Test Drive Peugeot 307 5 Doors 2005 - 2008 Hatchback

Still, they are together

Choosing a car for our duel heading to someone may seem strange. Well, it would seem common in Peugeot-307 and Citroen-Xara Picasso, except parent - PSA concern? Peugeot - novice, Citroen has been produced for two years. The 307th is a classic representative of the golf class, Picasso - Neophyte from the newly appeared by the compact representative clan. Even the price of two cars varies somewhat. How to compare them?
Find similarity
The wheels are equally row. At least this thesis is no doubt. But the rest of Citroen is one hundred percent minivan. Big, round, even some awkward. However, it is worth coming closer, and Picasso no longer seems like a fighter battle on high heels. It may, and slightly higher than many Hatchbacks of the Class C, but in length easily fit into the averaged standard. But the main thing is that the eccentric appearance does not seem to be a bus. Not at all. Egg-shaped body - biodide on march! - gives the car quite tangible animation. Which only emphasize the front headlights - as if cute playful eyes, good, but not embarking.
Peugeot, on the contrary, strict and solid. The recognizable and not defiantly daring, stylish, but not plowing the latest pisculations of fashion, compact and ... but not so compact! The 307th close to it seems much more than it seemed at first. As if the body was inflated with compressed air, pre-clogged all the holes. So he was heard. He is high, very high, almost as high as Picasso. Perhaps, that is why it seemed to me that with some points of view as if the 307th attacked on the chicks is easy to adopt for the one-compound minivan. Don't you think so? And I noticed that by the convenience of the release of Peugeot, as Galanten, as is Citroen. He does not force you to bend, helping to keep self-esteem. It affects an increase in one and a half meters.
 
Strict and excellent readable dashboard Peugeot lack originality.

Digital table of Citroen, perhaps even overhead. It is a pity that there was no place for the tachometer
      
   
The central consoles of two French cars are impossible to confuse even despite the exact same climate control panels

    
What how much
Official providers of Citroen in Russia in most cases will be brought to Ksaru-Picasso in one, most complete configuration. Therefore, let you do not scare the starting price of $ 18,900. So much is a fully packaged machine with a plug-in 115-strong 1.8-liter engine. You can only decide on the color - everything else on your Picasso has already been installed at the plant in Spanish Vigo, the only place in the world where this car is produced. Power steering, four airbags, climate control, remote control with central locking, immobilizer, on-board computer, heated mirrors and seats, front electric windows, CD player with six speakers, fog lights, light alloy wheels. There is not enough automatic gearbox and leather. Machine on Picasso is not installed at all. But you can order a leather interior or a soft waterproof hatch in the entire roof. Although the last in the context of the Russian winter does not seem reasonable.
 
  Peugeot delegers also try to import cars repaired, but no one will prevent you from ordering the basic version of XR. Then the five-dimmer with a 1.6-liter 109-strong motor will cost $ 13,850. (Buying the 307th with an engine 1.4 liters we do not recommend.) And the budget of your choice is not evident for others. XR includes two pillows, ABS, a break-assist, fog, folding rear sofa, adjustable in height and angle of inclination steering wheel with a hydraulic. Of the really necessary bells, it is worth upset for air conditioning ($ 815), branded alarm ($ 330) and side pillows with inflatable curtains ($ 370). But if you are very afraid, you can get a complete set of XT, which in a set with the Tittronic-Porsche machine pulls at $ 18,190. Add alloy wheels, electrical, CD changer blampunct, and up to 20,000.
It remains to add that three-year-old (or 100 thousand km run) is distributed on all Peugeot and Citroen).
Regress and Progress
But barely when the steering wheel of the 307th, I threw off all suspicions in its similarity with the minivan. Even a short trip delivers a lot of pleasure! After all, it is so great when with an unfamiliar car on you from the first meters of the road. 307th exactly the same. The clutch move is close to the ideal, the moves of the box lever are light and clear, the steering wheel, in one point of which confidence and solidity is read, pour a good portion of reactive efforts - thanks to the electrohydrocellor! - And so encircles to enter the cut cut.
At the same time, the spring rear suspension - Peugeot engineers finally abandoned favorite torsion - ensures a very good smoothness of the course and perfectly holds the road. However, the supervision of the supervision of the body is to blame.
It pleases that even the most powerful version is equipped with rear disk brakes. Great. True, some of the connoisseurs of active ride, replanting with a seven of Peugeot-306, coming out from the steering wheel with a sour mine - boring. Do not hurt anything - the new Peugeot became longer, above, heavier than the predecessor. Therefore, the 1.6-liter gasoline engine capacity is 110 liters. With., which turns, say, the 206th in a pocket rocket, at 307th just a motor. Empty downstairs, with a good pickup of about 4000 rpm. There would be a 2.0-liter 136-strong, and even better 2.2 HDI, which is drawn on Nizakh that electric locomotive.
   
Interior Picasso Typically French: Light Tones, a large area of \u200b\u200bglazing, and more pockets, cup holders, even folding tables
         
Strict and dark interior decoration of the 307th confirms that Peugeot is equal to German competitors and primarily on Volkswagen
Dreams, dreams ... This diesel is still placed only on large models 406 and 607. However, even despite some inertia of the motor transplanted in Citroen, I without much enthusiasm. What can be expensive on the road from such a minibus? ..
Well, it is: a vertical gap fitting, rendered on the central console of the gear lever. Only checkers remain on board, they say, route taxi. Yes, and the Picasso rides in a different way, not so excitely as Peugeot. Especially the difference is noticeable in turns - where the delac is as if it seems on the rails, Citroen is already noticeably cubed and, having a ripple, begins to straighten the trajectory. The high center of gravity worsens handling - this is an axiom.
However, to be fully honest, then it is almost the only one in the driving qualities of a double chevron. Otherwise, everything is quite at the level. The steering wheel of our minibus is spinning if not one, then with two fingers - for sure. Geese pedals, short progress, clear shifting gear lever - all this produces, let's say so, a very easy impression. It is a pity that the rear brakes drum. In most life situations, their effectiveness, I am sure it will be more than enough. But sharply reflecting from 150, you can and regret the absence of disks. But the 1.8-liter row four is 115 liters. with. According to the subjective sensations, the 109-strong one and six Peugeot is lucky. At least the bottom of this engine is clearly treated. In short, progress is obvious. Ten years ago, about such dynamics and behavior on the road, say, Karavella or Espas, and did not dream.
Charming furniture self-delivery
But the Citroen should, no, no small loss in the undercarriage qualities, is even obliged to compensate for carrying capacity. Of course, it happened.
Moreover, the 307th for his trunk there is nothing to be ashamed. 340 liters - hardly the best indicator among golf class hatchbacks, focus, asters and golf, for example, the result is more compromised. But the transformation options are the most ordinary. You can fold the rear row of seats in whole or in part. But only. But in Picasso
Let's go, let's go what I'll show you! - he pulled me for a sleeve shining, like a new five-tag, photographer. Yes, I am impressive, in fact. Two huge Baula with cameras, lenses and other photographs Plus a massive tripod and three lamps on tripods - all this farm took hardly half the standard picasso trunk. But this is just the beginning.
The main chip of the double chevron is that the seat can be removed at all from the cabin. Fastenings are made very conveniently - the child will figure out. True, in order to drag the chairs in the garage, dad still have to call - they are pretty heavy. But believe me, your efforts will not be in vain, the volume of the trunk (it is in the minimum variant exceeds the shelter) will increase almost four times. The headsets of the generals of Popova, maybe it does not fit entirely, but the kitchen in the country's self-making is no problem. And on the money saved, however, I do not teach you.
 
    
Maxibum on minivans
It is difficult to believe in this, but until 1996 in Europe and did not know what compact holds. Renault Megan-Scenic Class Openman is unexpected for everyone, including its creators, made a real revolution. In just five years, the share in the M1 segment (he is golf, it is C-class) rose from scratch to 8.4%. At the same time, more conservative hatchbacks and classic sedans lost as much as seven percent. In addition to Renault and Citroen, Opel, Fiat, Honda, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Suzuki included in the struggle for the new market. Completely will soon appear on the Peugeot-307, Ford Focus, as well as golf.

Cathed in Troych
But the single-visuous body of Picasso is not in vain proudly referred to as the cargo-passenger. And your fellow travelers will not regret what we went on a journey on this Citroen. The individual armchairs of the rear row without any discounts are taken into their arms of three adults. And how much space above your head! Not that in these close Hatchbacks of the golf class, thunder. After all, both the driver and front passenger can live in the literal sense without removing the hats. Yes, and the comfort of the location in the rear sofa in the 307th at the level - at least throw on the leg to the leg. And only the central tunnel does not allow you to call the sofa Peugeot is really triple. Surprise, surprise ... Although it probably should be, given the increased dimensions of the car.
 
Bag-cart for the supermarket in the trunk of Citroen is not so much comfortable as a stylish thing
     
   
Spacious and deep Peugeot trunk one of the most accommodating in class with
 
Ice and flame
But in the Salon Peugeot remained faithful to its conservative style.
The 307th classically strict and elegant. Large, well-readable devices, high-quality plastic, polished by adjustments of the seat, which have become hard-German hard, original finish under aluminum. In general, a very rainbow look. In which if you are not annoyed, at least you do not please only two things. First, plastic, for example, at the bottom of the torpedo (that is, where he is not striking), not too pleasant to the touch and clearly budget. And, perhaps, the Swabian traits are too clearly in the style of the salon. Or we just seem?
No, perhaps, does not seem. After all, Citroen is individual to extremes. Located in the center, the digital tidy has already become an object to follow and, although it has its own shortcomings - the absence of a tachometer, small indicators - in general it looks cool. Like the entire salon with plush seats.
However, with all the differences in the salons of Citroen and Peugeot there are some elusive similarities. So comfortable and cozy became the interior of the first and incredibly spacious - the second salon.

Moment of truth
But they are in fact very similar, these seemingly different cars. Remember the tall body of Peugeot, with some points of view perceived by almost minivan, the convenience of landing and spacious salons of both machines, quite light controllability of Citroen ... Like the secondary brothers, in which the genes of one of the common ancestors were manifested, these siblings of one French family are very similar to The essence and differ only in the details. That is why, sure for many decisive can be trivia like stylish design of headlights, more pleasant upholstery or loyalty to the brand. Yes, a marked more spacious trunk of Citroen - Plus, not ephemeral. But for someone, the appearance of Peugeot-307 is renovated for someone else. Immediately the price is also plays the price. The 307th in a similar configuration will be a couple of thousand cheaper Citroen.
So, they are all the same! That is why we have reduced two such different at first sight of the car - it turned out that they were practically classmates. After all, Picasso is not a minibus, but a full-fledged car.
And Peugeot broke out beyond the traditional Golf Class hatchback - it is much more than the usual car. But it will be interesting to see what the French minivan engineers are seen on the basis of the 307th, which will appear very soon.
 
The 115-strong row fourth of Picasso pleases a good burden of almost the lowest. Not surprisingly, the same engine is installed and for noticeably heavier sedans of C5 and 406 models
    
 
The 1.6-liter 16-valve generally copes with heavy Peugeot. However, less powerful versions of the 307th arrange except that phlegmatic natur

 
 
Citroen-Ksara Picasso
 
Per
Very spacious interior
spacious trunk with enormous transformation capabilities,
easy landing, good assembly quality,
direct engine
Against
Ambiguous appearance, rear drum brakes
 
   
Peugeot-307.
 
Per
Very spacious interior
good build quality,
competitive price
reliable and understandable handling,
attractive appearance
easy landing
 
Against
Devoid of aggression character
insufficient engine power (1.4),
limited interior transformation capabilities
 
Mikhail Medvedev, photo Maxim Goncharov
 

A source: Limousine magazine [01-02 / 02]