The Peugeot 307 came on the scene back in 2001 when it replaced the outgoing Peugeot 306. It came with quite a few upgrades and has been a fairly popular car since. The 307 was also succeeded by the 308 with came out in 2009 and pushed the Peugeot “300” series of cars into the 2010s. So, is Peugeot 307 a good car?
The Peugeot 307 is indeed a really good car as is affordable to buy, affordable to own, and affordable to repair if something goes wrong. The engines on offer are relatively good as far as efficiency and power are concerned while the overall driving experience is nothing to brag home about. Be that as it may, this is more or less the standard for all cars from this segment, except for hot hatchback versions.
The exterior design of the 307 has aged relatively well which means that it does not look as old as it is. Even though it may not look dated, one can argue that it does not look all that attractive. The interior is basic, but the ergonomics are really good and the car is really easy to understand.
Reliability is okay for the most part, but many of these have been abused over the years by owners who don’t pay too much attention to maintenance and longevity. Lastly, we also need to talk about value and practicality. Value-wise, the 307 is excellent as it offers a lot of the car for not all that much money. Practicality is okay for the class, but not overly spacious for tall drivers.
Peugeot 307 – The Powertrain
The engine palette with the Peugeot 307 is really extensive. The gasoline engines measure from 1.6 to 2.0L in displacement while the number of cylinders is limited to 4 cylinders. The 1.6L comes in two variants, one offers 110hp while the other offers 136hp. The 2.0L engine pushes out 140hp and all of these are equipped with a FWD system.
The diesels of offer also measure either 1.6L or 2.0L in displacement and all are 4-cylinders. The entry-level 1.6L offers 90hp while top-spec 1.6L versions offer 110hp. These are also limited to FWD. As far as the transmission is concerned, a 5-speed manual is a standard while a 4-speed automatic is available as an option.
Efficiency-wise, you can expect to get between 27 and 32MPG from gasoline engines while diesel engines offer between 42MPG and 50MPG. All in all, the powertrain palette with the 307 is adequate, but the 307 would be a lot better overall if Peugeot offered it in a more performance-oriented trim level with a more powerful engine.
Peugeot 307 – Design and Driving
The Peugeot 307 was never particularly revered for its exterior design which makes all the sense in the world as 2000s Peugeot models mostly look bland and too ordinary except for a few notable coupes. The interior design is also nothing special, but it does come with great ergonomics and a decent amount of seating space.
The driving experience is also fairly ordinary and in line with what you’d expect from a hatchback. The 307 drives fairly monotonously, but arguably that is by design. It is a decently comfortable and enjoyable car even though it lacks sound deadening and does not come with the world’s comfiest seats.
Peugeot 307 – Reliability and Common Issues
As far as reliability is concerned, the 307 is okay, but it does suffer from a variety of issues. The engine department is known to experience belt squeaking and problems with diesel filters. Electrical issues are also common and are mostly attacking the car’s power windows and power lock door actuators. The steering column stalks are fragile while the driveshaft is prone to fracturing.
Moreover, we also need to mention potential issues with excessive interior wear and tear and suspension bushings. All in all, the 307 can last a long time if maintained properly, but the reality is that many of these are constantly being ignored in the maintenance department.
Peugeot 307 – Value and Practicality
The values of these have dropped considerably over the past few years which now makes them bargain material. However, this also means that many of these are being neglected by their owners which leaves you with cheap, high-mileage problematic cars or those with fewer miles, but a much higher price tag.
The practicality is okay. The trunk could be a bit bigger while overall visibility, access, and trunk space are decent.
FAQ Section
Why did Peugeot stop making the 307?
Peugeot never stopped producing the 307 as the 308 is basically a more modern version of the 307. Peugeot isn’t overly bogged down with maintaining the same model name for consecutive models which is usually the case with all Peugeot cars.
This means that the 307 can be viewed as the “300” series of Peugeot compact hatchbacks, all of which are similar in size, practicality, and engine choices.
Is Peugeot 307 fast?
Not really, at least not from a performance car point of view. However, we do need to mention that the 140hp 2-liter 16v inline 4-cylinder gasoline engine does accelerate to 60mph in under 9 seconds which is indeed fast by Peugeot standards. The maximum speed is rated 127mph which also isn’t shabby at all.
This is arguably one of the biggest problems with the 307, the lack of excitement. Most automakers these days that offer similarly-sized hatchbacks offer performance variants as well. A great example of these would be the Megane/Clio RS, the Golf R/GTI, or the Honda Civic Type R.
Is the Peugeot 307 a good first car?
The Peugeot 307 is a good car for someone who is only starting out because it is compact, easy to understand, cheap to run, and cheap to buy. It offers enough storage for multiple people and is relatively efficient. Granted, it might be a bit boring to some, but it has all the ingredients for someone who is just starting to learn how to drive.
If you damage it, you will not have to pay all that much money to repair it. It is also cheap to insure while spare parts are easy to find and affordable.
