Peugot 1007

The car is undoubtedly a star - but what sets it apart from the run-of-the-mill performer are those all-singing, all-dancing electric sliding side doors, writes Caroline Beamish.

At first glance they may seem like a gimmick, but they're much, much more than that.

For starters, they're a shopaholic's dream. No more sashaying, or even cramp-inducing jack-knifing, into the car in crammed city-centre car parks driver and passengers can exit easily without straining a single muscle in the tightest of spaces.

And it goes without saying that those two doors make the Peugeot 1007 a must for drivers who face physical challenges - the Motability user-chooser has never had it so good.

The French marque's line-up, from the little 107 city car to the carry-all 807 MPV, is chock full of fine performers, and the 1007 is described by the firm as a supermini. But the three-door hatchback's tall cabin and large glass areas give the 1007 a very commanding presence, yet the car is just 3.73 metres in length, and 1.66 metres wide.

That's shorter, to give comparisons, than a Ford Fiesta or Fiat Punto, but the 1007 seems twice their size.

It was the French giant that sparked the small-is-big car revolution more than 30 years ago. Ever since 1972, when Peugeot launched the little 104, then the smallest four-door vehicle, car makers have tried to cram as much versatility as possible into the least amount of metal.

With the 1007, Peugeot has pushed the boundaries of flexibility pretty much to the limit.

Opting for three doors, rather than the seemingly more practical five works so well in the 1007's case simply because those powered side doors are so wide and access to the rear two seats is both easy and excellent.

Safeguards are part of the power-door package, so if a door meets an obstacle like a mischievous child when closing, it stops immediately and reverses.

A warning sounds and a light flashes if the car so much as moves while a door is open; and closed doors cannot be opened when the 1007 is on the move.

And if the car is in a shunt, it always remains possible to open and close the doors manually. Those points should put any parent's mind at rest.

The 1007 entry model, the 1.4 litre Dolce, was sampled, and it costs £10,850. There's a 1.6 litre as the other petrol choice, and a 1.4 turbo diesel offering. Trim choices are just two, Dolce and Sport, and the most you'll pay for one of these sparkling superminis is £12,600.

There's a list of options, and the one most appreciated on these dark winter days was the £550 panoramic sunroof, which brightened an already airy cabin.

The colour satellite navigation screen was a paragon of clarity and came complete with phone set-up, radio and five-disc CD changer again it was a fitted option at an ouch price of £1,650.

The 1360cc petrol engine drums up 75bhp, likes to work, and still pulls strongly when there are four adults on board. Economy is 44.1mpg on the combined cycle, top speed is 102mph, and this car's performance capabilities are adequately summed up by the 0 to 62mph time of 14.4 seconds.

The 1007 is always stable, even though it is almost as tall as it is wide, with negligible body roll on corners.

It rides smoothly over patchier roads, but there is a feeling of remoteness about the overall handling, probably induced by that high ride height and very deep front fascia and dash layout.

The chairs' comfort is very good, and at the back the space is supermini average if there are two tall people up front, then only two small people can fit in the back.

Standard cargo space is a modest 264 litres, so families will need the optional roof rails (£150) for holiday luggage. With the rear seats down, load area increases to almost 1,200 litres - but the beauty of the 1007 is that three of the four seats can be folded away, without having to remove them completely, for endless space permutations.

The supermini's standard security and equipment list is lengthy, and it is nice to see a trip computer, remote locking, electric heated door mirrors, and one-touch electric windows included.

The car has earned the maximum five stars in the European crash-test listing, so it has the best in-passenger and pedestrian protection. It's the only vehicle in this class with seven standard airbags. Trays and pockets are secreted all over the cabin, so storage space is well above the norm, too.

Finally, to keep you updated on Peugeot matters, the firm has just announced improvements to both the 607 executive saloon and 807 people carrier ranges. With this summer's introduction of the cheap and cheerful 107 city car alongside the 1007, Peugeot's appeal has undoubtedly widened considerably.