Peugeot says that its new 1007 is designed to make life easier, and will write a new chapter in the design and safety standards of small family cars. Motoring Editor Malcolm Baylis checks it out.

PEUGEOT has a tremendous record when it comes to revolutionising the motoring world, boasting that it has introduced at least ten world firsts.

However, quite how the latest "revolutionary package" will go down with the public is debateable.

The company this month launches its latest small car, the 1007, and to all intents and purposes it is conventional. Except this baby has sliding front doors.

In some respects it is a great idea. More normally seen as the rear passenger doors on multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs), the sliding doors work from the outside either by touching the door handle or using the key fob. Inside, there are switches to press to open or close the doors.

The major advantage of the sliding doors is the wonderful ease of slotting into one of those once too narrow parking spaces in car parks. Now a whole new world of parking ease comes into play. Another major advantage is the wide-open door space that becomes available, making it especially easy for those needing to climb in or out of the back seat.

However, when the car was first exposed to the motoring press, there was a great deal of concern about the safety of the sliding doors. They can be opened while on the move, not at high speed admittedly, but can still be opened, very easily, too, because the electric motor does all the work.

Peugeot has made sure the aptly named Sesame doors are equipped with numerous safety devices. If the car moves off with a door open, that is at below three mph, there is an audible warning and the courtesy lights flash to warn the driver.

The doors are also fitted with an anti-trap mechanism, stopping the door when it meets resistance while closing.

Space inside is good for four. There is decent leg room all round and shoulder space is also comfortable, while height is amazing. Sport a topper and there is room for a trilby on top!

It is in the cabin that another Peugeot innovation comes to the fore. Owners will be able to change the interior design and colour to suit their mood, or to get rid of badly stained or scratched fittings. There are 12 kits available, each consists of 18 parts ranging from fascia panel mats, to air vent covers to door panels to seat covers. Peugeot say this will allow customers to freshen up or change the look of their car at anytime during their ownership of it. Three kits are provided with every car, and for those families who want more then extra kits each cost £185 and £22 for the set of air vent covers. Each kit can be fitted or removed by the customer, without tools and without needed the help of the Peugeot dealer. When it comes to selling on the car, it can be made to look as good as new inside in just 15 minutes.

The 1007 is a pleasant car to drive, not particularly spectacular but comforting, and at home equally whether around town or on the open road. The high driving position and light steering both add to the enjoyment, although there was some wind noise experienced while pushing the throttle hard.

Three engines are available: a 1.4-litre petrol and diesel with 75bhp and 70bhp respectively, and a 110bhp 1.6-litre petrol engine, all quite adequate for the job. The 1.6-litre is only available mated to Peugeot's 2Tronic paddle-shift automatic transmission, which for such a small car seems unnecessary. In fact a straightforward automatic system would be far less fussy. However, Peugeot expects the 2-Tronic semi-automatic transmission to be the choice of more than 60 per cent of customers.

The 1007 range consists of two trim levels, Dolce and Sport, and both have been built around a high level of standard equipment. Both models have fog lights, air conditioning with heated front windscreen, CD radio with steering wheel controls, a multifunction display screen, leather steering wheel, one touch electric windows, child surveillance mirror and luggage net.

Bootspace is pretty limited, brought about by all the cabin legroom, and a deep lip does mean getting heavy luggage out can be a struggle. Luggage space can be increased by split and fold rear seats, while the front passenger seat also folds.

Seating offers a variety of arrangements: combinations enable the seating plan to be changed to suit four to two, or even one seat without any seats having to be removed.

There are plenty of stowage spaces throughout the vehicle, a glove box, drawers under the front seats, pockets for maps, storage spaces in the foot wells, as well as storage pockets and drink holders in the central console. Interestingly, there is a rigid writing surface on the back of the front passenger seat, with two elastic straps to hold stationery.

For the driver, the instruments are easy to read and use, although the door mirror control is hidden by a steering wheel stalk, and a bit of fumbling is needed to use it.

With the 1007 now joining the 107 and the long-serving 206 in the market, Peugeot expects to more than regain its 15 per cent share of the UK's small car market.

:: At a glance

Prices: Seven versions, two trims Dolce and Sport, from £10,850 to £12,600.

Dimensions: Length 3.731m, width 1.826m, height 1.66m, wheelbase 2.315m.

Engines: Two petrol, 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre, and 1.4-litre diesel.

Transmissions: Manual or 2-Tronic auto with lever and steering wheel paddle shift (depending on model).

Performance (0-62mph): 1.4-litre petrol 15.6-seconds; 1.4-litre diesel 16.7-seconds; 1.6-litre petrol 12.6-seconds.

Economy: Combined 1.4-litre petrol 45.6mpg, 1.4-litre diesel 64.2mpg; 1.6-litre petrol 42.8mpg.

Insurance: 3E for 1.4-litre models, 5E for 1.6-litre

Service intervals: two years, 20,000 miles.

Warranty: 3 years/60,000 miles.

Updated: 10:51 Friday, July 22, 2005