Review
So it’s a refreshing change to glance down the specification sheet for Peugeot’s 107. A kerb weight of well under a tonne, nippy three-cylinder 1.0-litre engine and a bargain basement price.
The 107, and its sister cars the Citroen C1 and Toyota Aygo, are turning back the clock to a time when city cars were a no-frills means of transport.
And in many ways this trio are spiritual successors to the original Mini – simple, cheap and fun.
Yes, that’s right, fun. Despite several misgivings before the car arrived, I found the 107 to be enjoyable to drive. You simply can’t help but break into a smile as you drive along.
The recipe is very simple. Take a small body, attach a lively 1.0-litre engine, don’t put too many creature comforts inside to keep weight down and the result is an easy-to-drive, simple machine.
Although only offering 68bhp, the 1.0-litre engine has plenty of character thanks to its off-beat warble – it’s a three-cylinder unit and the noise is similar to that of a V6.
The kerb weight of 865kg means the engine doesn’t struggle too much to haul the car around and the light steering and easy gearchange mean it’s a doddle to drive – exactly as a city car should be. Performance isn’t exactly quick – 0-62mph takes more than 14 seconds and the top speed just scrapes into three figures – but for the kind of driving this car is designed for, it’s perfect.
With closely-stacked gear ratios the 107 can build speed fairly easily in the first two gears, meaning sprinting away from traffic lights is a doddle.
And while it takes an age to get up to motorway speed, once there it holds its own remarkably well, cruising along at 70mph with little complaint. However, it is a noisy place to be on main roads thanks to plenty of wind and tyre noise.
We’ve already touched on links with the original Mini, and the Peugeot again mimics the legendary car with its interior packaging. While the boot isn’t huge, the rear seats split and fold to create more luggage space. And with all four seats in place there is, surprisingly, enough room for four adults to sit in relative comfort.
The Peugeot may be more expensive than its siblings from Citroen and Toyota, but the entry-level 107 is much better equipped.
As well as split/folding rear seats, an option on the C1 and Aygo, the 107 Urban also comes with side airbags, electric windows and remote control central locking as standard equipment.
While the 107 will have limited appeal as a company car, for employees who spend the majority of their time driving in urban areas and wanting a cheap runabout, the little Peugeot has plenty of appeal.
Delivered price, standard car (P11D value): £7,032
CO2 emissions (g/km): 109
BIK % of P11D in 2006: 15%
Graduated VED rate: £75
Insurance group: 1
Combined mpg: 61.4
CAP Monitor residual value: £2,350/33%
Depreciation 7.80 pence per mile x 60,000: £4,680
Maintenance 1.75 pence per mile x 60,000: £1,050
Fuel 6.99 pence per mile x 60,000: £4,194
Wholelife cost 16.54 pence per mile x 60,000: £9,924
Typical contract hire rate: £187
At a glance
We like:
We don’t like
Three rivals to consider
P11D price
THE Citroen, Peugeot and Toyota are essentially the same car with different styling and their prices differ because of the level of standard equipment fitted. While all three offer driver and front passenger airbags and a CD player, the Peugeot adds split/folding rear seats, electric windows, side airbags and remote control central locking. These features explain the 107’s higher list price. The Daihatsu is easily the cheapest car but comes with a CD player, airbags, and split/folding rear seats for under £6,000.
Daihatsu £5,882
Citroen £6,482
Toyota £6,632
Peugeot £7,032
SMR costs
OF the C1/107/Aygo triumvirate, the two French cars will be the cheapest to keep on the road. Over three years/60,000 miles they will cost a fraction over £1,000 in service, maintenance and repair costs. The third car, the Aygo, will cost £1,122 over the same period, the difference coming down to higher prices at Toyota dealerships. At more than £1,500 in SMR bills, the Daihatsu Charade is the most expensive.
Citroen 1.75ppm
Peugeot 1.75ppm
Toyota 1.87ppm
Daihatsu 2.54ppm
Fuel costs
BY choosing one of these cars for your fleet you’re not going to boost the fuel companies’ profits by much. The Citroen, Peugeot and Toyota share the same 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine and each is claimed to sip petrol at a rate of 61.4mpg. Over 60,000 miles your drivers will spend a fraction under £4,200 on fuel. The Daihatsu ‘only’ returns 58.9mpg, converting to a fuel cost of £4,374 over the same period.
Citroen 6.99ppm
Peugeot 6.99ppm
Toyota 6.99ppm
Daihatsu 7.29ppm
Depreciation costs
THE Daihatsu puts in a strong showing in this sector. Not only does it have the lowest front-end price but its value after three years/60,000 miles isn’t bad either. CAP estimates it will retain 35% of its cost new over that period, leaving a cash lost figure of £3,832. Of the other three, the Toyota has the best RV at 36%, followed by the French duo at 33%. The Aygo will lose £4,257, the C1 £4,357 and the 107 nearly £4,700.
Daihatsu 6.38ppm
Toyota 7.09ppm
Citroen 7.26ppm
Peugeot 7.80ppm
Wholelife costs
THE Aygo takes the narrowest of wins, undercutting the Citroen C1 by just 0.05 pence per mile. The Peugeot 107 sister car is more than half a penny per mile further back, but the numbers here are so small that the difference between first and fourth amounts to £300 over a 60,000-mile fleet lifecycle. The Daihatsu puts up a strong showing with the cheapest list price and a healthy residual value proposition. However, insurance cover will be higher – it is in group five compared to group one for the three other cars.
Toyota 15.95ppm
Citroen 16.00ppm
Daihatsu 16.21ppm
Peugeot 16.54ppm
Emissions and BIK tax rates
WITH bargain basement prices and ultra-low emissions levels, this quartet of cars offer incredibly low company car tax bills. A 22% taxpayer will have to fork out the princely sum of £16.20 a month for the Daihatsu or £17.80 for the Citroen. The Toyota and Peugeot are around a pound a month further back at £18.14 and £19.34 respectively. All four cars will cost £75 a year in VED rates.
Citroen 109g/km/15% Peugeot 109g/km/15% Toyota 109g/km/15% Daihatsu 114g/km/15%
Verdict
THE Daihatsu is the first car to be eliminated. The Charade is a good package but a lack of fleet support and dealers rules it out. Which leaves the Citroen, Peugeot and Toyota. The difference in wholelife costs between these three is minimal and for less than £2 a month extra in company car tax over the Citroen and Toyota, we’d go for the better-equipped Peugeot.
