The Verdict: Peugeot 1007
The new Peugeot 1007 has innovative, electrically powered, doors. David Wilkins applauds this spirit of adventure but laments the effect they have on the layout and performance of the rest of the car
Published: 06 December 2005
Peugeot 1007: A clever opening gambit
Specifications
Model: Peugeot 1007 1.4HDi Dolce
Price: £11,550
Engine: 1.4-litre diesel
Performance: 0-62 mph in 15.4
seconds, 64.2 mpg
CO2: 115g/km
Worth considering:
Mini One D, Smart Fourfour 1.5CDi, Toyota Yaris Verso 1.4D
Peugeot has finally come up with an imaginative, small car that recaptures the spirit of past hits like the 205.
The trouble is, that car is the 107, a sister model of the Toyota Aygo featured in The Verdict last month, and this week, we are taking a look instead at Peugeot's other newish compact car, the 1007.
I have to admit that, even after several days of testing, I'm not sure I really know what to make of it. In terms of their names, the difference between the 107 and the 1007 is just a zero, but the two cars are poles apart in character.
Where the 107 is light and eager, the 1007 is heavy and serious - and the 1007 is pricier than the 107 too. Still, at least that means that Peugeot is providing some real choice at the crowded lower end of its range.
There aren't many 1007s on the road yet, so, if you're aware of this model at all, it's almost certainly because of the attention that its unusual, electrically-powered driver and passenger doors, have attracted. These are enormous, and slide back a long way, but you probably need to value the convenience they provide above everything else, because they seem to affect - perhaps even dictate - every other aspect of the 1007's design. From its massive sills to its upright shape, the whole car seems to be built around the need to accommodate those doors and their mechanisms.
I could tell you all about the 1007's "grown-up" feel for a small car, its refinement, its smooth if slow diesel engine and the surprising spaciousness conferred by its tall body. But at the end of the day it all boils down to what you think of those doors.
Are they worth it? I'm not too sure. I can't help thinking that if electric sliding doors were that worthwhile, they would already have appeared on, say, a Maybach, an expensive car stuffed with electric motors, which, unlike the 1007, is wide enough to cause real problems if you want to open the doors in a narrow space.
Buyers who aren't as strong or agile as they once were might find the powered doors a real boon, but would probably also appreciate motorised seat- and steering-column-adjustment - features that are commonly found on pricier cars and which were absent from our test 1007.
But let's at least give Peugeot credit for being bold enough to give us something different; other mass car-makers might risk a feature like electric sliding doors on a concept car, but they'd be far too timid to put it into production.
Steve Dyer, 38, IT consultant from Kent
USUAL CAR: SEAT
ALHAMBRA, TVR CHIMAERA
You can't fail to be impressed as the doors on this quirky-looking car slide open at the press of a button on the remote. The interior feels classy and modern with an MPV- like view through the large windscreen, although reaching the seat belt was not easy due to the wide opening. The car is well put together with no squeaks or rattles, with speed humps and pot holes soaked up nicely. However, the weight of those doors takes its toll, and performance was far from brisk. Those clever doors and the full list of safety kit is reflected in the price. It seems a lot of money for a small car, and it's a shame other people will still dent it with their conventional car doors.
Dee Khabra, 30, director from London
USUAL CAR: RANGE ROVER
VOGUE, MERCEDES S500
The drive itself was a bit different to the vehicles I'm used to driving, but as a first car this would be ideal for someone who has just recently passed their driving test, or a student. Build quality was probably what could be expected of a car in this price range. The car was fairly smooth in comparison to most diesels in this category. The electric door feature, being unique to this category of car, would be a good selling point as it would be useful in tight spaces - other than that I can't see the purpose of it. The problem foreseeable with this feature is the reliability of the electric motor which operates the door. Overall, a cute car, but not one I would consider buying.
David Pincott, 43, PR consultant from Kent
USUAL CAR: BMW 525,
RENAULT SCENIC
Loved the sliding doors. Not sure if I want them on my car until they're a bit more in vogue, by which time councils and supermarkets will have made car-parking spaces even narrower. Car was spacious in the cabin but the boot was little more than a shoe box. The performance was only average; it needed patience to get to a reasonable speed, but the gearbox was lovely. The controls were intuitive. It was raining during the test and I managed to turn on the lights and wipers without opening electric doors in error and falling out. The instruments were in front of the driver too, where they ought to be. On the whole I liked the 1007, it will suit some people very well.
THE VERDICT
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