PEUGEOT 307 Test drive 5 doors 2001 - 2005 hatchback

Leo jumped!

The release of the new model, especially if this is the heir to the extremely popular car around the world, and even bearing a very famous surname, is always an exam for everyone who took part in its development. So for the famous French company Peugeot, which has long been a manufacturer of the most elegant cars, replacing the model 306, representing a company in a small middle class, has become a real exam. After all, after the debut of magnificent models of 406 and 607, the French simply could not afford to start a regular car into production. Successful sales of models of all classes, starting from the baby 206 to the commercial Partner, not only clearly demonstrated that French cars can fight German and Japanese models on equal terms, but also showed that the company has great potential in the development of commercially successful models. That is why elite troops were thrown to develop the successor of the 306th, and their goal was alone - to create something special. It was already known that the novelty would wear index 307 and should become the best in its class! Naturally, French designers approached this task with originality inherent only by this nation. The result of this work, the latest Peugeot 307, you could already see at the 2001 motor show.
 
I must say that from the very beginning, despite the unusual appearance and many innovations, the Peugeot 307 was very ambiguously adopted by the public. Yes, the car is unusual and beautiful, many agreed, but most worried more about: can Peugeot 307 be able to compete with other small -class models, and even more, to lead in it? The newcomer from the very beginning submitted very serious applications for success and even smashed to the fluff of competitors in comparative tests, but he could not prove his leadership yet. And here he is, well -deserved success - it has recently been known that Peugeot 307 won a prestigious European title of a car of the year 2002!
 
In order for you to understand how hard this victory was the lion cub, we can transfer other applicants for this title. The PEUGEOT 307 tried to deal with such faces as the latest BMW 7, the prestigious Jaguar X-Type, Renault Laguna, Fiat Stilo, Honda Civic and many other no less worthy applicants. Each of these models, like Peugeot 307, is a symbiosis of the latest technical solutions. But the competent jury, I consist, recall, from automobile journalists of different countries, chose exactly the 307th.
 
So we decided to refresh our memories, and once again took Peugeot 307 for a test. True, unlike summer dough, when Siftrans kindly provided us with two cars with 1.6-liter engines at once, this time we took a car with a more powerful engine. So, get acquainted, Peugeot 307 2.0.
 
To date, the range of power units proposed for the PEUGEOT 307 has grown to five to three gasoline and two turbodiesel, 1.4- and 2.0-liter, with a direct injection system of HDI fuel. True, the latter is proposed in two versions. Depending on the version of Peugeot 307 2.0 HDI, it develops a power of 90 or 110 hp. But a 1.4-liter turbodiesel that develops a capacity of 70 hp is not yet sold. The basic option is a 1.4-liter 75-horsepower gasoline engine, and immediately followed by a 110-horsepower 1.6-liter version. And completes the picture of a 2.0 -liter motor, which develops 138 hp, and gives the car to the car almost like that of a sports compartment - acceleration from a place to a hundred at the Peugeot 307 2.0 takes 9.7 seconds, and the maximum speed is 205 km/ h. But it is quite possible that this will not be limited to this, so soon you can expect a successor in the GTI version.
 
Over the past few years, small middle-class cars, which include Peugeot 307, have passed the revolutionary development path. And if outwardly they remained almost the same, then technical changes can really be called a quiet revolution. And, perhaps, it was with the Peugeot 307 that this quiet revolution in this class of cars began. After all, only the French have managed to demonstrate to the whole world that even such a roomy and multifunctional car can be very beautiful. And the Peugeot 307 is really beautiful, and this despite the fact that its silhouette is now much closer to the same crews than to ordinary cars. If you look at the car on the side, it will be noticeable how unusual its silhouette is. You can even say that Peugeot 307 sets new standards in a small middle class - this is no longer a regular hatchback, but also not minivan. But it was precisely this feature of the 307th that allowed the creators to get an unusually spacious interior: with minimal external dimensions, Peugeot 307 exceeds other middle-class models in the reserve of internal space, not to mention the traditional models of small average, with which it directly competes. Due to the slightly more vertical planting and thorough study of the ergonomics of the internal space inside the Peugeot 307, it now resembles a limousine. By the way, an unusually large range of seats adjustments in height gives the driver the opportunity to choose which landing he likes more: as in Minivan or as in a regular hatchback. Sitting in the rear chair, the passenger barely reaches the back of the front seat. Yes, and it’s more convenient to sit down - you don’t fall into the car, as usual, but you almost go.
 
And the driver and the front passenger in this car are generally very free: the front windshield racks and wide doorways leaving far ahead greatly facilitate the planting process, and it turns out more spacious inside. For some reason, minivans immediately come to mind. But even given the fact that the Peugeot 307 has a very spacious salon, almost like microminovens that are now, compare a lion cub with models like Renault Scenic or Mazda Premacy is incorrect. After all, the 307th is a passenger car, although very spacious and comfortable, and microminovens are still closer to minibuses, although they are made on the basis of a conventional model. And this means that the single-volume competitors relating to microminovens will be, firstly, much more expensive, and secondly, they have far from passenger habits. A higher center of gravity makes them susceptible to road irregularities, and controllability will be worse. Another thing is Peugeot 307 - the French clearly dragged his suspension under active drivers, although it does not turn to call it tough.
 
Another trend that has recently appeared in this class: all modern models have very rich equipment even in the basic configuration. And Peugeot 307 in this sense is ahead of the planet. The basic equipment that has a designation XR includes many equipment, which is still supplied with other automakers only for surcharge. The new Peugeot 307 contains: the anti -lock brake system with electronic distribution of brake force and an emergency braking system, anterior airbags for the driver and front passenger, and the second pillow can be turned off using the key. There is also a central castle with remote control, an amplifier of a variable type, adjustable in height and length, steering column, immobilizer, front electric windows, asseric rear-view mirrors, tinted glasses, hydraulic circuit of the headlights, an irreplaceable alarm, an additional stop-signal, active headlines of the front Seats, a windshield wiper with an intermittent operating mode and even radio training. PEUGEOT 307 2.0 is supplied at least in the XS configuration, which means that in addition to all the above in the car there is a car radio with a control panel on a steering column, a driver’s seat adjustable in height, fog lights, side airbags, window pillows (inflatable curtains (inflatable curtains ), electric drive of external mirrors and cast 16-inch discs from a light alloy. There are many more bells and whistles that cannot be attributed either to standard or additional equipment, as these are just constructive zest of this car. We are talking about an emergency alarm, automatically included in emergency braking, a single multiplex tire that replaced all traditional wiring and significantly increased data processing speed. So, by purchasing a new Peugeot 307, you get not only modern, beautiful and very convenient, but also safe and well -equipped car. And besides, a proud title car of the year 2002!
 
Text: Pavel Kozlovsky
 

A source: Autogazet / N 40 (343) dated 05.12.01