Peugeot has refreshed its 207 hatch and CC line-up with more contemporary styling, revised interiors, and a new, more powerful 1.4-litre petrol engine.
They've also been renamed with the previous XL, XR+ and XS designations falling away in favour of Urban, Active and Dynamic models.
The most striking change is to the front styling, which has a substantially revised grille and repositioned foglights. On the Urban and Active models the grille is finished in black while the Dynamic's is highlighted in chrome with chromed surrounds for the fog lights.
The 207 GTi and CC Sport 2 variants each have a grey grille with a black centre bar and more pronounced foglight recesses. All 207s now have LED tail lights.
Rim designs have been changed, too: Urban models have 15" plain steel rims, Active models eight-spoked 15" steel rims, Dynamic version 15" alloys and the GTi and CC Sport 2 flag-wavers sport 17" alloy rims.
Inside, there's a new air-con control panel with more user-friendly controls and, on models with Euro 5-compliant engines, an indicator arrow in the digital display between the two main instrument dials that tells the driver when to change gears for optimum fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, based on vehicle speed, engine temperature, revs and driving style.
All 207s now have a one-touch indicator function that gives only three flashes to signal, say, a lane change or an overtaking manoeuvre.
The power windows can now be closed by holding down the lock button on the remote control central locking fob - which will be welcomed by anybody who's ever had to unlock a car and switch on to close a forgotten window.
An electronic stability programme is now standard across the range, as are an electro-chromatic rear-view mirror, tinted glass, power windows front and rear, a USB port linked to the sound system and integrated Bluetooth connectivity.
The entry-level Urban 1.4 comes in three and five-door format with a 1360cc engine for which Peugeot quotes 54kW at 5400rpm and 118Nm at 3300, driving the front wheels through a five-speed manual gearbox from 0-100 in 14.4sec and on to 167, using 6.4 litres/100km.
The new engine is the 1397cc Active 1.4 VTT with variable valve timing on intake and exhaust valves and variable lift on the intake valves, good for 70kW at 6000rpm and 136 Nm at 4 000 r/min through a five-speed manual transmission. The maker says it'll go from 0-100 in 11.5sec, top out at 185km/h and burn only 6.1 litres/100km.
The Dynamic 1.6 VTi's 1598cc engine also has variable valve timing and lift, with claimed maximum power 88kW at 6000rpm and 160 Nm at 4250, again through a five-speed manual gearbox. Peugeot quotes 0-100km in 9.6sec and 190km/h flat out, at a cost of 6.1 litres/100km.
The only diesel in the 207 range is the 1.6 HDI with 80kW at 4000rpm, and 240Nm (260 on overboost) at 1750 revs. Peugeot says it's good for 0-100 in 10.1sec and 193km/h on only 4.5 litres/100km.
The 207 CC Sport 2 has a turbocharged 1598cc giving a claimed 110kW at 5800rpm and 240Nm at 1400rpm, for which Peugeot quotes 0-100 in 8.6sec, 210km/h top speed and an average of 7.2 litres/100 km.
But the sportiest 207 is till the GTi with the same engine as the CC but tuned for 128kW at 6000 revs and 240Nm at 1600rpm, delivering a claimed 0-100 sprint time of 7.1sec and a top speed of 220km/h while averaging 7.2 litres/100km.
Urban 1.4 3-Door - R150 000
Urban 1.4 5-Door - R157 000
Active 1.4 VTT 5-Door - R170 500
Dynamic 1.6 VTi 5-Door - R200 000
Dynamic 1.6 HDi 5-Door - R215 000
GTi 1.6 THP 3-Door - R245 000
CC 1.6 THP Sport 2 - R285 000
Each Peugeot 207 comes with a three-year or 100 000km warranty, a four-year or 60 000km service plan and a roadside assistance package.