Peugeot 607 Range : MINORITY REPORT

Expert Rating:

Peugeots 607 has long been relegated to bit part player in their line up but it still has something to offer. Andy Enright reports

Listening to marketing types spouting all sorts of spurious claims about doomed products can be distinctly wearing, yet it happens all the time in the car industry. PR people can tell us that the latest French luxobarge will revolutionise the market, outselling every rival. We dont believe it, he doesnt believe it and if we regurgitate his ravings onto the printed page, the public wont believe it either. Therefore, it was like a breath of fresh air when Peugeots marketing team spoke the unvarnished truth at the launch of the 607.

Knowing that big French cars rarely find favour, Peugeot pitched some extremely modest sales targets for the 607, which it promptly failed to threaten. A number of detail improvements to the car have gone largely ignored and a further set of changes represented a tacit admission by Peugeot that its not worth throwing good money after bad. Rather than invest in a launch for a right hand drive version of the 2.7-litre turbocharged engine as seen in Jaguars S-TYPE 2.

7D, Peugeot decided this move would not be financially viable in a car that shifts as few units as the 607 and introduced more modest 136bhp 2.0-litre HDi diesel instead followed by a 170bhp 2.2-litre twin turbocharged offering. Hardly a vote of confidence, but admirably pragmatic nonetheless.

In other news, all 607 models have a 6-speed gearbox and the specification is better than ever. It would take a genuine spotter to make out the differences between the current 607 and its earlier iterations and 607 enthusiasts cant be too thick on the ground. Nevertheless, the big Peugeot now sports body coloured bumper strips as well as side cappings with a chrome plated edge trim. At the front of the car theres a reprofiled air intake residing under the bumper and chrome finished fog lights are integrated into the front spoiler.

In order to get the HDi engines to fit, the front overhang of the 607 has been teased out by 30mm, increasing the overall length of the car to 4.90 metres. Theres a bigger Peugeot badge and 17-inch wheels now fill the 607s arches a good deal more convincingly than the old 16-inch numbers. Five or seven-spoke designs are available and theres even an eighteen-inch option if you really want to go for the Euro look.

"The 607 is, despite the evidence of its modest sales figures, an enormously likeable car"

The 607 was one of the first executive cars to feature a multiplex wiring system and has always enjoyed a reputation for pioneering sophisticated electronic functions and the latest model is no exception. A variable cruise control is linked to a variable speed limiter and theres a parking sensor system that displays a bar graph of how far you are from an obstacle on the cars multifunction screen while a flat tyre detector can tell you which of your tyres are under inflated. In fact, the equipment levels are probably the cars big selling point with Peugeot proudly proclaiming that buyers can now tear up the options list as virtually every conceivable feature is fitted as standard. Leather upholstery, heated seats, colour satellite navigation, built-in GSM telephone, CD autochanger, 8 airbags and motorised boot articulation are just some of the highlights.

Certain motoring commentators vociferously open up on this rather soft target, knowing that Peugeot have rather modest UK sales figures for the 607 and are unlikely to bite back. Across Europe, the picture couldnt be more different, the 607 having racked up over 100,000 sales making it the most widely sold saloon in its sector. It appeals to a very definite market. If youre not quite in the BMW/Jaguar/Audi/Mercedes bracket but want a car that can shrug off serious mileages, the 607 could be just the ticket, especially if you just want to cover big mileages in comfort.

In the showroom, you might recognise a few styling cues from other rivals (the Audi A6 roofline or the Alfa 166 rear light treatment) but in broad terms, it's a unique look that sits a class above the boxier lines of cars like Vauxhall's Signum, Volvo's S80 and Saab's 9-5. These rivals sit firmly in the £20,000-£30,000 price span the UK importers are targeting. The 3.0-litre car has been a painfully slow seller due to the fact that it once retailed for more than a BMW 530i SE, but list prices look more reasonable now and dealers can normally pull a discount out of the hat.

Perhaps if Peugeot were a little more transparent with the real world price customers ended up paying, theyd be able to attract more footfall through their dealerships. British buyers get a choice of three engines. The range opens with a 2.0-litre 136bhp HDi turbo diesel unit which deserves to gain a loyal following.

The best choice, however, is probably the 170bhp 2.2-litre twin turbo unit with its 44mpg economy (only 2mpg less than the 2.0-litre) and hefty 277lb/ft maximum torque output (59lb/ft more than the V6). At the top of the range meanwhile, lies the 210bhp 3.

0-litre V6, basically a reworked version of the engine that once saw service in the 406. The 9.2s 0-60mph acceleration is reasonable but you will have you paying handsomely for your pleasure to the tune of 27.7mpg.

Despite our love for the underdog, the 607 will probably always be filed under speciality interest. With residual values making it relatively expensive to run, its easy to see why so many plump for the usual German suspects. For those that just want a sweet natured, effortlessly comfortable cruiser that features more electronic gadgets than T3 magazine, its a sound choice. Think of it as an exercise in looking beyond the badge.

Facts At A Glance
CAR: Peugeot 607 range
PRICES: £25,012-£29,142 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 16-18
CO2 EMISSIONS: 160-245g/km
PERFORMANCE: [V6] 0-60mph 9.0s / Max Speed 135mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [V6] (urban)19.6mpg /(extra Urban)36.2mpg /(combined) 27.7mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags / ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/mm 4900/2090/1460mm