27/04/08

• Price27,195
• We like...Space, sliding doors
• We don't...Heavy seats

Big, smooth cruiser has space for seven. And sliding doors are a boon for busy parentsIf you need room to travel around in, this 807 should be on your buying list. Smaller, sportier MPVs may be grabbing the headlines. But if you need room enough to sit seven adults at once, and still find (some) space for their suitcases, drinks, phones and whatyouwill, this Peugeot space-ship ds the job right.

Those sliding side doors are a boon when off-loading kids – there’s no risk of them bashing your neighbour vehicle in car parks as they fling doors open. And, if you splurge on a top-spec model like the Executive in our pictures, the doors glide to and fro on motors, springing back when needed to, rather than squash a passenger.

It’s so comfy inside that you may find that your kids may not want to move at journey’s end. Each of the rear chairs slides back and forwards and reclines, while there are sun blinds and airline-style tables in the back. A ceiling mounted DVD player plus cordless headphones are options, costing a stiff £899.
Each of the mid and rear seats tips forward, tumbles or lifts out, though they are heavy to lug, and there’s nowhere aboard to stow them once they’re removed.

For those up front, there are three gloveboxes – two for the driver and one for the passenger – and plenty of big storage spaces for phones, food and maps. The dash-mounted gearshift frees between-seats space, while Peugeot has sited the hand brake on the floor to the right of the driver, to complete the task. That’s good, because it means a parent can move quickly and easily to attend to young’uns in the mid row.
Working a brake lever on the ‘wrong’ side takes some getting used to, though. The 807 is big at 4.7 m long and almost 2.2m wide, although its key rival, the Renault Espace, is even longer but a touch narrower. It’s big enough, in fact, to fill a parking slot outside your local supermarket. Easing it squarely into a bay requires fine judgement and is seldom easy, although the view forward is clear.

And that big, two-height dash is imposing and places a hunk of plastic between you and the ‘screen, making it quite something to drive until you’ve covered a fair few miles. Reversing is also a challenge, although big door mirrors give what help they can.
The 170bhp 2.2 diesel pulls hard from low down and suits the relaxed driving style that this Peugeot’s size and easy controls encourage. Like any diesel, you’ll hear it working, but it’s a cultured sound that drops to no more than a purr when cruising. The steering is light, low-geared but accurate enough, while the brakes feel strong but with enough feel to haul gently to a stop.

This engine is available only when you go for the top-spec 807, and at a lick over £27,000 it’s competitively priced, giving you leather and suede trim in the cabin and loads of gadgets, too. If you’re well-off, and have a big family, it’s a good choice.

• Engines2.2 HDi
• Power170bhp
• 0-60 mph
• Economy42.8mpg
• CO2g/km191
• Insurance groups12
• EuroNCAP
• Airbags8
• Seats7

Motors.co.uk value verdict: