Lion Chengqian, test drive Dongfeng Peugeot 207
Dongfeng Peugeot’s launch of the 207 was not without warning. As early as a few months ago, the 207CC landed in China as an import, which seemed to have hinted something, so when the 207 did show up, I was mentally prepared. However, the result still surprised me somewhat. Dongfeng Peugeot’s first launch was not a hatchback like the 206. It adopted the same strategy as the original 307 – starting with the sedan that was more acceptable to the Chinese people.
In response to the practice of pushing the sedan first, we have communicated with the manufacturer. In fact, the market performance of the 206 does not satisfy Dongfeng Peugeot, but the 307 sedan has always maintained a stable and satisfactory sales volume, which also makes Dongfeng Peugeot have higher expectations for the sedan market. It is not difficult to understand that the 207 sedan has arrived first. However, according to the manufacturer, the 207 sedan will not make consumers wait too long, and the 206, which has been working in the Chinese market for more than two years, will not withdraw from the competition for the time being. This news should reassure consumers who like hatchback French cars.
For some people who don’t usually pay much attention to the car market, the sudden appearance of the 207 will still make them a little confused. However, the 207 is not a pure new car. It has been introduced to the world as early as the 2006 Geneva Motor Show. In less than three years, it has sold millions of vehicles worldwide. The sedan that came to China is not an intentional tail for the Chinese market. Its prototype is from the 207 Compact that started selling in South America in mid-2008. The Dongfeng Peugeot 207 sedan is just a product that has been modified and upgraded on the basis of this model.
If you still remember the 207CC we introduced clearly, you won’t feel unfamiliar with the Dongfeng Peugeot 207 sedan. Its big mouth must have become the biggest basis for you to distinguish the Peugeot family products. However, slightly different from the 207CC, the front fog lamps of the Dongfeng Peugeot 207 sedan are designed on the lower ends of the outer sides of the intake grille, rather than on the inside of the mouth like the 207CC. In addition, there is no difference between the two cars on the front face.
Therefore, the rear of the 207 sedan has become our biggest concern for the appearance of the car. Many Chinese people still have a conservative and practical attitude towards car consumption. They will not hesitate to choose a sedan, and hope that the last compartment can be loaded with more things. They also hope that such a car can have a beautiful tail, but this is usually a higher requirement for very few people. Of course, practicality is the most important. The 207 sedan has a luggage compartment capacity of 384L, which is not too large, but it is also spacious enough to meet the general use. The tail shape draws on the success of the CC model in the use of some lines. The connection between the C-pillar and the luggage compartment is smooth and natural, ingeniously forming a smooth curved surface. The waist part and the tail light are slightly raised outward, which makes the tail appear fuller and full of sports texture, which echoes the aggressive front face. The sides and tail of the body are embellished with a lot of chrome-plated materials, which makes the 207 sedan with the beauty of a small car look even more chic and moving.
As a replacement model of the 206, the 207 will of course change in body size, whether it is the wheelbase, length, width, and height, the 207 has achieved a comprehensive surpassing of the 206. Although the increase is not particularly obvious, from the perspective of driving and riding, the interior space of the 207 is fully capable of matching a mid-level car, especially the slightly depressed head space on the 206 has been well resolved on the 207, and you can even stretch out beautifully after adjusting the seats up and down. It is worth mentioning that the 207 sedan continues Peugeot’s consistently wide front windshield design, with a 1.2-square-meter front windshield providing the driver with a wide enough field of vision, which is not only conducive to the cultivation of a relaxed and pleasant mood while driving, but also plays a certain role in driving safety.
Dongfeng Peugeot 207 sedan provides consumers with two shades of dark and light interior, each tone is divided into leather and fabric materials, plus the original three versions and two displacement models, consumers are very happy when choosing the 207 sedan configuration, you can determine the best configuration according to your preferences. Of course, you also have to choose from no less than 8 body colors, Dongfeng Peugeot provides these body colors enough to meet your most personalized needs. If these are not enough, it doesn’t matter. There are still many options for the 207 sedan, including aluminum alloy rims, electric sunroof, multi-disc virtual CD + Bluetooth + USB, and reversing radar. Some practical and fashionable configurations can also be assembled before leaving the factory according to consumer requirements on some low-end models, which can not only ensure the richness of product selection, but also save consumers a lot of money.
The reader sees this model as a dark version of the 207 sedan’s highest hedonic version. The interior features a pure black sports effect. Its design style and overall layout are similar to those of the 206. The widely used curved surface is still a major feature of the 207 interior. You can feel these French-colored designs from the middle of the three-spoke steering wheel, the front end of the dashboard near the front windshield, and the upper edge on the inside of the door. The changes in the dashboard were not small. The structure of the dashboard had changed from two large bands and two small ones to two small ones. The scale of the speedometer had also changed from 10, 30, 50… to 20, 40, 60… However, the chrome frame was still used around the dial, which was the same as on the 206.
Depending on the configuration of the model, the instrument panel can also be divided into black or white background
There is also a light beige interior, which is an indispensable style for sedans, and it is for consumers who are not too sporty and relatively calm. Whether it is a dark or light interior, the front seats are designed to be wrapped, and the ends of the seat back are moderately bent inward to provide the best back support for the driver and front occupants, especially when cornering. This comfortable form of resting allows the person sitting in the front row to not feel too hard.
The Dongfeng Peugeot 207 sedan is the same as the 206 in some functional configurations. If you are very familiar with the 206, you will feel very relaxed when driving the 207 sedan. For example, the lift control keys of the 207 sedan window are also located in the middle of the front seats. This maverick design has been reflected in the 206. The various levers on the steering wheel steering column and the button layout on the center console also continue the habits of the 206. Just pay attention when driving.
The power performance of the 1.6L engine from the 206 is still excellent
In terms of power, the 207 sedan is still equipped with the 1.4L and 1.6L two-displacement engines used on the 206, and the transmission is also the former 5-speed manual and Tiptronic 4-speed automatic. From the market reflection, most consumers are still very satisfied with the power performance of the Peugeot 206, especially its 1.6L-displacement engine, which can bring a lot of driving pleasure to the driver. Today, it continues to be used in the 207 sedan, and manufacturers have confidence in it.
The revitalized 1.6L engine certainly did not live up to everyone’s expectations. After a new adjustment, it not only maintained the previous strong power, but also more timely in response time. When you tap the accelerator pedal, you will immediately feel pushed back, which of course has something to do with the lighter body. The steering wheel of the 207 sedan is more flexible, which makes it lighter to drive in the city. The experience accumulated in the past few years on Chinese roads has made the 207’s launch in the Chinese market much easier. In the adjustment of the chassis and suspension, it not only rationally distributes the center of gravity of the whole vehicle, but also carries out stricter treatment on the rear suspension. All these efforts have raised the comfort of the 207 sedan in driving to a higher level.
In order to achieve the best stability and braking performance, all Dongfeng Peugeot 207 sedan models are equipped with a new generation of TevesMK70 ABS system and electronic braking force distribution system. In addition, the automatic stroboscopic function of emergency braking hazard warning lights that appeared on the 206 has continued to be retained. In the event of an emergency braking situation, it can warn the rear vehicle in a conspicuous way to avoid the risk of being rear-ended to the greatest extent. At the same time, safety-related configurations such as airbags, automatic lock for driving, engine password anti-theft, anti-glare rearview mirrors, and child safety locks have become standard in all models. Dongfeng Peugeot has absolutely no priority in ensuring the safety of occupants in the car.