Peugeot 307 2006 review

Now the French firm has added a bigger, more powerful diesel to its 307.

Joining the 1.6-litre diesel in the five-model 307 range is the direct-injection turbo, 16-valve 2-litre XSE HDi.

Power is up 20kW to 100kW, but more important to the driveability and carrying capacity of the vehicle is the massive 80Nm increase in torque to 320Nm which is comparable with most large family sedans.

At 9.8 seconds, it is two seconds faster to 100km/h than the 1600cc diesel.

Despite the power and torque boost, fuel economy is not greatly affected. Around-town driving in the sedan increases fuel consumption from 6.1l/100km to 7.1 but highway driving is barely affected. The company claims just a .2l/100km increase.

And for the greenies, Peugeot also claims its HDi diesel technology reduces CO2 emissions by 20 per cent compared with a conventional diesel.

I recently had the Touring (wagon) model, which has ever-so-slightly higher fuel consumption figures.

But compared with my last drive in a 307 diesel wagon, this is almost a race car.

The engine has plenty of life, revving just a little higher than most other diesels.

Off the starting line, there is a strong pull with a slight turbo surge around 2000-2500rpm.

Yet neither the initial grunt nor the surge provoked more than a frail torque steer tug on the wheel, something other front-wheel-drive turbo-diesel manufacturers could learn from.

Fuel economy is aided by a tall sixth gear in the six-speed manual-only model which purrs along at a gentle 1800rpm at 100km/h. (An auto arrives later this year.)

You will, however, need to drop two gears if you want to overtake.

At idle there is the familiar diesel clatter which only BMW has been able to effectively dampen in the 530d. It's not calamitous in the cabin, but it will turn heads as people walking by think your engine is about to explode.

Once you feed it some revs, like all diesels, the noise disappears. The 307 is very quiet on the open road with minimal road, tyre or wind noise.

The streamlining also provides a huge panoramic windscreen. The only problem with that is that it cramps the engine bay.

Ride is on the plush side with a small amount of accompanying body roll, but little pitch and few unnerving cornering characteristics, although steering is a little soft and vague.

French cars are typically built for comfort and long legs. They are ideal for touring and this is no exception.

For a smallish car, the 307 Touring is quite big inside, especially the headroom, and could easily accommodate a family of five (or four adults) on long trips.

There remains some typically French quirkiness about the vehicle.

For example, the audio system is totally incomprehensible. There is nothing intuitive about it.

I'm sure with the correct instructions it would become easier, but the manual wasn't in the test car, so attempts to change radio stations, etc met with frustration and static.

The control and cruise control stalks are also fiddly with the up-volume control simply being faulty. The speedo shows 50, 70, 90 and 110km/h but not the major speed zones we have (60, 80, 100).

The auto wipers were also a nuisance, coming on in broad daylight on a fine day. I couldn't find the rear wiper although I stumbled on it accidentally then couldn't find it again later.

On the plus side, there is that panoramic windscreen, frugal economy, strong power, auto headlights, a chilled glovebox, auto up and down windows, a huge and flat-floored cargo area, and a full-size spare alloy wheel under the cargo floor, although it does live under the car and has to be laboriously wound down.

At $33,990, the Pug wagon makes an attractive alternative for anyone economising from a mid-sized car or SUV who still wants cargo-hauling touring ability. The hatchback is $32,290.