It’s been the funkiest small car on the block since its local introduction late 2006, but automotive fashions change. That’s why Peugeot Motors South Africa has introduced an updated version of the 107, refreshing an already appealing and distinctive visage while adding value.
What hasn’t changed is the spunky character of a car which is still the ideal choice for the young family or the unattached individual who want a truly compact city car which is also capable of carrying four occupants in safety on the open road. It continues to provide a modern yet affordable solution to the motoring needs of buyers who are both fashion- and value-conscious, with the target market being between 18 and 28 years of age, with a slight leaning towards female buyers. Another grouping - namely more mature buyers wanting a user-friendly and efficient suburban runabout – has also been identified.
The market in which the 107 competes – the B1 segment – continues to grow and in Europe accounted for over 1.1 million units last year compared to 800 000 just four years ago. The 107 is a responsible and considerate performer and just 106 grams of the greenhouse gas is emitted per kilometre, while overall fuel consumption is an exceptionally low 4.5 litres per 100 km.
The three-cylinder 1.0-litre petrol powerplant (a remarkably lightweight unit at just 67 kilograms) is unchanged at 50 kW and 93Nm and delivers sprightly performance thanks to four valves per cylinder and variable valve timing on the inlet camshaft. Gear ratios have been selected with the focus on providing instant acceleration in the stop/start conditions which are this car’s forte. And it now does so less intrusively thanks to improved sound deadening and re-tuned engine acoustics in the low and medium frequency ranges.
Like the headline numbers of the engine and the ratios of the five-speed box which send torque to the front wheels, all dimensions are unchanged: the 107 measures just 3.43 metres from bumper to bumper, the front overhang is just 65 cm and that at the back a tiny 44 cm. The wheelbase is a surprisingly generous 2.34 metres and with the intelligent packaging of the mechanical components, the cabin space exceeds expectations.
While it retains Peugeot’s characteristic youthful, feline face expressed in the large air intake and elongated almond-shaped headlamps, there’s now a more mature look and feel. A bold chrome bumper band now divides the reshaped intake aperture, which has a more sporty design thanks to the mesh grille insert. It repositions the number plate in the lower section, like other Peugeot range models, and features a redesign of the contours of an air intake now featuring a cross-link grille.
The silhouette is still characterised by a dynamic profile, with the size of the rear windows optimised to create an airy interior. The rear doors extend all the way to the C-pillars, to actually meet the high-mounted lights. The blacked-out B-pillars and the tinted windows visually lower the roofline.
The rear view is visually unchanged, with three-dimensional, bubble-shaped tail lights mounted high up and flanking the fifth door. The pert rump and miniscule rear overhang, with a high density black plastic protective strip incorporated into a colour-coded bumper, remains unchanged.
Loading and unloading is now easier though thanks to the opening height of the all-glass tailgate being increased.
Interior changes are minimal but owners of the previous generation version will notice the improved markings for the ventilation and air conditioning: temperature and air direction settings are now easier to read at a glance.
All 107 will have a list of safety and security features with dual airbags, electrically-assisted power steering, electric front windows, anti-lock brakes with EBD, rear wiper, a full-sized spare wheel, tuner/CD with Aux input, and air conditioner.
The updated 107 is priced at R124 900 - a figure which will put buyers behind the steering wheel of a car which boasts a modern design, high levels of active and passive safety, all the features a motorist really needs, and a surprising amount of space for four occupants.