Peugeot 407 Saloon (04-11) - Review

Excellent ride quality means that all on board should have a comfortable trip, plus it's pretty spacious, with decent leg room in the back and ample headroom. The 407 can easily accommodate two adults or three children, plus the flat transmission tunnel means the middle passenger on the back seat will be comfortable. At speed the engines are quiet and wind noise is minimal but there can be noticeable tyre roar which takes the edge of refinement compared to alternatives like the Ford Mondeo.

In terms of its proportions, the 407 looks like a big car at the front, but small at the rear. This translates into a relatively poor luggage capacity of 407 litres, which is some way behind the 500 litres-plus now expected of cars of this size. There's no hatchback version either which limits practicality while the boot opening is narrow and the lip quite high. In the cabin, there's not enough stowage and although there's a cubby in the front armrest, the glove compartment is quite small.

The interior fails to impress, especially when compared to newer cars this size. Many of the controls are shared with lesser Peugeots and the quality isn't great either. While the plastics aren't exactly flimsy, they’re not as durable or tactile as you'd find in similar priced family cars and it lacks sophistication. The button-heavy centre console is another criticism - it's simply too confusing plus there isn't enough stowage. At least the steering wheel adjusts for height and reach and forward visibility is good too - although thick rear pillars and a high screen can impair rear visibility.