The hatchback version of the 207 was awarded the maximum five stars for adult occupant safety by Euro NCAP along with an impressive four stars for child safety.

So the Peugeot 207 SW safety levels will be just as good and every car has front, side and curtain airbags, five three-point seatbelts, two Isofix childseat anchor points and strong side and front impact protection. A shame then that Peugeot did not fit an electronic stability programme (ESP) as standard that helps prevent the car going into a skid.

Key security features include remote central locking with deadlocks, automatic locking once the car reaches 6mph and an immobiliser.

The 207 SW may be a compact estate, but there’s plenty of room in the boot. This is especially the case when the seats are folded down. It’s easy to load and there is a total of 428 litres on offer – 112 more than the hatchback. This means there’s enough room for a couple of suitcases or dealing with the jobs that come with family life – like buying new furniture.

The rear seats can be folded with just one hand. The now defunct Outdoor models have roof bars as standard and the extra inch of ground clearance might come in handy if you have gravel tracks to tackle.