Okay, girls, no fighting! Let's get acquainted instead. We have to admit honestly: both are real beauties. But the 207 stands out, all in white, with playful curves, a wide "Hollywood" smile of a bumper, and flirtatious headlights. Plus, it has a 1.4-liter engine with 90 horsepower, fully loaded with dual-zone climate control, leather interior, and a glass roof, plus a manual gearbox. The Clio, though not lacking in sex appeal, looks much more modest. And in terms of equipment too: fabric interior, manual rear windows. Apart from climate control and a light interior, it has nothing much to brag about. Except maybe the engine—with the same displacement, it's more powerful, all 100 horsepower.
But the prices have diverged unrealistically: for the Peugeot in almost top trim, they ask $23,912, while for the "half-empty" Clio—$18,399. Honestly, when we approached the dealerships for these cars with 1.4-liter engines, we didn't expect to get such differently "armed" rivals. So, the Clio is cheaper than the 207 by a whole Logan! It seems the "blonde" has thoroughly prepared for the meeting and brought along a full arsenal of seduction. However, the Clio doesn't look scared—surely this little one has something to surprise us with too.
Still, I want to talk to the Peugeot first. Hi, want to give me a ride? She wants to, you can see it in her eyes. Just settle into the cabin, and you immediately understand where Peugeot dealers get such self-confidence. And you also realize that the price for the 207, if inflated, is only slightly so. The interior is simply stunning. There's trendy modern plastic that cleverly imitates... fabric, and jewelry in the form of silver inserts on the center panel and chrome rings around the gauges. It all looks very stylish, but the attention to detail is especially impressive. It feels like designers spent about three years on every tiny detail of the 207's cabin. Yes, the price tag is hefty, but—maybe it's worth it? After all, a car has long ceased to be just a means of transportation.
The Renault is much simpler. Against the fashionable Peugeot 207, it looks more restrained and serious. Its design has less flamboyance, no ostentatious pathos, and no huge grille. There's light makeup in the form of outlined headlights and round taillights, but overall, it's a true modest one. Not everyone likes an abundance of rhinestones and huge "D&G" labels on clothes.
True, in the Clio's cabin, there's an overabundance of simplicity. No frills, except for the steering wheel-mounted music control wheel, can be found here. The car doesn't try to seem more expensive than it is and directly states: "Relax, buddy, you're in economy class." You won't get flattery from it. Soft trim materials, silver "aluminum-look" inserts—that's not about it. The plastic is hard, and both in look and feel, it's just plain plastic.
But despite that, the interior is quite decent. Yes, it's as simple as can be, and no one sitting inside will ooh and aah (except maybe a Bentley owner, but for a completely different reason). However, after driving this car, you don't get the feeling that you're a loser. Everything is quite comfortable and, dare I say, cozy. The cabin is light, pleasing to the eye, and almost homey. Everything is made simply but solidly. Some things are downright endearing. For example, the short "childlike" steering column stalks or the little balls for adjusting airflow on the vents. The music plays along, the plastic steering wheel fits comfortably in your hands. The gear lever is at hand, climate control works. What more do you need? Charm, charm is missing...
But there's definitely something in the simple "Frenchwoman" Clio too. Charm isn't just about trinkets. After just a few minutes of interaction, you realize that this is a very smart and refined car with a pleasant character. Yes, it doesn't reach for the stars. Handling is quite ordinary, and the steering effort feels somewhat artificial. Yes, the engine pulls a bit boringly (but it does pull!), the trim and "music" aren't great... but the car tries, tries to please! It has a very soft, yet not sloppy, suspension. Decent sound insulation and good ergonomics. And overall, the Clio is a very docile little thing. It does everything you want and nothing without asking. And that's something to like.
Almost the complete opposite of the Peugeot, in general. Not to say our 207 is a hysteric. But its steering is "sharper" (though you can't cut yourself on it) and more sensitive, it reacts more to ruts, and it doesn't drive as confidently in a straight line. You immediately notice the stiffer suspension, compared to the Clio. The 207 seems to say—if you want calm, relaxed driving, I'm not for you. Of course. It's like meeting a devilishly attractive girl and mumbling and being boring on the first date. How long will such an acquaintance last? Same here: if you're too proper, you're unlikely to find common ground. Or put up with the quirks of character.
You can do that. And then, as it turns out, you need to. The 207 is not a pretty empty shell. This car handles wonderfully! The effort on the steering wheel, pedals, and gear lever initially seems indecently light. But even though the steering on the 207 is lighter than in the Clio, its natural, rich feedback can't be compared to the Renault's "rubberiness." And what a responsive chassis! Reactions are almost instantaneous, with no body roll whatsoever. Wonderful! No, the stiffer suspension and increased sensitivity to the quality of Russian roads are definitely a reasonable price for those who want to enjoy driving.
Against such a composed chassis, the engine surprises in a different way. Listening to its mesmerizing whistling sound at low revs, I already anticipate a peppery character. But no—I press the gas, and it feels like something's wrong with the pedal, and it only pushes down halfway. Somehow, the engine starts pulling from 3500 rpm, but even that isn't enough. Yes, you can drive dynamically, but to do that, you'll have to change your driving style so the pedal is at the floor at least half the time. But the car follows the gas pedal with amazing precision and clarity. And driving it is a real pleasure.
Except this pleasure lasts exactly until a Clio easily and effortlessly overtakes you, with its absolutely "tasteless" engine sound, damped gas pedal, and other "non-driver" things. Against the Renault, the Peugeot simply has no chance. It needs a livelier engine. And it has them—but then the price would be even more impressive than its design.
Sitting inside the Renault is, of course, not as flashy, but very comfortable. In the back seat, the Clio readily accommodates a couple of fairly tall people, while the Peugeot will resist and make a fuss. This car only agrees to compact and elegant passengers, while lanky folks, fat guys, and overgrown ones will have to press their heads against the beautiful but equally hard glass roof, and their knees against the front seatbacks. I think if I had spent most of the test in the 207 not behind the wheel but in the back seat, my opinion of it would have been completely different.
And it's the Clio where you can, without lifting off the gas, fly over deep potholes and high bumps, while with the Peugeot 207, you have to be much more careful, even despite its high-profile tires. And you also need to be careful when parking near curbs—the 207's nose is undeniably very beautiful, but far from armored.
And yet, there's something in this illogical and not very practical subcompact that touches a nerve. When you get behind the wheel of the Clio, you try not to catch other drivers' eyes. You certainly like the car, but you don't want to show it off—they won't appreciate it. But with the "207," the situation is completely different: there's an immediate reason for pride. Like, look everyone—this is mine! And it's not just about the looks. The refined chassis, thoughtful cabin, and attention to detail win you over from the first minutes. So the Peugeot 207 easily wins my favor. And the Renault Clio is left to console itself that practicality and modesty can also be loved. And I'm sure such admirers will definitely be found.
Technical Specifications
| Characteristics |
Peugeot 207 |
Renault Clio |
| Body |
| Number of doors/seats |
5/5 |
5/5 |
| Length, mm |
4030 |
3986 |
| Width, mm |
1720 |
1707 |
| Height, mm |
1472 |
1496 |
| Curb weight, kg |
1149 |
1145 |
| Gross weight, kg |
1640 |
1650 |
| Trunk volume, l |
310–1095 |
290–1040 |
| Engine |
| Type |
Petrol, with distributed fuel injection |
Petrol, with distributed fuel injection |
| Location |
Front, transverse |
Front, transverse |
| Number and arrangement of cylinders |
4, in-line |
4, in-line |
| Number of valves |
16 |
16 |
| Displacement, cm3 |
1360 |
1390 |
| Max. power, hp/rpm |
90/5250 |
100/5700 |
| Max. torque, Nm/rpm |
133/3250 |
127/4250 |
| Transmission |
| Gearbox |
Manual, five-speed |
Manual, five-speed |
| Drive |
Front |
Front |
| Chassis |
| Front suspension |
Independent, McPherson |
Independent, McPherson |
| Rear suspension |
Semi-independent, coil spring |
Semi-independent, coil spring |
| Front brakes |
Disc, ventilated |
Disc, ventilated |
| Rear brakes |
Drum |
Drum |
| Tires |
185/65 R15 |
185/60 R15 |
| Performance characteristics |
| Maximum speed, km/h |
180 |
183 |
| Acceleration time from 0 to 100 km/h, s |
12.7 |
11.3 |
| Fuel consumption, l/100 km |
| urban cycle |
7.8 |
8.7 |
| extra-urban cycle |
4.7 |
5.4 |
| combined cycle |
5.9 |
6.6 |
| Toxicity standard |
Euro-4 |
Euro-3 |
| Fuel tank capacity, l |
45 |
55 |
| Fuel |
AI-95 |
AI-95 |
Equipment of tested cars
| Equipment of tested cars |
Peugeot 207 |
Renault Clio |
| Price of base version, $ |
19510 |
17449 |
| Front airbags |
+ |
+ |
| Front side airbags |
+ |
O |
| Inflatable curtains |
+ |
- |
| ABS |
+ |
+ |
| ESP |
+ |
- |
| Power steering |
+ |
+ |
| Height-adjustable steering column |
+ |
+ |
| Reach-adjustable steering column |
+ |
- |
| Leather steering wheel |
+ |
- |
| Heated front seats |
+ |
+ |
| Hands-free system with Bluetooth |
O |
- |
| Climate control |
- |
+ |
| Dual-zone climate control |
O |
- |
| Power-adjustable and heated exterior mirrors |
+ |
+ |
| Front electric windows |
+ |
+ |
| Rear electric windows |
+ |
- |
| Split-folding rear seat |
+ |
+ |
| CD audio system |
O |
+ |
| CD changer |
O |
- |
| Light sensor |
O |
- |
| Rain sensor |
O |
- |
| On-board computer |
+ |
+ |
| Panoramic roof |
O |
- |
| Rear parking sensors |
O |
- |
| Leather interior |
+ |
- |
| Cornering lights |
O |
- |
| Front fog lights |
+ |
+ |
| Headlight washer |
+ |
- |
| Alloy wheels |
+ |
- |
| Metallic paint |
- |
O |
| Price of tested car, $ |
23912 |
18399 |
Cars for the test provided by
Peugeot Rus Auto LLC,
Avtoframos OJSC.
Behind the scenes
