Car Review: Peugeot 407

Model: 2005 Peugeot 407S
Price as tested: £15,575 ($29,500)
Drive Train: 1800cc I4, FWD, 5 speed manual

Exterior: Sporting. From a few angles the large low egg-crate grill has a bit too much presence. Okay, from a lot of angles it has too much presence but the car generally has a rather aggressive stance, especially for a large family sedan. The 407 could have done a little better in its grade if I either weren’t an American or they hadn’t borrowed so much from the Dodge Stratus for the nose. A solid B.

Big low grill and a bit on the Stratus side.

Interior: Generally conservative. Seats were a little on the firm side but livable. The big problem is that I know who the Cheap Plastic Makers Association is now selling their wares to as GM moves towards better materials. Even Helen mentioned that the plastics looked cheap. Then there’s the buttons. Oh boy. They might have been worse than those on a mid 90’s Cavalier. I would expect more for a car in this price range. The ergonomics sucked but then that’s to be expected since the only thing they do for RHD cars is move the steering wheel over. It gets a C.

White faced dials can't hide cheap materials.
Handling: Adequate. A little too soft for my tastes but not too offensive in either direction. Took road bumps in stride but wanted to list if pushed into turns. Still it’s a big family car. If the US spec Accord is the target then it gets a B.

Performance: Abysmal. Again this is not a small car. Cars in Europe have been undergoing the same increase in size as cars in the US have over the last 20 years. The last Peugeot sold in the US was the 405, and it might be smaller than a new Civic. The 406 was noticeable bigger and the new 407 bigger still. This thing is the size of a US Spec. Accord (I parked next to a Euro Spec Accord/Acura TSX and the 407 is bigger) and weights in at 3,250 lbs. That’s fine if it wasn’t for the fact that the engine is still stuck in 1985. At 1.8 liters producing 117hp (120 lb/ft torque) the car is a complete dog. I could go into great detail about just how slow it is but I only have so much time. In all honesty I think it’s a 10+ second car on 0-60. Grade? F.

It doesn't look too inspiring does it?
Radio: Buggy. It would change the CD track, change from CD to radio, change radio stations and volume all by itself. At one point it was so bad we turned the stereo off and it simply turned itself back on. Oh, and as a bonus the sound quality stunk as well. F-, if there is such a thing.

Wheels: Confusing. This only got attention due to the fact that I blew a tire and had to pay $205 to replace it but I have to ask just what in the hell is a 117hp non-sporting family sedan doing with 17 inch tires? It did have a full size spare but since that “emergency doughnut” thing is pretty much a North American phenomenon it curries no favor with me. Yet another F.

They do still make super tiny cars in Europe. This isn't one of them.
Overall: D. I now know exactly why Peugeot left the US market over a decade ago and why they aren’t going to come back any time soon.