Peugeot 407 1.8S
You dont get much for around £15,700 these days when it comes to Medium Range Family cars. Not in terms of real roadgoing presence anyway. Entry-level versions of compact executive cars like BMWs 3 Series and Audis A4 are several thousand pounds away and in any case, everyone seems to have one of those.
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Its the entry-level 1.8-litre S version of Peugeots 407. The styling is very different from Peugeot medium range offerings of the past and so are the dynamic qualities of this car. Whereas the 407s predecessor, the 406, was a scaled up Family Hatchback at least in terms of its terrier-like handling this car is more of a scaled-down 607 executive saloon.
Which is disappointing for driving enthusiasts but more likely to be what probable customers want.
"Entry-level models are often disappointing. This one isnt."
Not that this car isnt enjoyable to drive. Peugeot are more or less incapable of producing a duffer in this department, so it comes as no surprise to find the 407 more than capable of lifting up its skirts for a cross-country dash as and when the situation demands it. Mind you, if youre likely to be doing this very often, its worth finding £1,500 more than the £15,700 being demanded for this 1.8S and going for the SE specification 2.
0-litre model. Here, the rest to sixty figure is 10.3s (as opposed to 12.9s) and the maximum speed 131mph (as opposed to 124mph).
The average fuel consumption figure (35mpg) is only 1mpg worse. Against this, the 1.8-litre model counters with a much lower insurance group (8 as opposed to 12) and slightly better emissions (183g/km as opposed to 192g/km). The latest 407 features a chrome radiator grille to mark it out from earlier iterations.
The looks will certainly divide opinion. From some angles the 407 looks utterly sensational. Viewed in profile, that long bonnet and stub tail have definite elements of Ferrari, even if the car was styled, not by Pininfarina (who do most of the styling work for the Maranello company and a bit on the side for Peugeot) but by a team of in house stylists. Whether you deem it a homage or a knock-off, theres little doubt that the 407 has genuine head turning aesthetics.
Walk a few degrees off the side view and things get a little less easy on the eye, the long front overhang looking a little lugubrious and the gaping maw of a grille dominating the frontal aspect. The tail end is very neat indeed although as a result of the stylish truncation at the back, the 407s boot isnt the biggest in class. If thats a problem, then an estate SW model is offered in this form for £16,900. Safety is currently a key selling point in this sector of the market, so its no surprise to find this Peugeot well prepared on this front.
Active safety in the form of brake discs with a diameter of up to 330mm and next-generation ESP stability control which is standard even on this entry-level model. As well as marshalling the anti-skid function, ESP also acts as a controller for the anti lock braking system, the emergency brake assist and the electronic brakeforce distribution to each individual wheel. The chassis itself incorporates not only the highest level of torsional rigidity ever seen on a Peugeot saloon as you might expect but it also features a device known as an impactor that anchors the engine to the subframe and prevents it being shunted into the passenger cell in the event of a crash. Pedestrian protection is a major design criterion these days and the 407 features foam padded bumper bars and a bonnet that deforms to absorb shock, the top of the engine a good distance below that sweeping bonnet line.
Up to nine air bags can be specified twin fronts, side, curtain and steering column units offer optimum protection. The cabin looks very Peugeot - which is possibly the weakest part of the 407 make up. Its neat and everything seems to work very nicely but there isnt a great deal of showroom wow factor to it. Sophisticated multiplexed electronics allow for a huge amount of individual customisation when specifying your 407, with such features as rear view mirrors linked to reverse gear, parking sensors, self-imposed speed limiters, low tyre pressure monitors and variable cruise control systems all capable of being fitted quickly and, just as importantly, at very modest expense.
Take a test drive and right from the outset, the investment in quality is manifest. The fabric seating of our test car felt better and seemed of higher quality than many of the bargain basement leather trims fitted to upper-spec mid range saloons and the seats had both enough lateral grip and were comfortable enough. The steering wheel is trimmed feels good to hold and features neat cut outs for the thumbs. The dashboard follows the trend for waterfall centre consoles on which most of the major instruments are placed and sees a welcome move away from the rattly hard plastic ventilation and air conditioning controls that have blighted many Peugeots of yore.
Expensively slush moulded plastics yield to the touch along the top of the dashboard whilst there are classy looking appliqué strips along the dash and doors to brighten the interior ambience a little. The Peugeot staple of chrome-ringed dials and a chrome and leather trimmed gear knob are also evident. Thankfully the steering wheel is a little better looking than some of the blandly bulging tillers fitted to many Peugeots. Some thought has gone into this cabin.
Entry-level models are often disappointing. This one isnt. This is not to say however, that were it our (or our companys) money being spent, we would twist the dealers arm or find the extra cash to trade up to the much faster 2.0-litre model or a diesel.
We would see that as time or money well spent. However, others, mindful of emissions, insurance costs or simply a very good deal, will doubtless see things differently. There will certainly be enough of them to justify the toe-in-the-water inclusion of this 1.8-litre petrol model in the 407 line-up.
A line-up that offers something refreshingly different in a market sector needful of cars that are just that.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Peugeot 407 1.8S
PRICE: £15,700-£16,900 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 8 CO2 [g/km]: 183g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 12.9s Max Speed 124mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (average) 35mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags, ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: [saloon] length/width/heightmm 4676/1811/1445mm
