Peugeot 107 Review

Review

Built as part of a joint venture between PSA and Toyota, the Peugeot 107 is part of a trio of similarly looking and similarly equipped cars alongside the Citroen C1 and the Toyota Aygo. With only the body shapes, minor interior tweaks and the badges different on all three, you could say that they are all the same.

But out of the three, the Peugeot has been historically the most desirable model, thanks mainly to its funky looks and offers put on by Peugeot when it was on sale in the showroom.

Since coming out of production in 2014, the 107 has performed admirably on the used car market, although its sister vehicles have continued to be in production with both of their second generations released in 2014 alongside the 107’s replacement, the 108.

With this useful city car now available only on used car forecourts, it may not be as desirable as it once was, but it can still be a great option for first-time drivers and those who want a cheap and cheerful run-about.

Latest Model

Having only been in production for one generation, the latest version of the 107 was the facelifted model from 2012, which refreshed the overall look of the car without changing what was under the bonnet or really updating the interior look and feel.

As it was sold as an affordable city car, the interior finish could be seen as quite spartan and is fitted with a CD player, cloth seat trim and steel wheels, only offering the bare essentials.

The facelift, however, gave the 107 a fresh look – as the original model had been in showrooms since 2005 – and with the more modern appearance, it continued to be a great new option in the supermini market.

What also draws people in with the model is its fun driving feel – which can be much firmer and jigglier on the open road – and peppy 1.0-litre petrol engine that gives a go-kart feel to the supermini.

Value for money

As the 107 has been out of production for some time now, you can find top spec models for very reasonable prices, and as they weren’t exactly expensive from the outset, expect prices for the best models to be little more than £6,000. Special edition models, such as the Envy version, and the final top spec model, the Allure, are available with a decent amount of accessories considering the price point of the 107.

One example is a three-door Envy model with Bluetooth, half leather/alcantara interior trim, daytime running lights and rear privacy glass, which is available for £5,295. Having only done 5,598 miles since it was bought, this white version of the 107 is a good example of what you can get for a reasonable price.

In Allure trim, good quality examples can cost between £6,000 and £6,500. One example is available for £6,200, and that includes Bluetooth, leather steering wheel, front fog lights and traction control, and with only 9,850 miles on the clock of this 2014 model, it is in good condition with only minor cosmetic defects.

Looks and image

The main appeal of the 107 – when compared to its siblings – was its funky exterior and interesting design for the interior, which made it a different option in the sometimes simple city car market. Following the update in 2012, the more modern design at the time gave the 107 an added appeal. However, since then the design has aged and might not be as attractive as more up-to-date city car offerings.

As it was built at a certain price point, the quality of the interior materials is lacking and the plastics can be scratchy and rough to the touch. Also the exposed metal of the body inside may not offer the right feel to some. The design, however, is quite cool, with the main central console laid out in cleverly and with simple to use controls. It has aged like the exterior though, which may detract from its overall appeal.

To drive around town, the 107’s steering and controls have a light feel to help keep you nipping about reasonably well, although the ride can feel a bit firm. On the open road, refinement is lacking as at higher speeds wind noise and bumps in the road are very noticeable, meaning a less pleasant driving experience.

Space and practicality

As a city car, don’t expect huge amounts of space, and with head and legroom limited in the rear seats, it isn’t the best car for taller people. The boot space is very small indeed and is only accessed through the glass-panelled boot, which has a sometimes impractically high lip. For any substantial loads it’s best to fold the 50/50 split rear seats down, meaning you have to sacrifice space for passengers.

When the latest model was tested by Euro NCAP in 2012 the 107 gained a three-star rating, although since then the legislation for some categories have changed, meaning it does lack assistance systems. With 68 per cent on adult occupant rating and 53 per cent on pedestrian rating, the 107 is fine, however newer rivals will be much safer overall.

With the choice between three and five-door models, the accessibility to the 107 can still feel awkward. As mentioned before, the boot lip is too high in some circumstances and getting into the back seat for larger people can be a struggle, even with the five-door version. The five-door is much more practical for those fitting child seats thanks to the wider opening.

Engines

Only one unit was fitted to the 107 – a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine that produced 68bhp and got the car up to 60mph in 12.3 seconds with the last version. It was paired with either a five-speed manual or the much rarer five-speed automatic transmission, and helped to return in excess of 50mpg. The auto can offer a smoother drive for some, but in terms of efficiency and economy the manual offers a much better experience, as well as being faster to 60.

Running costs

Thanks to its size, engine and fuel efficiency, the Peugeot 107 is a cheap model to keep a hold of, and with low insurance and road tax costs as well, it is ideal for the city environment and those looking for an easy-to-maintain vehicle.

With all models of the 107 fitting between insurance group 3 and 5, it is exceptionally cheap to keep and with road tax at £20 per year, you won’t pay much to have it on the road either. Fuel economy figures of over 50mpg is more than attainable and with a quoted mpg of 61, you can see that the 107 is fuel-sipping car rather than a gas-guzzler. 

Things to look out for

As it was built by Toyota, reliability of the 107 is rather good considering the Peugeot badge on the bonnet, which doesn’t usually instil confidence in owners and prospective buyers. Minor faults have crept in, such as with accelerator pedal failing to return to idle and engine failures due to con-rod bearing shells failing, which could have severely affected the vehicle’s performance.

Although the numbers of those affected by faults such as these were relatively small, it is always worth checking the car’s history and getting a full check-up before purchasing a used model.

Rivals

Due to the age of the vehicle, it is unlikely to challenge the safer and more modern city cars that have come out since 2014, such as the VW Group selection of the VW up!, the Seat Mii and Skoda’s Citigo, as well as Peugeot’s own new supermini and 107 replacement – the 108. Yes, it may not be as attractive as it once was and the interior design and features have aged significantly in the short space of time since it was pulled, but as a cheaper and reliable runabout in the used market it can be considered as a good first car – thanks to its low running costs and insurance.

Depreciation warning

Thanks to their reliability and build quality, the 107 performs well on to used car market, with high spec holding between 45 to 50 per cent of their value. Although, to get the most out of the models it is best to make sure that the car is in good condition and with a decent level of specification, otherwise lower trim models may seriously suffer due to their sparse interior. Five door models also perform better than the three-door variant.