Peugeot 307
| File:Peugeot logo 2018.svg Peugeot logo | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Predecessor | Peugeot 306 |
| Founded | February 26, 1810 (as a company) |
| Headquarters | Paris , France |
| Products | Automobiles |
| Parent | PSA Group (now part of Stellantis) |
The Peugeot 307 is a small family car manufactured by the French company PSA Peugeot Citroën under the Peugeot marque between 2001 and 2008 across Europe. It replaced the Peugeot 306, which ceased production in 2002 after a nine-year run. Constructed on the PSA PF2 platform, the 307 was honored with the European Car of the Year title in 2002. Although its successor, the 308, also built on the same platform, was introduced in France in September 2007, production and sales of the 307 persisted in China and selected markets in South America until 2014.
History
The 307 made its debut as the Prométhée concept at the 2000 Mondial de l'Automobile. The production version of the hatchback was launched in Europe on 26 April 2001, taking over from the Peugeot 306. Its market presence extended to Australia, New Zealand, various parts of Asia, and Mexico, where it was offered with 1.6 and 2.0 petrol engines.
In Brazil, the model was available with 1.6 and 2.0 flex-fuel powertrains capable of running on gasoline or ethanol.
Design and engineering
The 307 utilizes an adapted version of the platform originally developed for the 306, which it shares with the Citroën Xsara and the early-1990s Citroën ZX. It is larger in every dimension compared to its predecessor and continues Peugeot’s contemporary design language first seen on models like the Peugeot 206 and Peugeot 607.
Notable styling features include upward-angled front headlights, a sharply inclined bonnet leading into a slanted windshield, and vertically oriented rear doors, a design element initially introduced with the 206. This represented a shift away from earlier Peugeots’ Pininfarina-inspired aesthetics found on vehicles such as the Peugeot 205 and Peugeot 406.
With its height measuring , the 307 occupies a niche between traditional small family cars and compact MPVs, occasionally classified as a low-profile compact MPV due to its silhouette.
A promotional commercial for its launch featured "(Something Inside) So Strong" by British singer-songwriter Labi Siffre.
Top Gear
In June 2001, Top Gear Magazine evaluated the Peugeot 307 equipped with a 1.6 16v TU5JP4 engine against rivals including the Ford Focus 1.6L Zetec SE and the Honda Civic 1.6 VTEC. The Peugeot stood out for its affordability, spacious interior, handling dynamics, operating costs, and refinement, ultimately outperforming both competitors.
Facelift
To maintain competitiveness amid newer rivals, Peugeot refreshed the 307 in June 2005. Updates encompassed redesigned front headlights, a new bonnet shape, an upgraded instrument panel, and elimination of the conventional Peugeot grille positioned between the headlights. The front fascia now incorporated a larger air intake inspired by the design of the Peugeot 407, establishing a fresh grille styling direction for Peugeot models.
Body styles
Initially available as three- and five-door hatchbacks, Peugeot broadened the lineup in February 2002 with two estate variants: the 307 Break and 307 SW. Although similar externally, the SW is distinguished by silver roof rails and a panoramic glass roof as standard features.
Inside, while the Break serves as a traditional estate car, the SW offers optional third-row removable seats that provide versatility akin to an MPV. Rather than creating a compact MPV derivative like Citroën’s Xsara Picasso, Peugeot opted to retain estate styling enhanced with greater adaptability.
Unlike its predecessor, the 306, which had a saloon variant from early on, no saloon was initially offered for the 307. However, a sedan version was developed specifically for emerging markets such as China and Latin America where saloons are favored. The 307 CC, featuring a retractable hardtop roof, was introduced in August 2003 to compete within Europe’s coupé cabriolet segment.
A four-door saloon variant was launched in China in June 2004 through production by Dongfeng Peugeot-Citroën Automobile, a joint venture involving PSA Group. Additionally, manufacturing of this saloon took place in Argentina from May 2006 until November 2010, incorporating approximately 60% locally sourced components as of 2006. Production of the saloon model in China concluded in 2014.
Petrol
- 1.4 L (1360 cc) TU3 inline-four, delivering 75 PS and 111 Nm
- 1.4 L (1360 cc) ET3 16-valve inline-four, producing 90 PS and 133 Nm
- 1.6 L (1587 cc) TU5 16-valve inline-four, rated at 110 PS and 147 Nm
- 2.0 L (1997 cc) EW10 16-valve inline-four, offered in power outputs of 136 PS, 140 PS, and 177 PS with torque figures between 190 and 202 Nm
The BioFlex variant of the 1.6 L engine (introduced from September 2007) is compatible with ethanol E85 fuel.
Diesel
- 1.4 L (1398 cc) DV4TD HDi inline-four, generating 68 PS and 150 Nm
- 1.6 L (1560 cc) DV6ATED4 HDi 16-valve inline-four, outputting 90 PS and 215 Nm
- 1.6 L (1560 cc) DV6TED4 HDi 16-valve inline-four, delivering 109 PS and 240 Nm
- 2.0 L (1997 cc) DW10A HDi inline-four, available in power levels of 90 PS, 107 PS, and 136 PS with torque ranging from 205 to 320 Nm
Hybrid HDi
Peugeot unveiled a diesel-electric hybrid prototype for the 307 in January 2006, promising fuel efficiency improvements up to , but this model never reached commercial production. The hybrid technology was introduced simultaneously with the Citroën C4 Hybride HDi, though both projects remained experimental.
Reliability
Initial versions exhibited below-average build quality and reliability, ranking poorly in German breakdown data for small family cars aged three to five years as of 2009. A mid-cycle refresh launched in June 2005 significantly enhanced dependability; consequently, vehicles produced from the 2006/2007 model years onward enjoyed improved market reputation due to greater robustness.
Motorsport
The Peugeot 307 WRC, derived from the 307 CC model, succeeded the accomplished Peugeot 206 WRC in the World Rally Championship starting in 2004. Despite facing transmission difficulties and handling characteristics that did not align well with driver preferences, it achieved seven podium finishes and recorded its first victory at the 2004 Rally Finland. Peugeot concluded the season fourth in the manufacturers' championship while Marcus Grönholm secured fifth place among drivers.
During the highly competitive 2005 campaign, Peugeot led the manufacturers' standings after ten rounds but ultimately finished second following Markko Märtin's retirement. Grönholm ended third in the drivers' classification, tied on points with the runner-up. That year saw multiple wins and podium placements for the car.
After the conclusion of the 2005 season, PSA withdrew official factory backing and handed over operations to private team Bozian Racing, which competed as the OMV Peugeot Norway World Rally Team during the 2006 season. Drivers Manfred Stohl and Henning Solberg achieved seven podiums using this vehicle; Stohl earned fourth overall in the championship.
Across its WRC tenure, the Peugeot 307 WRC amassed three victories and a total of twenty-six podium finishes, including triumphs at Rally Finland (2004, 2005) and Rally Japan (2005).
The model is also remembered for the tragic loss of co-driver Michael Park during Wales Rally GB in September 2005—the first fatality in WRC since 1993.
Beyond rally competition, the Peugeot 307 participated in various touring car series such as the World Touring Car Championship, British Touring Car Championship, Stock Car Brasil, TC2000, and Danish Touring Car Championship.
WRC Victories
No. Event Season Driver Co-driver 1 2004 Rally Finland 2004 Marcus Grönholm Timo Rautiainen 2 2005 Rally Finland 2005 Marcus Grönholm Timo Rautiainen 3 2005 Rally Japan 2005 Marcus Grönholm Timo Rautiainen
Sales
| Year | Global Production | Global Sales | Remarks | |
| 2004 | Template:TBA | 583,700 | ||
| 2005 | Template:TBA | 520,400 | ||
| 2006 | Template:TBA | 447,000 | ||
| 2007 | Template:TBA | 369,100 | ||
| 2008 | Template:TBA | 142,300 | ||
| 2009 | 84,300 | 93,600 | ||
| 2010 | 87,700 | 86,900 | ||
| 2011 | 67,174 | 71,531 | Cumulative production reached 3,677,711 units. | |
| 2012 | 103,300 | 103,000 | Cumulative production totaled 3,781,000 units. |