People
carriers have never had a particularly good
press. Motoring journalists dismiss them as
dowdy and dull, awful to drive and worse to
look at. And yet people still buy them
because they are useful.
It
is true that the first people carriers were
functional and nothing else: domesticated
minibuses with no frills. They were not
particularly comfortable, not particularly
good to drive and had little else to commend
them.
But
in the spring of 2002 we welcomed the
vanguard of the second generation of people
carrier in the form of the Peugeot 807. It
was still designed to carry a good-sized
family — up to eight people, in fact — but
now offered a look that approached
attractive and a driving experience that
almost put a smile on parents’ faces.
Because the Peugeot 807 shared its
underpinnings with the Citroën C8 and Fiat
Ulysse, potential buyers were now confronted
with a choice of three very similar
vehicles. There was little to choose between
them, except perhaps for the size of the
discount being offered by dealers, but it is
fair to say that the Citroën and Peugeot
tended to come out on top.
Under the bonnet Peugeot 807 buyers were
offered a choice of 2 and 2.2 litre petrol
and diesel power. In a vehicle that lacks
the aerodynamic grace of a traditional
family saloon the petrol engines tended to
run out of puff at higher speeds,
particularly when laden, making diesels a
better bet.
The
2 litre diesel unit, which produces 110bhp,
feels a more comfortable ride and owners
report an average of about 35mpg in mixed
motoring, but for a small premium of £300 a
second-hand 2.2 litre HDi is the best value.
Its
136bhp engine handles passengers, luggage
and even the occasional roof box with ease
and fuel economy remains intact.
Of
course, people carriers are all about space,
so how does the 807 fare? In short, pretty
good. Being longer, wider and taller than
its predecessor, the 806, you get noticeably
more legroom in the middle row of seats and
the potential for a massive 2,948 litres of
space if all but the driver’s and front seat
passenger’s seats are removed.
Not
that removing the seats is going to be a
popular option for most owners — at 23kg
each they take some handling. Fortunately
drivers usually find they can manage most
loads through sliding, reclining or folding
rather than removing the seats.
On
the road the Peugeot 807 handles pretty
well. You will never forget you are driving
a people carrier, partly because you sit so
high and partly because you can see so well.
But with decent brakes, accurate steering
and good ride comfort the 807 feels as
though it is far more than a glorified van.
Peugeot was also keen to ensure that both
the driver and passengers felt a little more
cosseted in the 807 than in the previous
806. The centrally mounted dials exude a
warm green glow while the stubby,
well-placed gearstick sprouting from the
dashboard falls easily to hand. Top spec
Executive SE models boast leather upholstery
and there was also the option of a satellite
navigation system.
Regardless of the model, buyers can be
reassured by the fact that the Peugeot 807
achieved an impressive five stars in the
Euro NCAP adult occupancy safety tests.
Among the safety features were antilock
braking and electronic stability control,
together with front, side and curtain
airbags.
It
might not be the sleek, eye-catching sports
car that you always dreamt of parking on
your driveway but neither is this people
carrier quite the stupifyingly dull car that
many have made out. So, whether you have
multiple children, elderly relatives or you
need to lug a roofbox or a cycle rack at
weekends, a used Peugeot 807 could well be
your perfect partner.
