A funky city car with a different feel, and one that makes the Smart Fourtwo seem pointless.

In case you’ve missed the whole Peugeot/Citroën/Toyota build a car together thing, here’s a quick précis: three firms collaborate on city car, produce three near-identical cars (107/C1/ Aygo), all for near-identical prices.

We’ve already established in our first drives of the Aygo and C1 that Toyota and Citroën’s cars are respectably good to drive and generally appealing. Now it’s the Peugeot’s turn. Whereas the Aygo has more obviously differentiated styling, the 107 is really similar to the C1. It’s not unattractive, but little Peugeots normally have more pizzazz than this. Still, the dowdy black plastic bumper inserts will doubtless be a boon when bump-parking, Paris-style.

Inside, the 107 is identical to its siblings, but for the steering wheel. And it’s great. With lots of body-coloured metal inside, the cabin looks unapologetically cheap, but it’s funky, airy and light. Turn the key and the 998cc three-pot sounds like a 2CV’s motor; smoother and quieter, but just as characterful. It feels reasonably zesty, too, despite a leisurely 14.2sec 0-62mph time. Around town, there’s enough poke (68bhp) to squirt into the gaps that the high driving position allows you to spot. And with the tiny dimensions (3.43m long, 1.63m wide) and light steering, parking is a doddle. The 107 will also cruise happily at motorway speeds, although it takes a while to get there, and you’ll need to stir the spoon-in-porridge gearlever into fourth if you want to overtake

So the 107’s good, and has more character in one of its door mirrors then an island full of ‘celebrities’, but should you buy one over a C1 or Aygo? It’ll probably come down to which dealer is closest to you. The 107 comes in one trim level only (with four airbags, electric front windows and remote central locking), and costs £7345. The similarly specified C1 Rhythm (which gets a rev counter that’s £50 in the 107) costs £7345, and the Aygo+ £7495. Air-con is a worthwhile £500 option on any of the cars

Which would we buy? We’d flip a coin. A three-sided coin

Rory Lumsdon

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