The Peugeot 307 entered production back in 2001 and effectively replaced its predecessor, the Peugeot 306, as the next-generation small family car in the 300 series. In 2002, it received the European Car of the Year award. It remained on sale till 2014 in some regions of the world including South America even as its replacement Peugeot 308 had already entered the market in 2007.
A Brief History
In the 300 Series, the 307 came as the fifth car after the 304, 305, 309, and 306. Peugeot launched the 304 in 1969, taking inspiration from the Peugeot 204, and established the foundation upon which the 300 series has built its identity as a small family car.
Design
PSA built the 307 on an upgraded version of the platform used in the Peugeot 306, Citroën Xsara and Citroën ZX models. The auto company expanded the size of the car, including its interior and exterior, while retaining the essence of the 206 and 607 models.
The 307 has a height of around 1510 mm, which is not as tall as MPV cars (1600-1650mm) or as short as compact cars (1400-1450mm). For this reason, the 307 gets categorized as either a tall version of a small family car or a compact version of an MPV.
It received a facelift in 2005, four years after its launch. The front lights of the car received minute modifications, while the bonnet was completely revised. A revised grille replaced the trademark Peugeot grille, allowing for a bigger air intake.
PSA launched the 307 hatchback in 3-door and 5-door versions. In 2002, the company also introduced new variants which included two estate models called the 307 Break and the 307 SW. Although it was difficult to differentiate between the two estate models on the outside, the interiors were significantly distinctive.
Only two elements differentiated the exterior of the Break and SW variants - the silver roof bars and a panoramic roof that the SW had, but the Break didn't. On the inside though, the cars differed significantly. The Break version resembled a standard estate vehicle, while the SW version offered removable seats in the third row which gave it an MPV appeal. The SW variant effectively fulfilled Peugeot’s requirement of launching a compact MPV car in the market.
The 307 broke away from the tradition set by the 300 series of producing a saloon version. However, PSA still developed for emerging markets across the world due to the high demand for saloon cars in these regions. The saloon version, with a 4-door option, was released in China back in 2004, which ceased production in 2014. PSA released a coupe cabriolet competing version called the 307 CC in 2003, which had a retractable hardtop.
Engine Versions
Throughout its lifespan, the 307 offered several powertrain choices.
Petrol:
- 1.4 L TU3 I4 (55 kW)
- 1.4 L ET3 I4 (66 kW, 136 N⋅m)
- 1.6 L TU5 I4 (81 kW, 149 N⋅m), 4-speed auto transmission or 5-speed manual transmission
- 2.0 L EW10 16V I4 (103 kW, 149 N⋅m), 4-speed auto trans or 5-speed manual transmission
- 2.0 L EW10 16V I4 (103 kW, 201 N⋅m), 4-speed auto transmission or 5-speed manual gearbox
- 2.0 L EW10 16V I4 (130 kW, 202 N⋅m), 4-speed auto transmission or 5-speed manual gearbox
Diesel:
- 1.4L HDi (52 kW)
- 1.6L DV6 HDi I4 (81 kW, 218–240 N⋅m), 5-speed manual transmission
- 2.0L DW10 HDi I4 (100 kW, 325 N⋅m), 6-speed auto or 6-speed manual transmission
- 2.0L HDI (66 kW, 205 N⋅m ), 5-speed manual transmission
Market Response
By 2012, the 307 had reached a total production of 3.781 million units, the highest sales taking place during its inaugural year in 2004. At its launching, the car model was not particularly appreciated for its build quality. After the 2005 facelift, however, the car gained popularity and enjoyed the same sales as the previous models in the Peugeot 300 series.