DRIVING and riding the exotic and unusual is a great perk of this job. Trouble is, it makes it all too easy to overlook sensible cars for the real world.

And while there is no one-size-fits-all solution to individuals’ transport problems, a compact, reasonably powerful,

five-door automatic ticks more boxes than practically anything else.

Take, for example, the Peugeot 207 Sport 1.6VTi 120.

The latest Pug supermini is, admittedly, bigger than the 205 and 206 predecessors that were Peugeot’s best-sellers of all time.

But if you find this too big to drive in Guernsey, it must be time to hand in the licence and rely on the bus pass.

Not that I see autos solely as the preserve of my fellow wrinklies. Let’s face it, however young or old you are, if you want to use both feet to get where you’re going, why not walk or pedal and save money?

Of course, auto boxes do take the edge off performance but the combination of the joint-venture 1.6 engine that also appears in BMW’s Mini and the 207’s four-speed box still leaves you with more than enough oomph.

Take my word for it, sprinting to 62mph in under 13 seconds on the way to a top speed of 122mph is pretty sprightly, especially when all you have to do is press the loud pedal.

OK, many petrolheads might not have the sense to buy autos, but for a box with just four ratios – there are snow and sport modes, too – the 207’s box is surprisingly good.

Its electronic intelligence make it ever-ready to dip smoothly into a lower ratio for extra acceleration or engine braking for hill descents and render the tiptronic function largely redundant.

Perfect? Just about, although it does seem reluctant to hit top gear within our legal limit, although the ever-rising average MPG on the trip computer showed that it did not impact on fuel consumption.

But enough of the boring mechanicals. What’s the car like?

Well, still conveniently small for these days, albeit some eight inches longer than the 206 and two-and-a-half wider.

And at least with the Peugeot, unlike some, the increase in dimensions outside does translate into extra room within.

If you regularly carry adults in the back seats, they will be glad you chopped in your 206 for its successor.

Thanks in part to a cutout in the back of the front seats, there is now room for rear-seat passengers’ legs.

Luggage room is pretty decent too and you cannot hold it against Peugeot that beneath the boot floor lurks only a tool kit and puncture repair kit-cum-inflator.

Like the electronic stability programme, the spare wheel is a cost option, albeit it a modest £30.

Since most of my local deflationary mishaps have involved an exposed drain grating, sharp kerbstone or dislodged sharp stone penetrating a tyre sidewall, I much prefer a spare wheel to be in the well that is, after all, designed to accommodate it.

But don’t let that put you off the Pug because most superminis these days come similarly unequipped.

And so in this back-to-front road test to the most important seats in the house – the fronts which will tend to be occupied by the people who have shelled out the readies for the car.

Unusually, both front passenger and driver’s seats are height-adjustable and the steering wheel adjusts for both rake and reach so getting comfy is easy for both front-seat occupants.

And downsizers will be pleased that the 207 Sport auto has the sort of kit that used to come only with much larger cars.

The optional leather upholstery looks good value at less than £800 and complements the standard leather wheel rather nicely.

The electric mirrors also powerfold, although that really should hardly ever be necessary when squeezing by along, say, Collings Road or the Brigade.

Still the feature – part of the Urban Pack that includes the rear parking aid – can be useful to keep them out of the way in tighter car parks.

Peugeot have earned themselves a good reputation for chassis design – especially with the recent 2-series.

The 207 is no exception and while the handling is distinctly sporty, the ride comfort is worthy of something at least one size class up.

The standard air con. is manual rather than full climate-control but other big car features include automatic door locking and that optional parking sensor has a clear display in the trip computer to complement the usual beeped warning when getting too close for comfort.

With its comprehensive equipment list and good ride, this 207 makes a good fist of cosseting mature types switching to something smaller. It will even tow a 1,150kg caravan.

On the other hand, its nimble handling and responsive auto box make it a surprisingly satisfying prospect for press-on types.

While grandparents, parents and young empty nesters will appreciate the impressive safety score should its agility and powerful braking not be enough to keep them out of trouble.

Clutches and gear sticks? Who really needs them?