Auto Trader Ten Point Test rating: 73%

There’s a power war going on with supermini hot hatches at the moment with the likes of the 197bhp Renault Clio and 189bhp Vauxhall Corsa VXR leading the charge.

So despite being heavier and having less power than these models can the Peugeot 207 GTi be a genuine rival? We drove one for a week to find out.

View our Peugeot 207 GTi slide show

Looks | Looks Inside | Practicality | Ride and Handling | Performance
Running Costs | Reliability | Safety | Equipment | X-Factor

1. Looks

While billed as a supermini, the Peugeot 207 GTi is one of the largest and heaviest on the market. It almost fits into its own niche sector between supermini and family hatch. The Pug gets a set of 17-inch alloy wheels, rear spoiler and aggressive bodykit which helps make it look the part. However, the 207 wears Peugeot’s controversial ‘shark mouth’ grille and is not to everyone’s taste.

8/10

2. Looks inside

Inside, the Peugeot 207 GTi has a far less controversial design featuring lots of well-built dark plastics and a few chrome-coloured materials. The sound system controls seem a bit out of date but the sat-nav screen (a costly £2,070 option) adds more quality. The interior is dominated by the half leather, half alcantara front bucket seats which, while looking the part, felt a bit flimsy and didn’t provide the most comfort.

7/10

3. Practicality
 
For the market it’s in, the 207 is a big car, but it doesn’t have the practicality to match. There is sufficient room for two adults in the rear but over a long distance this might become uncomfortable. A boot capacity of 270 litres is less than a Corsa but bigger than a Mazda 2.

7/10

4. Ride and Handling
 
The stiffness of the Peugeot’s suspension has been increased by nearly 30 per cent over the 150bhp GT THP model. The result is a rock hard, uncomfortable ride with the car finding practically every crease in the road. A stretch of the M6 motorway we drove could easily have been confused with a cobbled road. A set of more comfortable seats would have made this more bearable.

Despite the stiff suspension setup, driving hard through corners does provoke bodyroll, which makes the 207 GTi a flawed supermini. Either you want a comfortable or sporty ride or a nice compromise which you don’t get.

The 207 also gets uprated brakes for improved stopping power. They are sharp but the brake pedal isn’t the most engaging, lacking in feel. 

6/10

5. Performance
 
Under the bonnet of the Peugeot sits the 1.6-litre turbocharged engine found in the excellent Mini Cooper S. This engine develops 173bhp and 195lb/ft of pulling power and enables a 0-62mph (100kph) time of 7.1 seconds and a top speed of 137mph.

These are impressive times but the 207 GTi doesn’t feel as quick to 62mph as the Mini. This may partly be to do with the first gear which doesn’t have a smooth change. Once you’re into third gear the 207 comes alive and provides great mid-range acceleration at motorway speeds.

While it’s heavier and less powerful than many of its rivals a 137mph top speed is only slightly slower than the 140mph Corsa VXR and 139mph Clio 197.
 
8/10

6. Running Costs
 
Peugeot claims the 207 GTi will average 39.2mpg on a combined cycle. This is 6mpg more than the Clio 197 but 6mpg less than the Mini Cooper S which it shares the same engine with. After 450 miles in the French hot hatch we were averaging 35.5mpg.

Hot hatch insurance is never the friendliest so group 15 out of 20 isn’t a surprise, while CO2 emissions of 171g/km place the 207 GTi in tax band E meaning £170 a year. 

7/10

7. Reliability
 
The Peugeot 207 GTi felt solidly built (barring the seats) but Peugeot – like most French car makers – haven’t always had the best reputation for reliability. Using the same engine as the Mini Cooper S should help improve this however. If there are any issues, the 207 is covered by a three year warranty.

7/10

8. Safety
 
In the EuroNCAP crash test programme the 207 GTi was awarded the full five stars for adult occupancy and full four stars for child protection. This is thanks to six airbags and a system called Steering Stability Programme (SSP). SSP links to the Peugeot’s ESP and power steering to improve stability and stopping distance when braking on surfaces with different levels of grip between the right and left wheels.

10/10

9. Equipment
 
Our model came with sporty features such as a set of 17-inch alloys, roof spoiler, twin exhaust, front fog lights and bodykit. Inside the 207 GTi gets the bucket seats, electric windows, air conditioning, trip computer and CD player.

Optional extras on our model included the RT4 sat-nav with phone functionality and five disc CD autochanger. It’s an excellent setup although when indicating it’s easy to activate the voice recognition but at £2,070 it moves the car’s price into thoroughbred hot hatch territory.

We also had the £1,000 Octane pack which included cruise control, rear parking aid, tyre pressure sensors, directional headlights and tinted windows.

Add the £375 metallic paint and our test car cost £19,120. And that’s more than an entry-level Ford Focus ST.  

7/10

10. X-Factor
 
On paper the Peugeot 207 GTi looks great with power, performance and high levels of safety. But on the road it doesn’t give you the sense you’re in a 175bhp hot hatch.

Turn the clock back 15-20 years and Peugeot had the excellent 205 and 306 GTi models were class-leading performers. However, the French car maker seems out of touch with the hot hatch scene now.

You can have more fun for a lot less in a Renault Twingo Renaultsport 133 or for the same price as our test car get your hands on a Ford Focus ST or Honda Civic Type-R.

6/10

View our Peugeot 207 GTi slide show

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