Peugeot 207 SW estate (2007-2013)

The Peugeot 207 SW is a supermini estate rival to the Renault Clio Sport Tourer and SEAT Ibiza ST. It features separate opening tailgate glass and a low 555mm sill height. The rear seats fold cleverly, too – you pull a single lever to create a flat 1,258-litre luggage bay. The 207 SW is better built than the old 206 SW, plus it feels secure on the road and has lots of safety kit. Diesel models don’t cost a lot to run; just steer clear of the cheapest petrol engines, as they’re underpowered and noisy.

The 1.6-litre HDi FAP diesel versions of the 207 SW are cheap to run, offering 64mpg fuel economy and emitting only 110g/km of CO2. Meanwhile, the petrol models promise to return around 40mpg on a long-distance motorway run. They won't be very economical most of the time, though.

There are few faults with the Peugeot’s driving experience. It has pleasing handling and a well judged ride, as well as accurate steering and a tight turning circle – and overall, it comes across as a very capable car. While the petrol engines are decent around town, they are a bit noisy. The HDi diesels are superb – quiet and responsive, with the 1.6-litre engines being linear, vibration-free and refined. The biggest downside is that all models suffer from a very vague gearshift.

The 207’s suspension offers plenty of comfort, but the system lacks the precision of the leading contenders in this market, such as the Ford Fiesta. On the move, the Peugeot is impressively quiet and refined for such a small estate car – road and wind noise are almost completely insulated from occupants in the cabin. The smaller petrol engines in the range create a bit of noise on the motorway, but that aside the 207 SW is a really easy car to live with from day to day.

The 337-litre capacity boot is well thought-out, offering load runners and six litres of shallow underfloor storage. A low sill height makes it easy to get bulky items in, too. The simple folding rear seat mechanism creates a flat 1,258-litre load area – ideal for carrying large dogs or flat pack furniture. There is more leg and headroom in the rear than in the standard hatchback, but it can feel cramped on longer journeys, especially for taller adults.

Reliability has been a weakness for the 207, with disappointing performances in our sister title Auto Express’s annual Driver Power satisfaction survey. The car hasn’t been through the latest Euro NCAP crash tests, but in the pre-2009 tests, it scored a strong five stars for adult occupant protection, four for child occupants and three for pedestrians. It has six airbags, anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control, as well as remote central locking, deadlocks and automatic locking when the car reaches 6mph.

There are better-value choices on the market than the 207, but it’s priced keenly against rivals from Renault and SEAT. Apart from the safety features, entry-level models aren’t exactly brimming with kit – they get electric front windows, a CD stereo and power-steering. It’s best to go for an SW in Active spec or higher; this adds air-conditioning, electric heated door mirrors, a trip computer, body-coloured door handles and curtain airbags. Resale values are slightly lower than the average in this class, although owners will still get a decent price when they sell on.