SLIDING DOORS
Its gadgety electric doors are almost reason enough to invest in the Peugeot 1007, says Guy Bird.
Blending supermini proportions with MPV height and space has been done before – the ugly Toyota Yaris Ve rso and ’Fiesta-on-stilts’ Ford Fusion are just two – but none offer the style and technological verve of the 1007.
Electric sliding doors usually reserved for the rear passengers of Transit van-sized, u p m a rket MPVs, are the big headline features on this tiny car. But on the tiny 1007 they are the only doors – and big enough to allow access to both front and back seats. Getting in and out of all seats child’s play – for adults, kids, or adults installing kids into child seats.
As they slide alongside the car’s body – poking out just one centimetre more than the wing mirrors to each side and no further than the boot line when fully slid back – they are particularly useful in tight parking spots or on busy roads where sticking-out doors can be dangerous. Don’t worry about their safe use with |
This review from FQ MAGAZINE November 2005 >> more
kids either. Already proven on bigger cars , the safety measures are plentiful: an audible warning noise sounds as the doors move, while pressure sensors act as a back-up – auto-reversing if body parts are left in the way.
But the 1007 is not just about clever doors. The exterior styling is by Italian design company Pininfarina (also behind the current Ferrari F430), the interior by Peugeot’s in-house styling studio. The result is a stunning-looking four-seater supermini MPV – while keeping big MPV features like folding and tumbling seats that can turn it from a four-seater to a oneseater plus loads of luggage space. Get bored with the interior colour way (or need to swap it after a bad kid stain) and you get another choice of upholstery trims, seat covers and air-vent surrounds to velcro-on, zip- in and screw up – for free. The process should
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take the owner about 15 minutes.
Another piece of dad-friendly kit is the child safety check mirror concealed behind the rear-view mirror. The only downside is that the device gets in the way of some of the satnav kit so you can’t opt for both. Keep the mirror and revert to a map until Peugeot work out a solution. It’ll be much safer than the temporary alternative of adjusting your main rear view mirror so you can see your older child picking the younger one’s nose, but not the juggernaut with the bad brakes bearing down on your car’s rear end.
With seven airbags as standard, a five-star EuroNCAP crash safety rating (including a three-star child safety rating) and even F1-style steering wheel-mounted paddleshift gearchanging the 1007 is bulging with exciting features. But closing the doors is still the most fun.
Peugeot 1007 Sport 1.4
Price £ 12,100
Engine 75PS 1.4-litre
Top Speed 120 m p h
0-60 17.8secs
Economy 45.6mpg
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