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Road Test
Peugeot 407 HDi Touring
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The discerning motorist, who is astute enough to purchase one the newer
offerings from the Peugeot 407 line-up, will be able to bypass many a fuel stop
in this extremely frugal vehicle. How did the Next Car team, a team who enjoy diesel motoring, rate this
particular gem? Please read on. It became obvious from the onset, as we drove on the F3 freeway between Sydney
and Newcastle, that the 407 Touring was going to be something special. This package is
powered by a 2.0 litre, 100 kW/320Nm, diesel which meets the stringent Euro 4 specifications.
It is mated to a 6 speed automatic transmission with a manual sequential shift included.
This version was introduced in May, 2006. Electrically heated and electrically
adjustable seats, leather of course, added to the interior comfort of both front
occupants. Electric height adjustment on the drivers seat coupled to height and reach
adjustments of the steering wheel means that every driver can find their most
advantageous comfort position.
Driving the 407 Touring (Peugeot's name for a station wagon) is a satisfying experience, although a minor clicking noise in the cabin was persistent on some road surfaces. A visit to a Peugeot dealer’s workshop to identify and eliminate this minor annoyance would have been a good idea, but we didn't pursue the matter. Trim fitting and finish is up to the usually high standard that is common to the marque, panel fit was also very good. The timber finish around the gear shift quadrant and on the dash facia looked exactly what it was, fake, and I think this detracted from the overall appearance. It does, however, have appeal to some motorists, but not me. Several other faults became obvious when driving after dark and I will mention those towards the end of this test report. Standard equipment includes a trip computer, which was set on taking delivery of the test vehicle. The further the Next Car Team travelled from Sydney the greater the distance to empty became and fuel consumption was shown as between 4.0 - 5.4 litres per hundred kms. This was achieved at freeway speeds of up to 110 km/h using the standard cruise control. Were we impressed? “Absolutely.” Peugeot quote the fuel consumption at 10.0 litres per 100 kms city cycle and 5.5 litres per 100 kms highway cycle. In our view the 407 HDI would probably achieve and better the quoted consumption easily .... very easily. But we were not on a fuel economy test, we were simply enjoying the drive. 
The 407 Touring sits low on the road and runs on 215/55R17 tyres on 17” alloy rims. Peugeot supplies an alloy rim with the spare tyre, which is an increasing rarity these days. You can be sure I enjoyed the road hugging capabilities of this particular car; it is a driver's car with family capabilities. The front of this vehicle is a long way forward of the wheels and overhangs in a way that steep driveways or culverts will cause body damage. But I must point out that this is the only flaw we found in the design. By adjusting driving patterns to suit the terrain and angling approach/departure for easy entry/egress this problem would be avoided. See our image of the Peugeot driving off the Berowra Waters ferry to better visualise the effect of the extraordinarily long front overhang. The 407 Touring is a stylish vehicle and I like the full cabin length non-opening glass roof. Its adjustable electric shade can be opened or closed to a position that suits the occupants. Interior comforts abound for the driver and passengers and include an air conditioned glovebox, height adjustable front centre arm rest, dual zone climate control air conditioning and audio system with CD player. Power automatic up/down on all windows, power adjustable heated side mirrors, rear window shade blinds, leather covered steering wheel are standard features that add to the driving pleasures of this fabulous automobile. But, now, I have thought of another problem, the time frame of this test was not long enough. Ms Motoring Journalist (she who must be obeyed) thought this a terrific car and another week and another 1,000 kms would have been great. Driving the 407 Touring on a long term would tend to make one very lazy. All the main functioning necessities such as lights and wipers are set and forget. The driver only needs to set the switches to automatic, the in built sensors do the rest. Headlights automatically adjust the beam height to the load being carried. Plenty of room in the cargo area too. At least 2 sets of golf clubs and folding buggies fit in with space to spare. Doors are deadlocked via the remote control, preventing the opening even after a would-be thief smashed a window. As mentioned earlier, the 407 Touring is fitted with a six speed sequential tiptronic system that takes into consideration the driver's style and road conditions and automatically adjusts its shift patterns to suit. The 407 Touring is very much a driver’s car and some will prefer to shift the transmission manually. No problems with that though. But for me, I prefer to set and forget and as such I simply select ‘D’. However, I would use the shift manually on steep, winding roads in order to use the engine as a brake. Brake fade and possibly failure on a long steep down hill road is not my idea of fun. Not that I'm suggesting the brakes are a problem. Quite the contrary actually, the Peugeot 407 is equipped with excellent brakes. Manual transmission is not available with the diesel engine on the Touring models. Another safety feature on this car is the reversing sensor which beeps once on selecting reverse. Whilst reversing and becoming closer to an object the sensor emits a 'beep' which becomes more frequent and then constant if contact is imminent. 
The 407 Touring package is comprehensively equipped, with a car load of features for safety and comfort. We have mentioned only some of the features here. Did I mention a couple of faults I found after dark? My preference would be for an illuminated ignition switch and transmission quadrant, even though there is gear position indicator on the instrument panel. Some of us older drivers still look at the automatic gear shifter and like to see its position before hitting the accelerator pedal. From a cost of $51,190 (RRP) plus the traditional dealer delivery and statutory on-road costs, I think the 407 Touring HDi is a great package. The test car was the Executive model with leather, which is priced at $54,690 (RRP) plus metallic paint, which is optional at $700 (RRP). The 407 Touring is a very enjoyable package, in fact, I have no option other than to say that I do like it. Would I buy one? ..... Oh, yes, I most certainly would. A roomy and economical wagon, which is superb to drive and fitted with many luxuries is bound to be a hit! | ||||
