Car Reviews: Peugeot 307 2.0l

I bought a Peugeot 307 2.0l petrol hatch-back in late 2002, when i came back to Canberra, Australia, where I live, after a six-month world excursion. In Portugal, I rented a 106 with my then-partner and her two teenagers and we drove around Lisbon and the Silver Coast for a couple of weeks - but that alone might be another article!

We needed a car that would be reliable, efficient, comfortable for the family to tour in and capable of acting as a bit of a work-horse for our fledgling part-time photographic business. It had to look smart, as a business image and we wanted to be treated to some liveable features.

What sold us on this car? It consumes fuel efficiently, down to just over 7.5l of fuel per 100km on tour and usually just above 8l as an average. The hatch is a versatile size, with the rear seats folding down to quadruple the useable space. Even in seat-up mode, the back easily carried our large camera cases, tripods and other equipment securely, and visually safely, which feature a station wagon (estate) doesn't have. This was important, sometimes leaving valuable equipment in the parked vehicle, we knew it would be seen, snatched and grabbed.

Sitting in the driver's seat first time was a pleasure. The features of the car's controls are both manifold and in easy reach and user-friendly operation. The stereo is a standard five stack stylishly designed into the centre of the dash, in addition to the single disc and radio, all controlled with the fingertips while steering and watching the road! There were other catchy features that made this vehicle stand out among others we considered (a Citroen, a Subaru and a Mitsubishi were the main contenders with a re-acquisition of an Opel Vectra we'd sold to go away, but were looking for a change. Actually, if the Peugeot didn't exist, I'd have one again now). These were the automatic lights, that have a sensor to turn them on when the outside ambient light drops below a certain level. A car with an in-built light meter was enticing for a photographer! And the automatic wipers that sense, 'it's raining now, i'll pop myself on' were delightful.

Overall, the build is good, inside and out. The car looks quite awkward at some angles, then looks quite beautiful at others - I find this chameleon-quality endearing. Inside, the finish is excellent, a feature I found lacking in the competition, for the price. The doors shut easily, with an assured 'thud' and the seats are comfortable putting

me in a good driving position I am happy enough to drive in for six straight hours - which is how long the fuel lasts on the journey along open highway from Canberra to Melbourne, a journey I've done several times. At the end, I get out fresh and ready to party!

It's driveability is very good - the front-wheel drive car pretty much goes where you point it. It handles winding roads well; it's rally pedigree becomes obvious when you push it. As a motorcyclist, I appreciate that more than my partner did - she often reminded me we weren't actually in a rally... Yet it is easy to drive in traffic, the gearing well spaced and the clutch light and smooth. I have a manual, five speed and it pulls from very low revs, or responds well with a few more revs to get into those gaps. Me, I tend to drive a bit more austerely than when I was young, but the pug is a delight to drive at either end of the spectrum.

I've leased this almost five years now, and time is soon up. I have to replace the car with a new lease or buy the car from my leasing company. I think I'll get the new 307 2.0l diesel turbo - I've got a test drive coming up soon and haven't looked anywhere else. Similar performance, features and even more miserly on fuel. Hey, I'm only going to buy one for the sake of the planet...