Peugeot 207 SW

The 207 SW has all the features you could want in an estate.

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On the road price: £11,745 - £14,845
For : Appealing, cost-effective, capable, very flexible
Against : Poor gearshift, rear passenger space still not class-leading

Driving
There are few faults with the driving experience. The Peugeot has a very pleasing ride and handling balance. It’s a confident performer, effortlessly carrying speed around corners and soaking up bumps with ease. It has accurate steering, a tight turning circle and comes across as a mature and capable car. While the petrol engines are a bit noisy, HDi diesels are excellent – quiet and responsive, the 1.6-litre units are linear, vibration-free, cultured and refined. Unfortunately, all models suffer a dismally sloppy gearshift.

Marketplace
The SW brings increased flexibility to the 207 range. It’s identical to the hatch up to the rear doors, where the metal sweeps up dramatically to form the C-pillars. The wraparound rear window cuts in under this, and is mirrored by the elongated tail lights. This has much in common with the larger 407 SW, and we also like the distinctive roof rails and panoramic glass roof – both of which come as standard. The supermini estate car sector is a small but growing one, with Renault’s Clio Sport Tourer being the latest to join the established Peugeot and its arch-rival, the Skoda Fabia estate. The MINI Clubman is also an alternative.

Owning
The SW is 119mm longer than the hatch, all of which has been added behind the rear wheels. A 337-litre capacity doesn’t sound particularly impressive, but the 207’s load space is as well thought out as that of many premium estates. There are boot runners, tie hooks, six litres of shallow underfloor storage, separate opening tailgate glass and a low 555mm sill height. Best of all is the rear seat mechanism – pull a single lever, and the backrest flips forward and the base lowers to create a flat 1,258-litre load area. The rear bench sits 20mm higher, while the raised roofline offers 24mm extra head clearance – partly addressing our criticisms of the 207’s modest passenger space. Up front, the huge windscreen and raked A-pillars create an impression of space, and the dashboard is well detailed. Running costs are competitive too, and the diesel returned nearly 50mpg in our hands during testing.