THINK of a typical family car.
Chances are the 307 will come to mind - and that's no surprise. For there are plenty of them about. Peugeot has shifted no fewer than 240,000 in the UK over the past four years.
Figures like that are something to crow about - 240,000 buyers can't be wrong. Rather like restaurants which are always packed out, you know a car has plenty going for it if they are rolling out of showrooms almost as quickly as they arrive.
I think the 307's secret is it doesn't try to be anything it is not. It's an honest, working car that is ideally suited to supermarket shopping and school runs.
Reliable, pretty good looking, easy to live with - it's all of these.
And while its days of winning big awards such as the 2001 Car of the Year title may be over, it still has plenty to offer.
Across the range you get three or five-door hatchbacks, SW estates and a Coupe Cabriolet, and there are five levels of spec.
Latest models feature the new 'family-look' treatment. This incorporates a number of features - a single air intake and sporty grille integrated into a shorter aluminium bonnet for starters.
Also new are the larger elliptical headlamps, chrome grilles and fog lamps on higher-grade models. All, however, benefit from advanced multiplex wiring with the CAN (Controller Area Network) protocal operating system to increase responsiveness and functionality.
My five-door SE hatchback was both comfortable and sensibly practical.
It is reckoned to have a more dramatic exterior than the 307 S and entry level hatchback.
It comes with ESP-traction control, a heat reflective windscreen, front arm rests, automatic headlights, automatic rain-sensing front wipers and electrochrome rear view mirror. Additionally, you get electric windows, 16-inch alloy wheels, a five-disc CD-autochanger and air conditioning.
The 307 is renowned for its space and you get a multitude of storage ideas within the car, including under-seat drawers, large door bins and aviation-style tables on the back of the two front seats.
It coped quite well with my family of four and our normal weekly shopping, school, youth club and football trips.
We had no occasion to fill the boot to capacity, but there's good room here and, with the full length roof rails, owners can carry a further 110kg of cycles, skis, surfboards or luggage.
The engine, the HDi 90, is the smallest diesel in the range. It always appeared comfortable and never strained, without being spectacular or particularly memorable.
Which I suppose is good enough. It does its job and is not too thirsty, notching up more than 57mpg on the combined cycle
With families ever in mind you would expect the Peugeot 307 to score heavily in the safety stakes and it does, receiving a four-star rating in the Euro NCAP safety classification.
Active front seat headrests are fitted to all models to help prevent whiplash injuries. Other safety features include anti-lock brakes, with electronic brake force distribution.
All models have remote control central locking and a delayed automatic locking function which reduces the likelihood of a vehicle being left unintentionally unlocked.
FAST FACTS
Peugeot 307 SE HDi 90 5dr
Price: £14,900
Mechanical: 90bhp, 1,560cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving front wheels via 5spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 111mph
0-62mph: 12.5 secs
Combined mpg: 57.6
Insurance group: 5
CO2 emissions: 129g/km
BiK rating: 18%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles; 12yrs paint; 12yrs anti-rust