Peugeot 207

Just like the three-door 207 driven in Issue 902, this new five-door impresses. Bigger than a traditional supermini, it has enough space for most families' needs. It will be worth holding on for the fresh petrol engines, but the more practical 207 is a fine addition to Peugeot's range nevertheless.

How much space do you need to transport your family? While a full-sized people carrier might seem tempting, many small hatches now offer the versatility to meet the needs of even the most demanding buyers.

Last week, we put the three-door version of Peugeot's long-awaited new 207 through its paces, and now we've got behind the wheel of the more practical five-door. No matter the bodystyle, two things about the 207 are immediately striking - its size and its similarity to the 206. The newcomer has similar dimensions to the old 306, and is big enough to take five adults.

There is loads of rear legroom for a supermini, while the softly cushioned bench is very comfortable. Six-footers will struggle for headroom, and the pinched window line cuts into shoulder space, but you'll get few complaints from those in the back. Boasting an identical load bay to the three-door, this variant offers a decent boot with a flat floor. The seats split 60/40, but there are no clever sliding features such as those found on some rivals.

On the road, the five-door is just as good to drive as the sportier three-door. Our SE lacked the stiffer suspension of Sport variants, but still gave a great mix of ride comfort and sharp handling. Turn into a corner at speed and the 207's wide track and lengthy wheelbase provide plenty of stability. Meanwhile, the steering is both well weighted and accurate.

Buying a model with rear doors will add around £500 when the 207 arrives in June. Unfortunately, the line-up doesn't get the 1.6-litre petrol units, developed with BMW, until September. For now, the five-door has to make do with older engines - and we would advise those considering any petrol 207 to wait.