Peugeot 407 : WEVE GOT YOUR NUMBER

Peugeots 407 certainly isnt backwards about coming forward. June Neary warms to the boldly styled saloon

When Peugeots 407 first arrived to replace the old 406, it was instantly one of those cars that turned heads. The years have mellowed things a little but the companys hoping that a minor facelift will keep things current. Sitting on my drive recently, it was still creating quite an impression with my neighbours who were frantically twitching their curtains trying to figure out just what had landed. Its certainly different.

I had opted for the 2.2-litre diesel-powered model and that gaping chrome grille, priapic bonnet and hunched up rear end gives the car an almost cartoonish proportion. From some angles it looks great and from others rather awkward. One thing its not is boring and at first acquaintance it seemed a whole lot better screwed together than some Peugeot products Id sampled.

The 407 may take up a lot of road but the passenger compartment isnt the biggest in class. Yes, theres room to swing a generously sized cat up front without doing too much damage to the soft furnishings but kneeroom in the rear isnt overly generous, especially if a taller driver has bagged one of the front seats. Again, the styling has have taken priority over practicality when it comes to boot space, the stub tail preventing a truly big boot. The solution in this instance is to opt for the low slung 407 SW estate version which has plenty of room astern.

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 in leather but featured 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.

Its all diesels now in 407 land. Proceedings open with a 110bhp 1.6-litre HDi unit. Then comes a 2.

0-litre 140bhp and a 2.2-litre 170bhp HDi. All feature FAP diesel fuel particulate filters and manual transmission. There are two engines available with automatic transmission; a 136bhp unit and the largest engine in the range, the 2.

7-litre V6 HDi. If you want to be the alpha-green, a 2.0-litre Bioflex engine is also available that runs on E85 fuel. Inside, Peugeot has gone large with the Piano Black finishes.

This lustrous black plastic now features in selected models, adding a touch more class to proceedings. The 407s interior still feels a little dated with some of the materials not quite living up to expectations and those steering column stalks which seem to have featured in every Peugeot and Citroen product since year dot. The central control panel always looks a little busy with its cluster of small buttons but models with satellite navigation get a modern system with an extremely good display. The steering is very good, as is the gearchange although the car handles more like a big 607 saloon than a spry 308 hatch.

As a motorway or A-road car it makes a lot of sense but if you prefer wringing your car out around corners you may well find it a little soft.

Prices kick off at £17,295 for the entry-level diesel. When stacked up against rivals from Ford, Vauxhall and Renault, the price looks reasonable. The question is, would you put your hand in your pocket for one? With the premium brands like BMW and Audi offering small cars in this price bracket, many potential customers are willing to sacrifice a bit of space in order to have that sprinkling of Teutonic fairy dust to plump up the resale values. Three years down the line how much will your 407 be worth? Its something youll need to factor into the equation when you make price comparisons.

Personally, Id love a 407 on my drive. The neighbours, however, seem undecided.