Peugeot was in business as early as the 1700s but the products being churned out of its factory back then bore little resemblance to the advanced passenger cars that flow down the production lines today.

Peugeot came to the world or automobile manufacturing via the bicycle, it built a penny farthing in 1882 and had progressed to a three-wheeled steam powered car by 1889. By the 1890s steam had given way to petrol and three wheels to four, putting Peugeot on track to become the automotive powerhouse it is today.

Peugeot's famous numerical model designation system began with its first car, the Type 12 and the figures rose eventually giving us models like the 201 but 1929, the 402 by 1936 and the 403 in 1960. In the 70s Peugeot linked up with Citroen to form the PSA Alliance but it was the 80s that produced some of the Peugeot models that are remembered most fondly today.

The 205 was a pivotal product when launched in 1983, proving highly successful and spawning the famous 205 GTi hot hatchback derivatives. This car was then followed by the massively successful 206 which subsequently gave way to the current 207. Peugeot has been heavily involved in motorsport down the years and the technologies it developed on track filtered through to the production cars which gained good reputations for their driving dynamics.

The current Peugeot models share the marque's distinctive frontal styling and cover most of the mainstream market sectors. Economical engines, neat interior design and impressive levels of comfort feature amongst their strongest suits.