Peugeot people carrier with good performance

Nov 17 2008 Peter Hayward

I HAVE found one of the best all round people carriers on the market - good looking and with enough performance for all eventualities - plus reasonable economy.

Peugeot's very good 807 already has a lot going for it but now it has been given the latest 170bhp version of the company's 2.2-litre turbo diesel.

This, plus a six speed gearbox, endows it with more than adequate performance when required and it will also average 35 miles per gallon in real driving.

The engine is remarkably quiet and gives almost immediate acceleration in the gears for lane changing and overtaking.

It is one of the better looking large MPVs to my eyes and has better handling and road holding than many of the others, with very little roll.

The level of grip is brilliant. Pushing it very hard, I did force it to lose grip but, firstly, most drivers are never going to get close to that speed in a corner and, secondly, when it did slide, it did so as safely as the best saloons.

Interior

This engine is only available, sadly, in the Executive at the top of the range, with leather upholstery and electric seats, electric rear doors, parking sensors front and rear and sat nav.

It comes with seven seats but the rear two are only big enough for kids and, if you need maximum space, all five rear seats have to be taken out, which is backbreaking.

FAST FACTS

Peugeot 807 Executive 2.2 HDi 170 FAP

Price : £27,695

Mechanical : 170bhp, 2,179cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving front wheels via 6spd manual gearbox

Max speed : 122mph

0-62mph : 11.7 secs

Combined mpg : 39.2

Insurance group : 14

CO2 emissions : 191g/km

BiK rating : 28%

Warranty : 3yrs/ 60,000 miles, 3yrs paint, 12yrs anti-rust

Marks : 9/10

Main rival : Ford S-Max