Peugeot hopes its Verve special editions will give the 207 supermini a shot in the arm. Steve Walker takes a look.

The 207 Verve is flanked in the Peugeot range by a 107 Verve and a 308 Verve which comply to a similar ‘more stuff for less cash’ formula. Four engines are available with the 207 Verve. There’s a 75bhp 1.4-litre petrol unit and a 70bhp 1.4-litre HDI diesel.

This is quite a heavy car for its class though, so it’s better if you can to stretch to either the 95bhp 1.4-litre VTi petrol (a much more modern unit anyway) or the 1.6-litre HDi 90 diesel. The car handles with a certain degree of verve but it isn’t one of the sportiest superminis on sale and it can be tricky for taller drivers to get comfortable behind the wheel. Ride comfort and refinement are far stronger suits and the 207 feels like a much bigger and more substantial proposition than many superminis you’ll encounter.

On the road in the 75bhp 8v 1.4-litre petrol car (which weighs around 1300kgs), the 0-60mph sprint takes 15.7s and the top speed is 106mph. By contrast, a MINI which uses the same engine weighs 1,135kg and can get to 60mph in 10.9s, evidence of the impact that less weight can have. As long as you don’t expect too much pace from the Verve models, the 5-speed gearbox is the only real drawback. The slack action isn’t what you want in a nimble supermini and it lets the rest of the driving package down a bit.

The 207 represented a big improvement over the 206 in terms of perceived quality and the latest models have been upgraded further. The materials in the cabin look and feel sturdy with no obvious flaws in terms of the way they all fit together. Rear legroom is not as good as in some rivals, although there’s compensation in the shape of a 310-litre boot capacity, and the design of the standard ventilation control panel looks dated.

The styling themes that have gradually rolled out across the Peugeot model range are nothing if not distinctive and as with anything so wilfully out of the ordinary, the look of the 207 may not be to everyone’s taste. For the uninitiated, the 207’s main distinguishing features are those elongated headlamps that stretch back from the nose into the front wings and the huge grinning grille below, its teeth braced by a dark central bumper. On the latest cars, this grille is flanked by additional vents that host the fog lights. Around the back there are LED lights and the overall look has real purpose about it. It’s immediately obvious you’re looking at a 207.

Like all special edition models, the 207 Verve eventually boils down to its value proposition.

Peugeot has taken the standard 207 specification and added a series of additional features. These include power steering, driver airbag, passenger airbag, side airbag, remote control central locking with deadlocks, three rear three point seat belts, a split folding rear seat, adjustable front head restraints, steering column adjustable for reach and rake, a CD stereo, driver seat height adjustment, ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and Brake Assist, body coloured door handles and side mouldings, a chrome insert on the gear knob, white instrument dials, a trip computer, electrically operated and heated door mirrors, manual air-conditioning, 15" Monaco alloy wheels, front fog lights, Verve badges and interior floor mats.

For music lovers the car is also fitted as standard with Peugeot Connect USB with Bluetooth. This system enables a Bluetooth compatible mobile phone to be paired with the car. Once paired, the phone can be operated via the remote controls on the steering column. High-quality telephone communications can, therefore, be carried out in complete safety using both the car’s speakers and inbuilt microphone. The system also includes a USB Box which consists of a connection box located in the centre console with a USB connector and jack socket, all protected by a hinged cover.

Once connected, an MP3 player or an iPod can be operated via the radio controls or controls under the steering wheel, with the units screen information also shown on the car’s multi-function display. The unit is also capable of "streaming" music via the Bluetooth function, making it possible to play recorded music from the memory of a Bluetooth phone or from a portable music player equipped with a Bluetooth module

Running a 207 Verve is unlikely to cost the earth, thanks to its advanced engine technology. Impressively, the 1.4-litre HDi 70 diesel engine scores better than 64mpg on the combined cycle with tax-friendly emissions of 117g/km, the same as the 1.6-litre HDi 90 variant. Despite a gearshift indicator light to help its driver maximise efficiency, the 75bhp 1.4 8v petrol option manages 44.1mpg and a less parsimonious 147g/km, worse in fact than the more powerful 1.4 VTi petrol unit (44.7mpg/140g/km). All 207 models come with Peugeot’s 3-year/60,000-mile warranty and Peugeot assistance breakdown cover, a fairly standard package in the modern marketplace.

The 207 Verve special edition has proved to be a useful tool for the brand in lightening the mood in its dealer showrooms. Along with its 107 and 308 Verve equivalents, Peugeot has a solid range of small cars here and buyers tend to be suckers for some extra equipment matched to a low price.

* FACTS AT A GLANCE

CAR: Peugeot 207 Verve range

PRICES: 12,330-14,481 – on the road

INSURANCE GROUPS: 3

CO2 EMISSIONS: 117-147g/km

PERFORMANCE: [1.4 75bhp ] 0-60mph 15.7s / Max Speed 106mph

FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.4 75bhp] (combined) 44.1mpg

STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin and side airbags, ABS

WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Heightmm 4030/1720/1472.