I'm far from old, but I can remember the days when the only vehicle to manage 74 miles to the gallon would be a moped or lawn-mower.

Things have changed. Today’s super-efficient cars can easily achieve economy figures which would have seemed outrageous a generation ago.

And we’re not just talking about frugal city cars. Tested here is the Peugeot 207, one of the most respected family motors, a car which is solid, stylish and now very, very green.

Perhaps just as importantly, the 207 also offers less than 100g/km of emissions. That’s not a figure which is as obviously exciting as the miles per gallon, but if anything it’s more significant, especially to business-users.

This is the 207 Economique. It makes good use of the range’s 1.6-litre turbocharged diesel unit, which sounds smoother and quieter than many petrol motors.

In non-intercooled form, the HDi engine produces 90bhp, but it’s the 161lb/ft of torque that is of most use when it comes to squeezing as much energy and economy as possible.

It’s not strictly the same engine as on the standard 90bhp diesel car, however. Now, here’s the technical bit.

The Economique’s unit uses an exhaust gas recirculation heat exchanger (are you following this?) that cools the re-injected gases and has a remapped electronic control unit to minimise fuel consumption. Got that? Well, all you really need to know is that you will find your petrol station stops become less frequent.

But behind the wheel, it’s the gearbox’s increased final drive ratio that will be most notable. Rather than adjust individual gear ratios within the five-speed gearbox, Peugeot has opted to raise the transmission’s final drive ratio, meaning all of the gears are longer than in the standard 207.

This is where the high torque output of the diesel unit proves its worth, effortlessly dealing with the long gears and allowing the 207 Economique to get up to speed without needing to be revved hard. At motorway cruising speed, the revs stay low, meaning it makes a surprisingly refined long-distance cruiser.

It’s possible that in town you find the lower gears take some getting used to. You may need to get into the habit of holding first longer and not being able to crawl quite so readily in second.

Despite this, the 207 retains its city car appeal, and less frequent gear changes make for smoother progress in stop-start traffic.

Engine and transmission adjustments are not the only changes helping the 207 Economique towards its 99g/km performance. As is the norm for eco-friendly models, the body work has come in for some fine-tuning, too. The standard model’s drag coefficient of 0.30 has been reduced to 0.274 by fitting a modified front bumper and sills, smoothing out the underside with an under-tray around the fuel tank, a discreet but effective rear spoiler and ride height dropped by 5mm.

You might not imagine such minor amendments would make much difference, but in the world of economy motoring, every little helps.

Already a fashionable car, the changes have done little to affect the 207’s appeal. LED effect rear lights are particularly contemporary, and, although alloy wheels are not an option, the model is shod with steel wheels and special aero hub caps instead. Peugeot is good at making reasonably basic specification look stylish and comfortable.

There are actually two specifications of the 99g/km 207 available, with the more expensive Economique+ boasting air-conditioning, a trip computer and electric, heated door mirrors.

But despite its humble specification, the Economique trim level doesn’t disappoint in the comfort stakes. A neat interior shows the hallmarks of having been designed with style and ergonomics in mind and the shapely seats are supportive and comfortable in the front and rear.

Available in three or five-door form, the three-door body actually performs quite well when it comes to access. There’s space in the rear for two adults and the three belts mean a trio of smaller frames can be carried. Bootspace is more than acceptable for a B-segment hatchback, too.

Tax-free status and impressive fuel economy are the big attractions, but the fact that the 207 Economique delivers them alongside the usual mixture of town-friendly dimensions, easy driving experience and family-friendly packaging makes the already popular 207 even more enticing.

The Economique is missing some mod-cons, but the quality of what is present help make up for it.

FACT FILE

  • PRICE: £14,095 on the road.
  • ENGINE: A 1.6-litre diesel unit developing 90bhp and 161lb/ft of torque via a five-speed manual transmission, driving the front wheels.
  • PERFORMANCE: Top speed 115mph, 0-62mph in 11.7 seconds.
  • EMISSIONS: 99g/km.
  • COSTS: Average 74.3mpg.
  • WARRANTY: Three years, 60,000 miles.