If there’s a checklist on how to make a performance hatchback interior, Peugeot has a copy and has stuck to it diligently. The 207 GTi has heavily bolstered seats, Alcantara door trim, two bolstered rear seats instead of three flat ones, an alloy gear lever and pedals and a thicker steering wheel rim.
It’s relatively subtle, entirely predictable and largely successful, but it doesn’t all work brilliantly. The front seats fail to live up to the promise of their looks, the surprisingly soft bolstering gripping you less firmly than their shape would suggest. Increased front and rear seat size means that rear legroom is worse, and dropping the rear seats to lug loads is now harder unless the fronts are slid forwards. Otherwise, the GTi’s interior is as good as the standard 207’s. Which means it’s very good.
We’ve no gripes about material quality or fit and finish, either. The dashboard is topped with soft-feel, low-reflection plastic, and even the grey metallic-effect trim has a surprisingly soft texture. We’ve been unimpressed by how superminis have become lardier and less engaging recently, but there’s no arguing with the perceived quality improvements that have come with it.
At £14,995, the 207 GTi looks like pretty good value on paper, particularly compared with the cramped and less well equipped £16,010 Mini Cooper S whose engine it shares. It’s also usefully cheaper than the Corsa VXR and Clio 197.
But it’s not unreasonable to pay for ability and entertainment in this class, so you’d have to overlook the fact that the Peugeot is slower and less entertaining than all of the above and satisfy yourself instead that you’re getting reasonable equipment levels (although the choice options come as part of a £1000 pack), a decent amount of space inside and respectable fuel consumption.
Insurance costs and depreciation forecasts are par for the course in the class.