peugeot 307 sw xs 1.6 hdi 110 review

Average Ratings
Performance5.5/10
Practicality7.5/10
Reliability7/10
Value for Money6.5/10
Overall rating5.5/10
50% Recommended1 out of 2 Reviews

expert review of Peugeot 307 SW XS 1.6 HDi 110

By redrebo Rank: Lieutenant on 8th Nov 2006

redrebo's Ratings
Year Manufactured2006
Length of ownership4 Months
Doors5
Performance6/10
Practicality10/10
Reliability9/10
Value for money8/10
Overall value8/10
yes redrebo's recommendation

Good Points

Very practical load carrier: space for 7, or a really huge boot with seats folded! Lots of storage space, including tunnel with two large cup holders, refrigerated glove box, courtesy mirrors with lamps, automatic headlights and wipers, automatic locking with remote control, all electric windows / rear view mirrors, interior rear view mirror automatic day and night electrochrome, 5 speed gearbox, engine is the 1.6 HDi developing 110bhp and eating up an average 4.5 percent (even lower in practice) in mixed cycles (urban / suburban). The car is quite comfortable, and the front seats can be adjusted in height, and driver's seat in back as well. There's a panoramic roof, which makes the car lively, especially when travelling in long windy country roads. The car has dual zone automatic climate control and 16" alloy wheels standard, and an on-board computer with a multifunction display and control on the steering column. Plenty of air bags, and the car looks and feels safe (except for the glass roof. Is that really safe if the car flips around)?

Bad Points

The rattle of the 1.6. I used to love diesels, and I fell in love with the sound of the 309 diesel, then the 405 GRDT and then the 406, but this little HDi is a little bit abused with the task asked from it. The SW is a bit more demanding than the regular model, and this engine can barely manage the job fine. Acceleration is OK, and top speed is also OK. I would opt for the 2.0 HDi 136bhp, which has more zest and can certainly get more out of the 307 SW. The breaking is tops, with ABS kicking in frequently on wet roads, but otherwise the 307 sticks to the road and gives a nice feeling of the road, despite all the driving aids.

General Comments

In general, the Peugeot 307 SW XS 1.6 HDi 110 is a very good car. With this engine it would be like any other SW out there on the road, but with the 2.0 HDi 136, it sure takes a leap to another class, competing with even the 407 itself, which is not that far off really (considering the prices as well come in play). Drive and enjoy, "S'il vous plait!".

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4 Comments on Review by redrebo for Peugeot 307 SW XS 1.6 HDi 110

  1. timblack57 Rank: 2nd Lieutenant on 11th Nov 2006

    I have four children, and I almost bought a Peugeot 307 SW XS 1.6 HDi 110 with seven seats, two years ago. It looked great, was as compact as a regular estate car and had enough seats for my family too. But then I had a closer look. The boot seven-up is really tiny, meaning a roof-rack or roof-box is essential. This would mean having a garage too (which I don't). Also, the third row of seats are very short of both headroom and legroom. In fact, almost no legroom, as there is no footwell as such. The seats themselves are quite comfortable if you can find somewhere for your feet. However, the worst point was the obviously poor quality of the interior trim and fittings. Even the showroom car had broken, missing trim. Possibly OK if you only need the five-seater version, but there are much better alternatives.

  2. redrebo Rank: Lieutenant on 19th Nov 2006

    The car is a few months old now ( 6 more precisely ) and has done around 5.000 km, and had the first servicing done at 1500 km. To begin with, the sound of the engine does not seem to age very well, and the whistling, present on larger HDi engines ( 2.0 in 406 or 407 ) is now a heavy rattling. The Peugeot 307 seems to be a bit of a struggle for the 1.6, which fights back promptly, making you barely notice it, but you can, nevertheless. The quality of the interior trim and fittings seems to hold on and age pretty well, the windows work perfectly and the panoramic roof lid functions without delay. The only thing I can say about the car is that it now sometimes goes berserk with all the symbols on the dashboard flashing ( ABS, Hand Brakes, Oil, Fuel, Temperature, ... there's about 15 of those that flash in all sorts of colours ), but it apparently has no impact on the working of the car. The electric fittings under the steering wheel are a bit exposed as well, which could have played a role in this issue, as well as the awkward maneuverability of the steering column height adjustment controls. If you plan to own the seven seater version then know this: unless you plan to take war amputees on-board, or really young children with legs the size of large coke bottles, then forget about this car being a seven seater. The seats, which are slightly smaller than the second row ones, offer no space. The edge of the seat is about 3 or 5cm at most from the ones in front.

  3. redrebo Rank: Lieutenant on 26th May 2008

    The vehicule has now some 20,000 clicks on it. The engine still showing no signs of major distress, and, when warm, seems to do just fine for smooth drivers ( unless you plan on taking this thing for rides above 130 kph ). The engine has a mind of its own sometimes present and smooth, sometimes icky and 'heavy' ( something wrong with the ECU? ). Peugeot have been rambling about the fact that I took the car for engine oil change at Total ( which is recommended by Peugeot here ), and so that should cost a bit more than expected, having to service it at the dealer's every time. The interior trim is still 'intact', but you could tell everything is just 'asking' for an excuse... Especially the electric window controls which now only understand 'all the way up' or 'all the way down', with the occasional 'ok stop right there' nudge. The roof no longer operates when the car is off, and if you leave the car exposed to the sun for long periods, you find out very quickly that you have a nice little sauna parlor. The car seems bigger than it is so manoeuvres in tight spots seem to get harder as you get used to the car, especially if you decide 'Ok, I'm all over it now and I can just skim to my parking spot in the garage', which usually ends in a tragedic dent on the 'fragile' body of the 307. There are no electric problems which is quite surprising, but the A/C is starting to give out ( probably needs refilling the gas ). The Pirelli tires fitted are somewhat of a joke ( I had one 'punctured' and explode after hitting the sidewalk ), but luckily the rims didn't absorb any damage. The front wheels give some sort of vibration when you take on swift turns ( 80 kph seems to get the steering wheel shaking a bit ) and the same effect can be experienced when braking heavily. The ABS though does very well and even though the 1.6 isn't THAT much of a performer, you can find yourself doing 130 kph very quickly even in fourth. Beyond that is pushing the engine. The first gear is 'awkward' or almost useless, but unfortunately the second gear doesn't replace it in any way ( the first gear is very short and very strong as opposed to the second gear which is somewhat on the upper end ).
    Quick turns ( 60 kph + ) are somewhat on the dangerous side especially inside the city ( but who would do that ? ), but generally speaking, the handling is very 'OK' for a Peugeot, despite the age.
    One thing that I find surprising is that the 'Panoramic' roof hasn't got a scratch on it while a 'bird' has caused such a huge crack on the windshield. My Peugeot dealer says the glass roof is pretty tough and that they have rarely had anyone come in for a repair, but I think that's more due to the fact that most owners are skeptical and tend to be wary about where they park their car. Otherwise, this car would be a great second hand buy, especially with the bigger 2.0 engine, especially if you plan to do a lot of 'touring' with it.

  4. redrebo Rank: Lieutenant on 3rd Aug 2008

    Did I say 130 kph? Ok, the engine is 'loud'. Somewhat. But I have just discovered that the three layers of floor mats have been obstructing the accelerator. It can only be summoned 2 thirds of the way, even less. So what I have tried is getting rid of the extra two floor mats and found the 307's original, still looking brand new and smelling just as fresh. Good. Now to the good bit. The 307 can do more than 130! Yeehaaa. Yeehaa even more because the engine does respond a lot more quickly too, because of extra throttle available through full acceleration. This vehicule is amazing. The judder and shake from the steering wheel, even though it is barely noticeable, it seems is not the 307's fault either. Earlier in its life, one of the front wheels had hit, or rather, slammed a broken sewer, thus blowing the tire and damaging the steering. With realignment, the steering should be perfect, 'again'. I say 'perfect' because even though its not 100 percent aligned, and although it does seem to pull a little bit, just a tiny tiny bit in the direction of the damaged tire, it doesn't make the 307 any less stable that you would have to actually drive up to 80 kph to feel a little bit of vibration, nothing more than you would if you had your hand on a table and your phone was vibrating at the other end of that very table. And to notice the misalignment you would have to drive above 130, and since I could entirely let go of the steering wheel in a busy highway through that for a good minute before I had to correct the steering, this only means one thing: the 307 has taken a hard hit very well!
    Apart from this lovely glitch which made me appreciate the car, I note that the car still hasn't skipped a single beat. Usually, I say things like this about cars and then cross my fingers thinking this IS the time around which things seem to go wrong. But not the 307. The engine is always good, never even given a warning signal and despite cold starts seems to manage better than average, in fact, better than a 2.0 liter pertrol engine from a 90s Vectra in cold conditions, even though both engines are about the same age. Add to that, every morning the car has to, cold, climb a steep hill for two levels to get out of its 'home', the garage, its amazing torque never makes one notice, the engine NEVER stalled in a 40ish degree climb broken into two, manages to take off again without spin or lack of power even if you halt in the middle of the climb, and impressively too. The gearbox is a darling once you do get to understand it and get used to it, because in first gear, nothing, and I repeat, nothing, save for things like lamborghinis, can overtake the 307. And I have seen it in action too from outside: the front seems to go up, the rear sinks, and the car literally just takes off, the driver often having to 'break' in order to avoid smashing vehicules 'obstructing' his way in the front. What is more, the car is just lovely and despite the fact that it was bought back in 2006, a 2005 model still looks, behaves, and feels like a modern car. And with the panoramic roof and automatic aircon, you can literally take this thing anywhere. I previously said that the rearmost seats, if you opt for the seven seater option, are very awkward and offer little space for legs. Correction please, the second row seats adjustability means that the third row CAN have proper legroom even for a person like me, 1.78m tall ( 5f 7in ) - so, designated driver in a pub, are you? Let'em all climb in! It's like a magic flying saucer. You decide what kind of sauce to put in it. Pun intended.



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