| Week at the Wheel | Peugeot 107 Urban |

Inside & Out:

The main focus of the recently facelifted Peugeot 107 is the frontal appearance, with modified bumper mouldings and a bold chromed strip across the Peugeot trademark gaping intake. It met with mixed approval among those who saw it in our tenure and certainly removes some of the cutesy looks that the 107 used to have. It also further differentiates the 107 from its Citroen C1 and Toyota Aygo relatives.

The five-door body shell is surprisingly practical, allowing access to what remains a deceptively roomy cabin - the wheel at each corner design maximising space in tandem with a high roofline. There is ample room for five occupants though boot space is still at a premium. Materials are best described as robust rather than luxurious, but everything works smoothly and effectively.

Engine & Transmission:

Three cylinder engines are always charismatic and the 107's 998cc unit is no different. Around town it has more than enough go to keep up with the flow and exploit gaps in the traffic and is equally adept on dual carriageways and motorways, although it obviously takes a little time to get up to speed. Give and take motoring on country roads reveals a revvy nature that requires at least 3,500rpm on the (optional) tacho in order to deliver its best, but it's happy to be at these higher speeds and takes on a thrummy tone that adds to the fun.

Ride & Handling:

Bearing in mind the 107's remit as an urban warrior the chassis is appropriately soft and compliant. The ride quality does a fine job of dealing with our poor quality road surfaces with only the largest rut or pothole transmitting a jolt through the suspension. It proves a comfortable and mature driving experience. It also manages to serve up a fair amount of fun, albeit of the most basic variety courtesy of modest grip levels and a decent amount of body roll.

Equipment, Economy & Value for Money:

This Urban model tested here contains all of the essentials most city dwellers would need with a generous complement of safety features - readily added to with a couple of ticks on the options list. Reviewing the specification sheet suggests that the Verve model, which includes air conditioning as standard, is the pick of the bunch value wise. In terms of running costs, rising fuel prices and taxation make cars such as these more relevant than ever, the 107's 60mpg cruising capability and consequential 106g/km emissions figure means minimum expenditure on fuel and an annual tax bill of only £35.

Overall:

Peugeot's 107 makes an awful lot of sense as either a pure city car or a run-around and has enough about it to engage youngsters as a first car as well. Cheap to buy, economic to run and with a fun personality, it ticks all of the boxes.