2006 Peugeot 407 Reviews

Peugeot is one of those brands that go under the radar for most Australians, it's one to which they rarely give any thought of owning, but for comfort and refined road manners the French brand is hard to beat.The 407 was Peugeot's medium-sized offering and came in coupe, sedan and wagon body styles, with a choice of peppy petrol engines and economical diesels.Its lines were elegant, languidly flowing from tip to tail in a wonderful balance of form and function.The coupe was able to accommodate four in comfort, but the more family friendly sedan and wagon had the capacity to transport five.The cabin was spacious, nicely laid-out with comfortable seats and was sublimely quietThere were three equipment levels, the SR budget model, the ST and the SV.All had an impressive range of comfort and convenience features, particularly the higher spec models.The cabin was spacious, nicely laid-out with comfortable seats and was sublimely quiet. The main criticism was a blind spot created by the heavy A-pillars that at times impeded the driver's view.The 407's 2.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine was a free-revving unit that had sufficient performance for most situations, although at times it had to work hard to get there.For those wanting more than the 2.2-litre engine could muster there was the 3.0-litre V6, which answered the call of most seeking performance.But it's the diesels that were the most popular with 407 buyers, particularly the 2.0-litre turbodiesel, which boasted strong mid-range torque for smooth, flexible driveability, impressive performance, and admirable economy.The 407's suspension was supremely comfortableWith more than 400Nm of torque, the twin-turbo V6 diesel was a powerhouse with an attractive blend of performance and driveability.While there was a six-speed manual gearbox available in the front-wheel 407, the vast majority were sold with automatic transmissions. Early models had a four-speed, but it was later updated to a six-speed across the range.On the road the 407's suspension was supremely comfortable, but at the cost of some handling precision. Anyone wanting the sportiness of a German prestige model should probably look elsewhere for their jollys.Being French the Peugeot needs some getting used to for anyone moving into the brand for the first time. Some people find it quirky, and oddly disconnected, while others find the quirkiness interesting and fun, and the driving experience comfortable and refined.Anyone stepping out of a German car would probably be very disappointed with the somewhat vague ride and handling.Being European the 407 comes with issues that affect most European brands, expensive parts and service spring immediately to mind.The 407 doesn't have any major flaws to noteAnyone thinking of buying a 407 should get on good terms with a mechanic experienced in working on Peugeots. They are usually able to service your car for significantly less than a dealer would, and they should be able to source parts at more affordable prices.For peace of mind it's also worth having a mechanic with specialist Peugeot knowledge check your chosen car for you before purchase.The 407 doesn't have any major flaws to note, but is subject to the occasional and frustrating failures of electrical components, particularly ignition coils.The 407 is relatively complex and needs the attention of someone who is familiar with the brandIt's also important to check for a service record, the 407 is relatively complex and needs the attention of someone who is familiar with the brand.The engines have timing belts, which need changing at specified intervals. On the 2.2-litre petrol engine it needs changing every 80,000km or four years, on the other engines the change interval is 180,000km or nine years.Peugeot recalled the 407 in 2011 for a fault related to the engine vacuum pump that could affect the braking performance.There was also a recall in 2010 to check the clearance between the wiring harness and the cooling fan that could result in damage to the harness.

Those at Peugeot who terminated its long and celebrated union on coupes with the famed Italian coachbuilder Pininfarina, and insisted that the successor to the 406 Coupe would be bigger, fatter, heavier and — from where we stand — much less attractive, have a lot to answer for.Granted, the in-house-designed 407 Coupe is still a striking car to behold, and we understand the need for it to have a closer connection with the 407 sedan than with the 406 Coupe.There are also trace elements of the Pininfarina-penned Ferrari 550 Barchetta — often quoted as a source of inspiration for the 406 two-door — such as the menacing grille and new shark's gill detailing.But this is not beautiful, elegant or radiant like the 406 Coupe. Instead, the 407 version embodies a "shock and awe" doctrine and, it seems to us, the false belief now rampant among most of the world's car manufacturers that with each new generation a vehicle must be bigger and plusher to be deemed better.An argument often metered out is that this sort of action is required to make the vehicle safer, and in the case of the 407 there is no doubt it is streets ahead of the 406 on this score. A maximum five stars from the independent European NCAP crash-test program bear this out.The thing is, it is not a better driver's car. Whereas the 406 Coupe offered one of the best front-wheel drive ride and handling combinations of its time — something that was once a Peugeot trademark — the 407 returns to the field in this department.It also has insufficient rear-seat room for its size, which seems incredible when the move from 406 to 407 increased its dimensions 200mm in overall length, 88mm in width, 45mm in height and 25mm in wheelbase.Instead, the 407 Coupe relies on a strong value proposition compared to other European coupes and a unique selling point with a hi-tech — and quite exceptional — twin-turbocharged diesel engine in the range-topping HDi model variant tested here.The result of Ford/PSA Peugeot-Citroen collaboration (and used across several brands including Jaguar and Land Rover), the 2.7-litre common-rail direct-injection V6 in this application develops 150kW at 4000rpm and 440Nm at 1900rpm.Making a delightful combination with the clean-shifting standard-issue six-speed automatic transmission (with a pseudo-manual shift mode), the engine is smooth, muscular and, above all, whisper-quiet.It fails to turn the sports coupe into a fireball from a standing start — indeed, at a claimed 8.5 seconds over 0-100km/h it is quite a bit slower than its exterior demeanour suggests — but there is no real sense of deficit for the driver who can revel in the diesel engine's flexibility and strength at the all-important low and medium revs.This occurs despite the fact that the 1850kg kerb weight of the HDi is up to 112kg heavier than the 155kW/290Nm 3.0-litre V6 petrol model also available.It remains effortless to drive, supremely refined and economical at all times. Indeed, in one of the few occasions we've ever achieved a lower figure than the government fuel consumption rating, we returned an 8.4l/100km average (compared to Peugeot's claimed 8.5l/100km) over a long-distance tour that covered a range of mountainous, free-flowing and dead-straight terrain.Take out the snaking roads and our lasting impression of the 407 Coupe might have been different. But in tight situations, the extra weight of the vehicle — a considerable 365kg more than the 406 Coupe, much of it hanging over the front end — makes it feel less agile than its predecessor.The coupe is stiffer than before, has a wider front and rear track, sits a little lower and uses electronic “active” dampers with its double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension. It rides on hard-gripping 18-inch 235/45-series Z-rated Pirelli P Zero rubber.It should be much, much better. Sadly, it isn't. Across troubled road surfaces the firm ride can turn crass and uncomfortable and the steering can give rise to some undesirable jiggling. The variable-assistance steering feels too light at speed and the turning circle is a cumbersome 12.0m.The brakes on our test car were prone to squealing and should have shown more resistance to fade in arduous conditions. The headlight performance is outstanding — and unsurprising considering the package includes bi-Xenons and a cornering function — but the Pirellis rumble across coarse bitumen.The doors are very heavy (which some will consider a sign of quality rather than a burden), some of the satellite controls should be moved from on the steering column to the tiller itself and the rain-sensing mechanism takes up an inordinate amount of windscreen space.The large and heavily bolstered leather driver's seat is fabulous for its comfort and support, while position memory and electric adjustment for all directions (bar lumbar) are welcome. The steering wheel has a full range of manual adjustment.Access to the rear compartment is excellent thanks to the electric front seat mechanism, but legroom is poor and the sloping roofline restricts headroom for taller people.The 400-litre boot is simply cavernous, and contains a full-size alloy spare wheel and a six-CD changer. There is a ski-port and a split-fold rear seat. Standard equipment includes seven airbags, traction and stability control, a tyre pressure monitoring system, trip computer, dual-zone climate control and front and rear parking sensors.Hindsight is hard to ignore. This incarnation has lost the beautiful looks of the 406 and, to a certain extent, its soul.Verdict: 3.5/5 starsGOOD:Refined and muscular diesel engine. Smooth transmission. Superb headlight performance.Cavernous boot. Full-size spare wheelBAD: Sensuous 406 Coupe looks have gone. Lacks agility of its predecessor. Big turning circle. Cabin niggles  

That's right a twin-turbo 2.7-litre V6 diesel engine that is also used in the Jaguar S-Type and the Land Rover Discovery after being jointly developed by Ford.Now it's powering the stylish-looking Pug 407 coupe.It's a curious move, particularly when competitors in the market are essentially marking time before fully commiting to introducing diesel sports cars in Australia.As early as last month, Alfa Romeo's Australian distributor, Ateco, said they weren't sure whether the country was ready for diesel sports cars when they launched four and six-cylinder petrol versions of its gorgeous Brera.In any case Peugeot are pushing the diesel sports message big time overseas.They are coming out with an LMP1 diesel for the Le Mans 24-hour race next year with a car that they claim boasts more power and torque than Audi's R10 which won the race in June.Diesel is very much the word in sports car racing in Europe.But how oil-burners go on the street, particularly in Australia with vehicles perceived to be sports cars, remains to be seen.Although the 407 coupe has stunning low slung lines it is more of a cushy cruiser rather than a go-hard two-door.At 150kW the HDi engine has five kilowatts of power less than the petrol version. However, what it may lack in oomph it more than makes up for in torque with 440Nm, a full 150Nm more than the petrol.And the beauty is you can't hear the clang and clatter of the diesel even sitting at a standstill.It is oh-so-quiet in the cabin.All this silence has been helped by double glazing, a laminated windscreen and plenty of sound deadening in the fire wall.There is a nine-setting electronic suspension which comes standard with damping continuously adjusted to help keep body control in check.Ride quality is reasonably neutral and while it is not as firm as a sports coupe it doesn't dampen a more vigorous drive experience.There is enough flexibility and torque with this six-speed automatic gearbox for there to be little reason other than overcoming boredom to push the shifter to the left and have a play with the sequential function.At low speeds the turbos kick in with little or minimal delay and it also keeps things nice and neat in the front with no trace of torque wanting to reef the wheel from your hands.Inside, the cabin is nicely appointed, however the controls are fiddly and not easy to decipher.And there is not a lot of room to put stuff like mobiles and things so they don't fly across seats and on to the floor.The other gripe is the ghastly looking steel bar that is exposed near the floor on each side which is an anchor for the seatbelts which slide backwards and forwards.The doors are almost dumbell heavy and they have hooks on the inside at the bottom which slide into two holes the frame underneath the door sill for extra rigidity.On this test over 700km, the Pug returned about 7.9litres/100km which is not great but it's certainly more economical than petrol and was a little under the factory claim of 8.4litres/100km.This Pug, which looses none of the pizzaz of the previous Pininfarina styled 406 coupe, gains big marks for what's in the boot a fullsize 18-inch spare.There is a long, long list of standard equipment including all the electronic safety control systems, front, side, curtain and knee airbags, JBL premium sound system with boot-mounted six-stacker and electronic parking sensors and leather trim.In fact the only options are $2990 for the premium leather and $1000 for Bluetooth.

In the past, these engines were fairly rudimentary, barely more refined than something lifted from a commercial vehicle.Not now.The latest addition to Peugeot's diesel lineup is a high tech, twin turbo, common rail 2.7-litre V6 that's available in the elegant 407 Coupe. It will soon be available in the nearly as appealing 407 sedan and wagon.Presumably, the 2.0-litre four cylinder turbo diesel currently available in the latter two will remain in the lineup as well as the 3.0-litre V6 petrol.But who'd want the petrol V6 engine when the diesel is so much better in every way and it's the first diesel coupe ever offered on the Australian market.It sounds better, offers a huge amount of torque and consequently stronger acceleration, uses minimal fuel and complies with the stringent Euro4 emissions regulations.Did I mention that it's hooked up to a smooth shifting six speed automatic transmission.The V6 diesel is virtually the same engine in the new Jaguar S-Type diesel but that vehicle costs tens of thousands more than the 407 Coupe diesel at $72,500. It's good for 150kW/ 440Nm output from as low as 1900rpm.Put into perspective, this amount of torque is produced by self respecting V8 petrol engines of nearly twice the capacity.The car itself is handsomely equipped with the usual luxury features but some relatively unusual stuff too.Directional bi-xenon headlights that look around the corner are included in addition to cruise control with a speed limiter to keep you legal, front and rear parking sonar so you don't dent the model, premium hi-fi to groove to, automatic headlights and wipers for when you're feeling lazy and heated front seats to keep your butt warm.The Coupe scores a five star NCAP crash test rating which means cutting edge safety inclusions like Electronic Stability Program, ABS and multiple air bags.It's a big coupe, almost the same size as Monaro but with much more presence on the road.Plenty of room is provided for four inside the cabin and the boot is large for such a car.As expected, the Coupe has a composed ride offering smooth supple suspension or alternately, firmer sporty dynamics at the touch of a button. The same applies to the transmission with an "S" for sport mode and sequential change.It's quiet inside like a luxury car should be and the pampered feeling extends to the seats, leather upholstery and all other interior features. Access to the rear seats is through long doors which can be an issue in tight parking.The diesel 407 Coupe is great to drive offering sporty performance and excellent roll- on acceleration at will. Fuel economy hovers around the 7.5-litres/100km mark and it doesn't sound half bad either.

The Aisin six speeder with sequential manual change mode launches in the 407 Touring and makes a good car better.The price is $51,990 for the Comfort model while the Executive goes for $54,690.The six speeder goes into all 2.0-litre ST HDi Pugs from now on apart from existing stocks of the four speeder.There is no price premium for the six speeder.As expected, it gives improved performance and fuel economy which can go as low as 5.5-litres/100km - an amazing result for what is essentially a medium large sedan or wagon.Noise levels also drop thanks in part to reduced engine revs for any given speed. The six speeder helps acceleration off the mark and cruising is more relaxed thanks to a wider spread of gear ratios.We took a test drive in the latest 407 wagon with a six speed auto and it served to reinforce our previous opinions about the car. It's a great touring vehicle and one for drivers who want a long range of up to around 900km on the 66 litre tank.It's been crying out for a six speed auto for a year or two to fully capitalise on the prodigious pulling power of the HDi 2.0-litre which generates 320Nm at 2000rpm.That correlates to around 2000rpm at the speed limit in top gear.The sequential change adds a sporty element to the 407 but is hardly necessary when it's just as easy to plant the right foot and use the engine's torque.This is a large vehicle and it has a presence on the road thanks to individual styling and a wide squat stance.The test vehicle was the luxury model and misses out on little.

Which was just as well, for any alert Spanish patrol cop might have been drawn to the convoy of 35 Peugeot 407 Coupes making its high speed way from Granada to Priedo de Cordoba.Peugeot prudently chose "courses for horses" for the international launch of its stunning new 407 Coupe – the sweeping, open highways of southern Spain near devoid of traffic being an ideal proving ground for what the French maker calls a Grand Tourer.Grand touring it most definitely was, with the stylish 407s – 3-litre V6 petrol and 2.7-litre V6 HDI models – consuming kilometre after kilometre in luxurious comfort and with loping ease.The twin turbo diesel with its fat (440Nm) band of torque from as low as 1900rpm particularly impressed, indicating just 2500rpm on the tachometer as it cruised effortlessly at around 150km/h.Power wise, the petrol model has the edge, coming in at 155kW at 6000rpm – 5kW better than the diesel – but in practical terms, such as economy and durability, the HDI prevails.The diesel is also a good environmental citizen, thanks to a particle filter which is "better than 99 per cent" efficient in emission control.This is an all new engine, until now only available in the new 607 model.Both petrol and HDi models are destined for Australia in the second quarter of 2006, the petrol version in six-speed manual format from around $65,000 (add another $3000 for auto) through to the diesel in six-speed automatic format only for around $72,000.Spokesman Matthew McAuley said Peugeot Automobiles Australia hoped to sell 200 407s a year, which was being "fairly conservative".Locals will gain their first glimpse of the new Coupe at this month's Australian Inter- national Motor Show in Sydney.Although the two-door Coupe follows in the wheel tracks of the 407 Saloon, there are a number of aesthetical and practical differences. For one thing, the driving position is some 200mm lower and set back 9mm to give more of a sporty feelStyled by Peugeot's own in house design team, the Coupe has a pronounced front overhang of more than one metre, gaping grille, long-slanted headlights and aggressive side gills that give it a shark like appearance.Whether it will gobble up its rivals, the BMW 3-Series and Mercedes CLK, only time will tell.The Coupe is a genuine four-seater, and comes in three interior specs. Two-tone leather upholstery and aluminium trim is a quality touch.A 0-100km/h figure of around mid 8 seconds for both models is not staggering, but Peugeot appears to have gone for refinement instead of raw performance. It's more about the journey, rather than how fast you get there.Not surprisingly, the diesel is more frugal than its petrol-driven sibling, sipping 8.5L/100km as opposed to 10.2 (mixed cycle driving).The ride is smooth but compliant, with sharp steering response and minimal body roll.Equipment specs are generous, with ESP, cruise and dual zone climate controls, direc- tional xenon headlamps and front and rear parking sensors.There's seven airbags, 18-inch alloy wheels, tyre pressure sensors, laminated side windows and, as an option, sunroof.The new 407 Coupe will be a welcome addition to what is already an enticing prestige market segment. In Europe, the 407 is the second best seller in its segment.Best of all, it comes from a maker that knows how to build a coupe. After all, Peugeot was the first to introduce one, in 1898.