The Peugeot 407 is a serious contender in terms of style, with its long front overhang and grille’s gaping design hoping to turn heads away from the usual look of family cars. This is an ambitious endeavor when the 407 is pitted against the Ford Mondeo and the Citroen C5’s better looking structures. There’s also the impractical removal of a hatchback. Nonetheless the Peugeot 407 has several merits: it has passed the five-star crash safety test and offers a comfortable ride. Read on to know how well the Peugeot 407 fares by itself and against other equally equipped competitors.

Pros

The Peugeot 407’s entry-level engine is the 1.8-litre petrol at 125bhp. Although it does the job on regular roadways, it has a tendency to become noisy along motorways. You can expect a better performance from the larger 2.2-litre at 163bhp and 2.0-litre at 143 bhp units. The 3.0-litre V6 petrol is at the top of this range and comes with an automatic gearbox. You can also expect a smoother performance and a quiet experience given its top stature.

The petrol engines may be able to do a decent job, but the diesels prove to be the better choice among the units. There’s the 1.6-litre HDi at 110bhp, but the 2.0 HDi stands out with its in-gear performance, fuel economy at 50mpg, and its adequate refinement levels. The most recently released engine is the 2.2 HDi at 170bhp that employs a twin-turbo system. As a result, the 2.2 litre unit is able to provide a mid-range performance and smooth pacing.

Light steering makes the Peugeot 407 an enjoyable ride all the way. Drivers will appreciate how easy three-point turns become and how the vehicle is able to soak up even the deepest lumps along the road. Owners of the diesel and petrol V6 models will enjoy a steering system that’s more responsive than the entry-level variation; this experience is enhanced by an electronically controlled damper system.

The Peugeot 407 is quite spacious and provides enough leg and headroom. Three children or two adults can readily fir at the back; a middle passenger won’t have any problems settling in thanks to the flat transmission tunnel. Comfort is further enhanced by the engine’s ability to keep quiet and the car keeping wind noise at a minimum.

The Peugeot 407 comes in four trim levels: the S, SE, SV, and Executive. The entry-level S already comes with a trip computer, electric front windows, climate control, anda CD stereo. Added luxury comes in the SV model and its parking sensors, electric seats, while the executive includes heated seats, cruise control, and rear side airbags.

Cons

The 407 may boast of enough space, but its luggage capacity is rather limited at 407 litres. As previously mentioned, the absence of a hatchback hampers the function of the boot. Stowage is also limited in the cabin area.

One needs to be picky when choosing the right engine for the Peugeot 407. The entry-level 1.8-litre petrol tends to become noisy when running at motorway speeds. The larger 2.0- and 2.2-litre units aren’t very economical either compared to the demands of today’s roads and environment. The larger diesel and petrol engines include a six-speed box but their transmission executes flimsy actions and the clutch rather springy. The alternative six-speed automatic gearbox option isn’t urgent enough for other road demands. 

Peugeot 407 is produced by the French automaker, PSA Peugeot Citroën, who is known to be the second largest carmaker. This large family car was produced in the years 2004 until 2010, and it was created as a successor of the Peugeot 406, a large family car that was produced from 1994 until 2004.

The 407 follows an FF layout or the front engine, front wheel drive layout. It is available in several body styles including a two door coupé, a four door sedan, and a five door station wagon.  This car is related to the Citroën C5, which is also a large family car produced in the year 2001. This was assembled in Rennes, Brittany, France, and it was succeeded by the Peugeot 508 when it ceased production in 2010.

Several Peugeot 407 concept cars are available, one of which is named the 407 Elixir, which is the 407’s saloon version and is displayed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2003. The race car version is the 407 Silhouette, and the 407 Prologue, which was shown at the Geneva Motor Show in 2005, was the closest version to the coupé.

The 407 has been noted for its appearances in several commercials and films. The first advertisement that it appeared on is called The Toys or Les Jouets, and it was also used in Taxi 4, a comedy film released in 2007.