One for the kids - Two 107s

Now the latest addition to the Peugeot 107 may only cost just under £87, and it might be the first car you buy your child, but it is unlikely to be the last.

The bank of mum and dad generally now comes under lots of pressure from our offspring. In these must-have days this starts as early as their first presents and continues right through until their first mortgage, and can take in buying a new and reliable car for their stint at university or starting their first job.

So let us start at the beginning of the buying chain. The single seater replica of the chic Peugeot 107 is powered by pedals and for relatively affluent parents is set to be the ultimate playground accessory in 2007.

Costing £86.75 all parents need to do is visit their local Peugeot dealer and handover the money. Rather the same as they will be doing in 18 to 20 years time.

For the record the Peugeot 107 pedal car is available in one simple trim level and comes in the funky citrus yellow colour, which is also available on the full-sized 107 models.

The real-sized Peugeot 107 range of three and five door models has recently benefited from the introduction of a new entry level model, the 107 Urban Lite, which is available from just £6,895.

With a 1.0 litre engine producing 68bhp this ‘nippy’ city car is both practical and economical. Safety is also a key feature of the 107 Urban Lite, with front and passenger airbags, ABS and a 4-star NCAP safety rating and a low 1E insurance group rating. So you can see it is an attractive financial proposition, not just for children leaving the family home, but just as likely for older drivers wanting a commuting car which is easy to park and cheap to run.

The Peugeot 107 range has attracted 17,000 customers since its launch in the UK in June last year and you might remember it is part of the trilogy of city cars built by PSA and Toyota in the Czech Republic and marketed as the Peugeot 107, Citroen C1 and Toyota Aygo. The 107 range is currently the best selling of the three makes in the UK, it might not be the cheapest but overall, specification for specification and with distinctive ‘cheeky’ looks, I think it is the best package.

I couldn’t get my hands on the 107 Lite models for a road test as they are a bit ‘lite’ on the ground at the time of testing. So I tried the next best model, same engine, same transmission, slightly better specification, the 107 Urban 3-door, the best selling model in the range. This version is priced at £7,345, but add air conditioning, a rev counter and curtain airbags and the price creeps up to £8,095 and then you start to get into the price range of slightly larger new hatchbacks like the Peugeot 207 or Vauxhall Corsa. My advice is keep it simple, pay the least possible, haggle a deal, because if you want a small car you should only pay a small price.

Normally I prefer five-door versions of hatchbacks and for an extra £350 you can have the same model with two extra doors. A semi automatic transmission will add a further £500 but I wouldn’t recommend it.

Having a five-door 107 makes real-life motoring easier for carrying the occasional rear seat passengers and putting shopping and coats on re rear seats. The rear legroom is pretty minimal so it would only be occasional use by passengers. The 107 is a city car, which is its main selling point, easy to drive, easy to park and it will cope with the occasional longer run on a motorway if needed. It is pretty safe too with a Euro NCAP 4-star impact rating, 2-star for pedestrians and 3-star for child protection so it is just right for the urban jungle

In bright Citrus Yellow my test car was easy to spot in the car park and it looked a real fun vehicle and I do like the Peugeot family face which has been scaled down to fit the 107, it appeals to me. Others might see it differently but as I said it is the best selling out of the three different makes which come off the same production line. Inside it is modern and of pretty good quality. The front seats are a little small for me but for short journeys it was ok. On the motorway the car does get more tiring to drive than a larger hatchback. There is more engine noise at high speeds, the car does not absorb the humps and bumps as well and side winds or passing lorries will cause the car to move about on motorways but to be fair in those conditions it is ‘out of territory’.

The three-cylinder, 1.0-litre petrol engine is the star of the show. It is a free revving willing worker with a wonderful gruff engine and exhaust note. Maximum power is 68bhp with 70lb ft of torque available at 3,600rpm so it needs to be revved pretty hard to get the best from it. The five speed manual transmission makes light work of in-town driving.

Fuel economy and low emissions are significant plus points for the 107. A combined fuel economy figure of 61.3mpg is achievable although this will dip by up to 20mpg if pushed hard on a motorway, generally expect around 50mpg in real-life conditions. The low CO2 rating of 109g/km means the VED road tax rating is only £40 a year, a major consideration as congestion charging seemingly is likely to be extended to more towns and cities and it will be based on engine emissions.

The price is right, the size is right, the overall running costs and low insurance rating are right and the overall package as a city car or commuting vehicle is right so add the Peugeot 107 to your Christmas present wish list and you don’t have to be young either, just young at heart.

MILESTONES. Peugeot 107 Urban 3-Door. Price £7,345 (as tested £8,095). Engine: Three-cylinder, 1.0ltre petrol, 68bhp, 70lbt ft. Performance: 100mph, 0-62mph 124.2 seconds, 61.3mpg (50mpg actual), CO2 109g/km, VED £40. Insurance group: 1E. Dimensions: l/w/h: 3430/1630/1470mm.

For: Image, size for commuting, value for money package, safe, low insurance and running costs, frisky engine.

Against: Out of town ride comfort, limited boot space, rear seat access.