EVER walked into a warm, cosy pub and felt instantly at home?
Well, the Peugeot 307 refreshes the parts other cars cannot reach as it puts you at ease from the moment you get behind the wheel.
This is a classy five-door saloon which oozes confidence and offers extremely comfortable motoring.
Let me give you an example.
To most fellas, shopping is torture. I recently spent hours traipsing around a shopping centre with the wife. It left my legs aching and head spinning faster than a government media advisor on a roundabout.
The only thing that kept me going during this marathon retail therapy trek was the thought of the Peugeot 307 XSI HDi waiting in the car park to drive us home.
When we finally packed away seven bags of shopping into the very generous boot - more of that later - I leapt into the driving position.
The seats on the XSI are half-leather trim and are extremely comfortable, while the spacious cabin affords even my lanky 6ft 2in frame plenty of leg-space.
The air conditioning has an automatic option which offers a go-green 'eco' setting. But I went for touch button control to find that perfect slow-roasting temperature.
And with my seat reclined to a near horizontal position, I was in heaven as prepared to set off on our long journey back.
That two-hour drive, passing through rolling countryside, was worth all the pain because the Peugeot 307 offers a relaxing, smooth and powerful drive.
The model scooped an International Car of the Year title in 2001 - the year that it was launched to replace the best-selling 306. Since then sales have risen steadily and it is now one of the main players in the family market.
This version of the 307 has a high level of technology which includes electric windows and heated, folding, door mirrors and automatic lights and wipers which adjust to the amount of light and rain.
Active safety features include anti-lock brakes and a handy little system called Emergency Brake Assist. Once it is activated, hazard warning lights automatically come on to alert following traffic if you've slammed on the anchors.
The car also provides plenty of power with a 136bhp engine offering a maximum speed of 126mph via s six-speed gearbox.
The XSI model I had was equipped with the two-litre HDi 16-valve unit. And that means acceleration, even for a diesel, is very impressive at 0-62 mph in 9.8 seconds, which will beat most cars from start at the traffic lights.
Handling is also very smooth and the 17in alloy wheels helped me take corners as well as David Beckham.
Of course no car is perfect. I found the inverted windscreen wipers more than a little distracting and the boot on my vehicle failed to close twice - a warning light alerting me within moments of driving off.
This aside, the Peugeot 307 XSI can take me shopping any time.
FAST FACTS
Peugeot 307 XSI HDi
Price: £17,220
Mechanical: 136bhp, 1,997cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving front wheels via 6spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 126 mph
0-62mph: 9.8 secs
Combined mpg: 52.3
Insurance group: 11
CO2 emissions: 142g/km
BiK rating: 15%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles; 12yrs anti-rust; 12yrs paint