PEUGEOT 307 Test drive 5 doors 2001 - 2005 hatchback

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Dating with the new Peugeot station wagon, created on the basis of model 307, I have been waiting for a very long time, since the times when Peugeot has demonstrated the conceptual car Promethe. The external resemblance to the 307th, a number of interesting ergonomic solutions that have already been determined then, along with a completely serial quality of manufacture of this concept, more than transparently hinted that this car is a prototype of the future Universal Peugeot 307. And all the more interesting this Promethee: symbiosis of the station wagon and the symbiosis of the station wagon Minivan, with a glass roof, smoothly flowing from windshield. True, that at least half of those decisions that were applied on the concept would be switched to a serial model, it was difficult to believe: more than once we have witnessed how a magnificent conceptual car when setting up the efforts of technologists, economists and marketers turned around In a certain gray creature. But the French, if they were not one of the most original automakers, decided on a truly unprecedented step: a car almost identical to the concept went into production! And today this almost conceptual Peugeot 307 SW, the deliveries of which have already begun to our market, are on our test. Meet ...
 
But he really looks like a conceptual car, this Peugeot 307 SW! Maybe because so far no one has yet produced cars of this class with a transparent top, or maybe due to the fact that this machine has a very unusual design. So successfully combining minivan and cars in one car is a really great merit of designers. Only for this you can put them perfectly. Good experts worked on the interior: the interior turned out to be spacious and cozy at the same time, and this ergonomics did not suffer at all. Even more than that: when developing a model 307, ergonomics specialists took into account all possible options, therefore, according to the convenience of the interior of this model, without changes, which has been migrated to the version of the station wagon, can rightfully be considered one of the best. Moreover, in this case, he clearly claims the title of the most spacious in the classroom. I don’t know whether this transparent top visually made the salon so huge, or I just did not drive an almost single-volume layout in cars for a long time, but inside the 307th there is a complete illusion that you are going in a very large car.
 
The front panel is somewhere far ahead, the doors will not properly properly, the sightseeing is magnificent, and even the highest ones will not reach the ceiling. By the way, despite the fact that the tested car is designated as SW, the French chose this abbreviation at all as a designation of the version with the station wagon. Peugeot remained faithful to his traditions. Like all other models, a modification with the station wagon in the 307th model is indicated by a beautiful French word inreak. True, Brack itself is very different from the car that we had on the test. Firstly, it can only have a five-seater salon, and secondly, even for a surcharge, he cannot have a transparent top with an electric curtain. Accordingly, the SW modification is the same Break, only in a richer configuration, necessarily having a transparent top and, if desired, equipped with such options as additional chairs of the third row.
 
In motion 307, SW is practically no different from the usual 307th with the same engine, although some nuances, for a certain circle of drivers are very important, are still present. To begin with, due to the elongated Wheel base, SW in any case turns out to be much more comfortable than the hatchback of the same name. If the basic machine, also, by the way, has very good running qualities, in some places can still demonstrate its somewhat harsh suspension, then SW is completely devoid of this feature. True, as a fee for increased comfort, you can regard some decrease in the dynamics of the station wagon, but the loss in this case is so insignificant that it can be noticed only by comparing the numbers in the catalogs. Otherwise, the usual 307th and its universal version are equally good and pleasant on the go. In general, as some could say, the appearance of another version in the popular model, even as wonderful as the station wagon 307 SW, is not a reason to arrange such a hype. And I would completely agree with this car before meeting this car. However, now I have a completely different opinion. If you abstract from the external appearance of a given car that has a common design from the 307th design, it turns out that constructively cars vary very strongly. The only enlarged wheelbase is worth it. If the station wagons usually differ from the basic hatchecs and sedans only an increased rear overhang, then in this case a completely different approach was demonstrated, which has many advantages over the traditional scheme.
 
To begin with, those additional ten centimeters on which the wheelbase was enlarged fell on the interior of the cabin, and not just to increase the dimensions of the car. As a result, the place in the cabin has become much larger, so that the middle armchairs are made separately, and each of them has the ability to individual longitudinal adjustment. In such a simple way, the designers received not only the possibility of increasing the volume of the luggage compartment, but also significantly increased the capacity of the car. Why are three dense passengers on the rear seats of small passengers? That's right, because the width of the car does not allow all three to sit down with comfort, and passengers interfere with each other's shoulders. The situation can be resolved if one of the rear row passengers, preferably average, will lean forward a little, thus freeing a place for the other two. But on the long journey this is impossible in principle. Here, in the Peugeot 307 SW, this problem is solved elementary: the middle chair is slightly forward or, conversely, back, and now even the most powerful passengers can sit without touching each other's shoulders. Someone will say a trifle, but it is precisely from such inconspicuous at first glance that the image of a convenient and comfortable vehicle for the whole family is formed. Otherwise, why, tell me, to buy a seven -seater car in which only six people can feel comfortable?
 
However, it seems that no one intended to deliberately stick out increased passenger capacity of the Peugeot 307 SW. And why? For most potential buyers, and there were a lot of such on the motor show, where the novelty was presented, this car was shown as just a passenger station wagon. And the fact that the standard PEUGEOT 307, even in the SW version, does not include additional chairs of the third row, on the one hand, even good. Not everyone needs these additional passenger places, but such a huge trunk, as well as an enlarged wheelbase, will probably like many. About the trunk should be said separately. If in the usual 307th it is simply large enough for a car of this class, then in the station wagon, its volume can directly compete with the trunk of such full-sized models as VW Sharan or even Mercedes V-class. If you fold the rear seats, then a couple of bicycles, or even a motorcycle! True, the large volume of the luggage compartment does not mean that such a car can be used for cargo transportation: firstly, it was originally intended to install additional chairs, and secondly, this is still not a commercial minibus and not even a full-size minivan. In the end, do not forget that the PEUGEOT 307 with a station wagon is still a passenger car, and not a mini- and not even Mikroven.
 
Until now, I was convinced that the best compromise between the passenger universal and Van is Honda Stream, but after the test of the universal 307th, this is not there. After the 307th with its spacious air interior, soft suspension and excellent handling of any minivan, even very well charged, it will certainly be felt like a bus: the dimensions are far from the same to be stepped in a dense city stream, and landing behind them In most cases, there is completely bus - with a horizontally located steering wheel and a straight back of the seat. Again, most minivans have a very specific suspension. Due to the high center of gravity, in the hope of avoiding large rolls in corners, the designers make the suspension hard enough, which is why no minivan can compare in the smoothness of the passage with the car. We don’t talk about the dimensions at all: only five -seater universals of increased capacity like Suzuki Liana can boast more or less normal in urban conditions in urban conditions, but the possibilities of transforming the salon of such cars are almost zero. She simply is not there, this possibility of transformation. The maximum that can be done is to fold the rear seats, which is possible in any hatchback and even in some sedans.
 
Now do you understand what is so unique to PEUGEOT 307 SW? With external dimensions, maneuverability and dynamism of a car, which, in fact, is, the 307th station wagon has the possibilities that surpass some compact minivans, and at the same time it is again at the level of a well-equipped small middle class car.
 
However, you can talk about the advantages of this machine for an arbitrarily long time. However, few of the buyers who already choose a small middle class sedan will really turn their eyes to this station wagon. And this happens due to the fact that most of us, no matter how regrettable to report this, still do not realize the advantages that such a car can give. Indeed, in addition to additional passenger places, the need for which is far from always, the Peugeot 307 SW can please with pleasant trifles, for example, a transparent top, which in itself is still unique. In addition, the machine has an excellent design and no less worthy running qualities. And if you are initially looking for a seven -seater car, while quite inexpensive and beautiful, then you simply will not have other options - all competitors are much more expensive, and most of them are minivans. You are about the fact that you drive a seven -seater car, you will recall, given only the radius of the turn, which is slightly larger than that of the base model, and in everything else, SW is the usual 307th, only a little more comfortable. And the price of this car, which is not very different from the cost of the basic version, can also probably contribute to the decision of the right decision when buying a car. In the end, what is still needed from the car, if almost everything in it, including climate control, airbegs, cast discs and other excesses, while he is still the owner of the title of the car of the year, and in itself is simply incredibly beautiful. Such a combination of qualities is very rare today, so it can already be assumed in advance that in the very near future, as soon as the mass sales of the station wagons of this model begin, on the streets of our city they will meet as often as ordinary Peugeot 307 ...
 
(+) Spacious interior, good accelerated dynamics, high smoothness, the possibility of transformation of the cabin, separate chairs of the middle row with the possibility of longitudinal adjustment, transparent top with electric drive.
 
(-) A steering wheel of large diameter with a thin rim, a small right mirror.
 
Text: Pavel Kozlovsky
 

Source: Auto -Gazeta / N 20 (366) dated 05.06.02