Peugeot 207 I (WA/WC) (2006 – 2009)

Reliability score : 6.2/10

The Peugeot 207 (Generation I, internal code WA for 3-door, WC for 5-door) was introduced in 2006 as the successor to the wildly successful 206. It marked a significant shift for Peugeot: it was much heavier, larger, and focused heavily on passive safety and interior quality. However, this era (2006-2009) is infamous for the introduction of the 'Prince' petrol engines (VTi and THP), co-developed with BMW. While these engines offered excellent performance and efficiency on paper, they became a reliability nightmare, severely tarnishing the 207's reputation. The older, carry-over engines (TU/ET series) remain the safest petrol choices. Note: The '207' sold in Mercosur and China (often called 207 Compact) was actually a heavily facelifted 206. This sheet focuses on the true European A7 platfo

✅ Strengths

Excellent chassis dynamics and road holding (typical Peugeot DNA)
High passive safety standards (5-star Euro NCAP)
Interior material quality was a massive step up from the 206
TU and ET series petrol engines are virtually bulletproof
Very comfortable front seats and good driving position

⚠️ Weaknesses

Catastrophic reliability of the Prince engines (VTi and THP)
Heavy weight blunts performance and increases fuel consumption on base engines
Electric Power Steering (EPS) failures are common and expensive
Cramped rear legroom compared to rivals (Clio III)
Notchy and vague 5-speed manual gearboxes (MA5 type)

🎯 Verdict

The Peugeot 207 Phase 1 is a car of extremes. If you buy a model with the older TU/ET petrol engines (1.4 8v, 1.4 16v, 1.6 16v), you are getting a safe, comfortable, and highly reliable supermini that represents excellent value for money today. However, if you are looking at the 1.4 VTi, 1.6 VTi, or 1.6 THP, the verdict changes to a strict AVOID unless the car comes with a massive folder of receipts proving the timing chain, HPFP, and valve stem seals have already been replaced. The financial risk associated with the Prince engines in this era far outweighs the car's value. For diesels, the 1.4 HDi is a solid workhorse, while the 1.6 HDi requires meticulous maintenance history to be a safe buy.