Just to be clear, we’re not dealing with class-leading, genre-defining levels of brilliance here. Up against the best that today can offer – the Clio 197 and Corsa VXR – the 207 GTi is vying for a spot well down the class pecking order.
The 207 has a peculiar mix of suspension qualities. There’s a firmness to its ride that initially suggests Peugeot has become very serious about this car’s intentions. Over transverse ridges, speed bumps and potholes the 207 is a fairly unrelenting, occasionally crashy, thing.
But that firmness never translates into outstanding control of its body movements. There’s a fair degree of initial roll in corners (no bad thing in itself, but a surprising one given the poor compliance in the ride) and the 207 is far less keen to turn than a Clio and certainly a Corsa.
And when the 207 does turn, it’s all from the front. Grip levels are high enough to lift a rear wheel, but once you’ve exhausted them, this is a nose-led, inert car with only limited adjustability on the throttle. On track, it can be eased into corners by gently trailing the brakes into corners, but otherwise it takes a good bung to get it interested in anything approaching a neutral cornering stance.
Which doesn’t make it a bad handling car per se, but there’s little finesse to it. There isn’t the suppleness or the deftness you find in the Renault or Vauxhall, and the steering isn’t great, either: light and short on feel. It’s responsive enough and accurate, but that’s all we’ve become used to expecting.
Somewhere along the way, Peugeot has either forgotten how to make front-drive cars engaging, challenging and rewarding, or it just doesn’t think it’s important any more.