Peugeot 407 Diesel 2005 Review

How times change. The modern diesel is a thing of beauty and a servant of the most prestigious of marques.

BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Volkswagen, Citroen, Renault ... the list goes on, to the extent that diesels outsell petrol in many European markets.

Australia is another story but it is changing and with cars like Peugeot's 407 HDi in the vanguard diesels are moving into polite society. The 407 is a particular car in any event, with the look of a feeding whale shark about the grille and French flair dripping from every curve.

In the touring (read "station wagon") the styling becomes even more "particular" with a rear end both sleek and individual.

The 2.0-litre turbo-charged diesel's seemingly modest 100kW of power is more than compensated for by an impressive 320Nm of torque which is on tap from just under 2000rpm almost right through to the mid-4000rpm level.

That constant urge makes sense in this four-speed automatic with little need for the gears to hunt in search of the meat in the torque curve.

Peugeot has a history of diesel innovation and while the rest of the industry has caught up, few have surpassed and the 407's common rail, high-pressure, direct-injection offering is fair proof of that.

The engine is quiet, has negligible lag and returns impressive fuel figures in the 6.0l/100km range in combined cycle.

That equates to a potential 1000km from the 66-litre tank.

Ride comfort in this small car is exceptional without sacrificing too much in the way of body control and the styling of the cabin is something to behold.

The huge glass roof – fixed but with interior blinds – almost makes sense of this most ludicrous of motoring features. If you must have one, have a huge one.

The seats are embracing and very comfortable with good adjustment for both driver and passenger.

Placement of the various controls on the dashboard has resulted from considerable thought with most things readily to hand.

There is storage to burn with cup-holders scattered throughout the car, plenty of little – and not-so-little – storage bins and room for all to stretch.

Instrumentation is easy to read and clearly displayed, even if the highlight marks on the speedo do not correspond with Australian speed limits. This is not a big issue but something for a driver to take into account.

There are many comfort and safety features on the 407 that come as a pleasant surprise. Rain-sensing wipers which adapt to the intensity of the rain, self-levelling xenon headlights with an automatic on feature for low-light situations, an easy to use cruise control and electronic park assistance all add to safety and comfort.

Overall, there is very little about the 407 not to like, if you can come to terms with the design. The fit and finish is exceptional, materials scream quality, the French flair for individual styling is evident throughout the cabin and diesel is the icing on the cake.

At $54,690 for the HDi Touring Executive the 407 is not a budget car. It does, however, represent good value for its long list of standard inclusions ... and there is also comfort in the knowledge that it is unlikely too many of your associates will have one.