Peugeot 207 SW Outdoor (2007-2012) review

Driving
The Outdoor’s raised suspension hasn’t seriously affected the standard SW’s tidy handling. There is a little more body roll in tight corners, but the Outdoor is nevertheless nimble and involving. Badly rutted roads don’t pose a problem, either, with the smooth-riding 207 doing a good job of keeping its occupants comfortable. Front three-quarter visibility is also good – a useful safety aid. The 1.6-litre petrol engine is OK, but we prefer the 1.6-litre HDi turbodiesel. Out test 110 variant proved civilised and powerful, though the five-speed gearbox remains slack and sloppy.

Marketplace
Two things differentiate the Outdoor from a normal 207 SW. It rides higher, and there are chunky off-roader styling cues. The grey mouldings along the wheelarches, door bottoms and bumpers are very prominent, and the gaping grille isn’t the prettiest either, though the rear end looks good. Don’t be mistaken by the off-road looks though, for the Peugeot lacks four-wheel-drive. The real point of it is to provide a little more choice and fun for small estate car buyers. Skoda is clearly thinking along similar lines with its Roomster Scout variant. Peugeot offers just the single trim level comes with a choice of three engines – 120bhp 1.6-litre petrol, and a 1.6-litre HDi diesel in 90bhp and 110bhp guise.

Owning
Real thought has gone into the Outdoor’s luggage area. The tailgate glass opens separately, while loading heavy objects is simple as the sill is a low 545mm from the ground. Floor runners and a shallow lip make it easy to push boxes in, while tie hooks and a net mean your cargo won’t slide about (and there is an extra six litres of storage underneath the false floor). Folding the 70:30 slit seat is straightforward, though you have to remove the flimsy parcel shelf and ceiling-mounted luggage retaining net first. However, occupants will feel short-changed for space. If a six-foot driver sets the seat for them, rear passengers will find themselves squashed, while the footwell is cramped with no clutch footrest. Build quality doesn’t feel as sturdy as it should, either – though the Outdoor is very well-equipped. The full-length panoramic glass roof is also impressive. Retained values look good too, and the Outdoor proved reasonably economical in our hands – though the insurance ratings seem a touch high compared to rivals.