PEUGEOT 307 3 Doors 2001-2005 Photos, engines & full specs

Peugeot replaced the aging 306 lineup in 2001 with the 307, and it was a big leap forward for the French carmaker, which attacked the all-mighty Golf on the European market.

Even though it couldn't match the Golf's capabilities in all the areas, the 307 offered a warmer interior than the German contender in the compact segment. Moreover, Peugeot offered a three-door bodywork for those who preferred a sportier-looking version.

The car came with a new design language that featured feline-inspired headlights. Its grille was narrow and crossed by a horizontal slat sporting the carmaker's badge in the middle. The carmaker placed a wider gap for cooling the engine on the lower side of the bumper flanked by the optional foglamps. From its profile, the 3-door 307 featured longer front doors and a pop-out rear window. The racked-forward C-pillars somehow resembled those from the Golf III, even though it competed against the Golf MkIV. At the back, the car's tailgate was flanked by corner-mounted taillights, limiting access to the trunk.

Inside, the carmaker installed a well-designed interior with carefully selected materials. The instrument cluster featured two large dials for the speedometer and tachometer. A pair of smaller gauges for the temperature and fuel level above the warning lamps' panel. The carmaker placed a silver plastic trim on the center stack that descended toward the center console, around the gear stick. But, like most of the Peugeots, the 307 featured comfortable seats with small side bolstering areas. As an option, depending on the engine, the carmaker offered high-bolstered seats. There was limited room for three passengers in the back, but just enough for two.

Under the hood, Peugeot placed a wide choice of engines ranging between an economical 1.4-liter turbo-diesel developed with Ford and a punchy 138 hp (140 PS) 2.0-liter gasoline powerplant. A GTi version fitted with a 175 hp (177 PS) was added later on.