the next higher gear at 5000 rpm and is good for a top speed of 200 km / h. It's just a shame that you have to buy the significantly more expensive Mini for a sixth gear. The 120 hp 207 has to be content with only five gears due to the corporate policy.

In city driving, for example, six to seven liters can be achieved with moderate driving style, while on the motorway, depending on the driving style, nine liters can be scratched off. 145 grams of CO2 per kilometer show that PSA and BMW have recognized the signs of the times. This means that the engine emits seven grams less CO2 than its 32 hp weaker brother.

No competitive price

The basic version of the Peugeot 207 Sport 120 VTi we drive costs 16,300 euros. It therefore includes ESP with ASR as standard. The “Sport” equipment line also includes 15-inch aluminum rims, fog lights, front sports seats, sports bumpers with an aluminum-look front grill and a chrome-plated tailpipe.

However, if you choose other high-quality extras such as the easy-to-use navigation system, the powerful JBL sound system, the 2-zone automatic air conditioning or the panorama roof mentioned above, you quickly exceed the 20,000 euro mark. A lot of money for a small car with sporty genes. A look at the competition also shows that: Suzuki is offering the new Swift Sport with extremely extensive standard equipment and 125 hp at a price of 17,500 euros.