Peugeot 307 XSE

The Peugeot 307 XSE 5-speed manual is a car about which we feel ambivalent. It has some good points and it has some bad. Trouble is, often the good and bad are about the one aspect of the car.

Take interior space. With its tall body design, the 307 has a large amount of room under the hatch, in the back seat and in the front. The doors open wide and the car comes complete with a cargo net. But for the driver, that interior space is outweighed by the pedals that are offset to the left, in turn forcing the driver’s leg in that direction - and so quickly revealing the lack of room next to the clutch pedal and the intrusiveness of the centre console. (And the pedals are so close together, and so close to interior trim bits, no-one with large shoes will be able to comfortably drive.)

The door pockets front and rear are huge, but then when the front seat passenger leans forward and opens the glovebox, everyone gives a hollow laugh. The open glovebox reveals that the lid could be half the size – the space comes pre-filled with a black box. Just as well there are underseat storage trays. At a glance the 307 is a practical, roomy car – then you find the front fold-down armrests are much too short - and are not adjustable for angle - and so are awkward to use; the centre console drinks holder won’t take even a small bottle; and the driver’s seat is adjustable only for rear height – the seat pivots around a front point and so the forward part of the seat cannot be adjusted up or down. (And we wanted it down!) Hmmm. However, at least the steering is both height- and reach-adjustable.
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