It’s a car much more at ease when cruising than on a twisty back road. There’s plenty of grip, but the steering is a little lifeless and the diesels we drove felt slightly nose-heavy. The ride and handling balance is tipped in favour of smooth progress, rather than exciting driving.

New SR trim, which sits above the entry-level model and adds alloys, basic sat-nav and Bluetooth, should satisfy the fleet market.Īnd that’s where the Peugeot seems to be aimed. This is so bright and clear, it’s actually distracting. One stand-out feature, though, is the high-definition sat-nav screen on the luxury-spec SE we drove. Elsewhere, it remains largely faithful to the original, meaning a busy cluster of buttons and mainly high-quality finish. The front end simply features a new grille, while at the back there’s a black ‘diffuser-style’ section and the parking sensors are more neatly integrated.Ĭabin changes are subtle, too: the centre console now has a piano black finish and there are scatterings of chrome. It’s attempted to do just that – although you may struggle to tell the difference. So, with the Peugeot 407 having been launched back in 2004, the French firm really needed to freshen up the ageing saloon. Last year, the Ford Mondeo raised the bar for dynamics and quality, while Citroen’s new C5 has recently done the same for style. It’s not a class leader, but pick one of the higher-powered engines and the 407 will prove a very worthy motorway companion.įew sectors of the market have moved on as much as the large family car class. Still, it remains a very comfortable cruiser, the interior is pleasant and the quality is good. If not, there’s nothing much here to change your mind. If you appreciated its unique looks before, you will probably continue to do so. The changes Peugeot has carried out do nothing to elevate the 407 above more modern and talented opponents in this sector.

Peugot 407 2.0 hdi surging