Peugeot 407 (2004 – 2011) Review
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Peugeot 407 (2004 – 2011) At A Glance
Good, sharp steering and handling. Excellent 2.2 173PS diesel engine.
Big overhang at the front. Rear seats horribly claustrophobic.
Peugeot is very keen to impress on the press that the 407 is a working car. 70% of 407s will sell to fleets. 75% will be diesels. The company knows a 407 can never meet aspirations fulfilled by a 3 Series or a C Class. It’s a business tool, up against Mondeos, Lagunas and Vectras.
And cars as business tools stand or fall on what they can offer the 40,000 mile a year man.
That’s worth thinking about for a moment. At an average speed of say 50mph, 40,000 miles means 800 hours behind the wheel, which is more than thirty-three 24 hour days and almost a tenth of a whole year. So a business car has to do a lot more than simply convey its driver from place to place. It also has to be his communications centre from which he can do deals, arrange appointments and, on Britain’s crowded roads, phone ahead to apologise he’s going to be late.
Whether you go for the small black and white screen satnav, or the full colour screen version, what you get with it is an integrated phone. Slip a SIM card into the dash, programme the system and its voice activation allows you to take or make calls on the move, or even have your text messages read out aloud to you by a synthesised voice (when The News of the World isn’t listening). And that makes a huge difference to what would otherwise be down-time wasted in the car.
So now we’ve covered how you can use the car as your phone, and mentioned the satnav system to make sure you find your way to the next meeting, what’s the car like to drive?
Reviews for Peugeot 407 (2004 – 2011)'s top 3 rivals
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Peugeot 407 (2004 – 2011) handling and engines
- Engines range from 1.6 HDi to 3.0 Automatic
- Readers report Real MPG to be between 31–67 mpg
Peugeot is very keen to impress on the press that the 407 is a working car. 70% of 407s will sell to fleets. 75% will be diesels. The company knows a 407 can never meet aspirations fulfilled by a 3 Series or a C Class. Its a business tool, up against Mondeos, Lagunas and Vectras. And cars as business tools stand or fall on what they can offer the 40,000 mile a year man.
Thats worth thinking about for a moment. At an average speed of say 50mph, 40,000 miles means 800 hours behind the wheel, which is more than thirty-three 24 hour days and almost a tenth of a whole year. So a business car has to do a lot more than simply convey its driver from place to place. It also has to be his communications centre from which he can do deals, arrange appointments and, on Britains crowded roads, phone ahead to apologise hes going to be late.
Since, quite rightly, were not allowed to touch our phones in the car any more, Peugeot has turned its new business car into one.
Whether you go for the small black and white screen satnav, or the full colour screen version, what you get with it is an integrated phone. Slip a SIM card into the dash, programme the system and its voice activation allows you to take or make calls on the move, or even have your text messages read out aloud to you by a synthesised voice (when The News of the World isnt listening). And that makes a huge difference to what would otherwise be down-time wasted in the car.
So now weve covered how you can use the car as your phone, and mentioned the satnav system to make sure you find your way to the next meeting, whats the car like to drive?
A bit special. The one I took out was a 136PS twin-cam 16v common rail diesel with 251lb ft torque on overboost and a six speed manual gearbox. All this is very well matched with a nice spread of torque, a gear for every eventuality and a restful 33.3mph per 1,000 rpm in sixth. In fact all the gears are so long that you are very likely to find yourself following the Institute of Advanced Drivers advice to drive in 3rd gear in a 30 limit.
The steering is nothing short of sensational. It was designed by a young French chassis engineer by the name of Gaitan and you can instantly tell he likes driving. There are no cost compromises in the front suspension. It has double wishbones like the best. But the forces are fed into strut type towers to get the best of both wishbones and struts. So its not only grippy and accurate, it doesnt get upset by bumps, undulations or pot-holes half the way round a corner.
The rear suspension is basically uprated 406 and fully independent too. So while the front end grips tenaciously, the rear doesnt suddenly snap out of line like Peugeots of the past. And on top of all of this the ride is smooth and compliant, in the front seats at least.
The seats are comfortable. No aches or pains after 200 miles of twisting and turning on a route designed to show up deficiencies rather than flatter the chassis. The wipers clap hands, so no more complaints of right-hand drive blind-spots. When you switch on the lights, little red LEDs follow the needles round the rims of the dials. And when you park up the electric mirrors automatically fold up, so theyre still there when you return to the car.
You can buy a 407 as a four-door saloon or, for £1,100 extra, as a sporty-looking lifestyle station wagon appropriately called the SW. The wagon has a useful opening rear window that actually flips up high and wide, making it very practical for dropping things into the load bay. And, for extra long loads, the front passenger seat backrest folds flat. However, unlike the 307, there is no way it can be made to seat 7. Peugeot has left that job to the smaller, more practical 307 SW and its 807 MPV.
The 407 has an awful lot of front, protruding way ahead of the transverse engine and radiator. The reason for this is Euro NCAP. It provides an easily repaired crushbox, so minor collisions dont mean removing the engine to fix the damage. But increasingly important to NCAP, the front is also designed to be pedestrian friendly so anyone fortunate enough to be hit by a 407 should have a happy landing on its soft bonnet. These measures are expected to land the car with five stars for crash and three for pedestrian safety.
So whats wrong? Well, the back seat is definitely nothing like as comfortable as the front. There isnt much legroom behind a very tall driver. The piggy in the middle centre rear seat is raised, so is really for children rather than adults. Yet the combination of huge front head restraints and a massive rear view mirror frame severely restrict forward vision for anyone in the back. Tyre roar, which you cant hear from the front seats, is also very evident.
However, the 40,000 a year man, or even the 20,000 a year man is not likely to notice that. He will be very happy driving a comfortable, sporty, responsive and economical car with a satnav system guiding him to his next appointment and a communications system he can use to keep permanently in touch.
And thats whats going to earn him his bonuses and promotions. Not a propeller or a three-pointed star.
| Engine | MPG | 0-62 | CO2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 HDi | 53–58 mpg | 11.7 s | 129–140 g/km |
| 2.0 Bioflex | 35 mpg | 8.8 s | 192 g/km |
| 2.0 HDi | 40–58 mpg | 9.8–11.7 s | 129–189 g/km |
| 2.0 HDi Automatic | 42 mpg | 10.6 s | 179 g/km |
| 2.2 HDi | 46 mpg | 8.7 s | 160 g/km |
| 2.7 HDi | 34 mpg | 8.5 s | - |
Real MPG average for the Peugeot 407 (2004 – 2011)
Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.
Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.
Average performance
93%
Real MPG
31–67 mpg
MPGs submitted
125
Peugeot 407 (2004 – 2011) models and specs
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 4676–4691 mm |
| Width | 1811 mm |
| Height | 1455 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2725 mm |
| Miscellaneous | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight | 1490–1802 kg |
| Boot Space | 407 L |
| Warranty | 3 years |
| Servicing | 12500–20000 miles |
| Costs | |
|---|---|
| List Price | £15,995–£25,725 |
| Insurance Groups | 18–27 |
| Road Tax Bands | D–J |
| Official MPG | 30.6–57.7 mpg |
| Euro NCAP Safety Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Adult | 5 |
| Child | 4 |
| Pedestrian | 2 |
| Overall | - |
On sale until January 2011
| Saloon | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| S HDi 110 FAP 4dr | £19,995 | 57.7 mpg | 11.7 s |
| Sport HDi 110 FAP 4dr | £22,045 | 57.7 mpg | 11.7 s |
| Sport HDi 140 FAP 4dr | £23,045 | 49.5 mpg | 9.8 s |
| Sport HDi 163 FAP Automatic 4dr | £24,295 | 41.5 mpg | 10.6 s |
| SR HDi 110 FAP 4dr | £20,995 | 57.7 mpg | 11.7 s |
| SR HDi 140 FAP 4dr | £21,995 | 49.5 mpg | 9.8 s |
On sale until November 2010
| Saloon | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| S 2.0 Bioflex 4dr | £18,545 | 34.8 mpg | 8.8 s |
| Sport 2.0 Bioflex 4dr | £20,945 | 34.8 mpg | 8.8 s |
| Sport HDi 170 FAP 4dr | £23,545 | 46.3 mpg | 8.7 s |
| SR 2.0 Bioflex 4dr | £19,545 | 34.8 mpg | 8.8 s |
On sale until July 2009
| Saloon | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| Sport HDi 136 FAP 4dr Auto | £22,995 | 39.7 mpg | 10.7 s |
On sale until May 2009
| Saloon | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| Sport V6 HDi FAP Automatic 4dr | £24,745 | - | - |
On sale until October 2008
| Saloon | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| GT HDi 170 FAP 4dr | £23,295 | 46.3 mpg | 8.7 s |
| GT V6 HDi FAP Automatic 4dr | £25,495 | - | - |
| S HDi 140 FAP 4dr | £18,650 | 49.5 mpg | 9.8 s |
| SE HDi 110 FAP 4dr | £19,695 | 53.2 mpg | 11.7 s |
| SE HDi 136 FAP 4dr Auto | £21,695 | - | - |
| SE HDi 140 FAP 4dr | £20,695 | 49.5 mpg | 9.8 s |
On sale until April 2008
| Saloon | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| GT HDi 136 FAP 4dr | £21,495 | - | - |
| GT HDi 136 FAP 4dr Auto | £21,495 | - | - |
| S 1.8 4dr | £15,995 | - | - |
| SE 2.0 4dr | £17,795 | - | - |
| SE 2.0 4dr Auto | £17,795 | - | - |
| Sport 2.2 4dr | £19,745 | - | - |
| Sport HDi 136 FAP 4dr | £20,195 | - | - |
| Sport HDi 136 FAP 4dr Auto | £20,195 | - | - |
| Sport HDi 170 FAP 4dr | £21,695 | - | - |
On sale until May 2007
| Saloon | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| GT 3.0 V6 Automatic 4dr | £24,547 | - | - |
| S HDi 136 4dr | £17,467 | 47.9 mpg | 9.8 s |
| Sport V6 HDi Automatic 4dr | £23,647 | - | - |
On sale until March 2006
| Saloon | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| Executive 3.0 V6 Automatic 4dr | £24,245 | - | - |
| Executive HDi 136 4dr | £21,900 | 47.9 mpg | 9.8 s |
| Executive HDi 136 4dr Auto | £21,900 | - | - |
| Executive V6 HDi 4dr | £25,725 | 33.6 mpg | 8.5 s |
| Executive V6 HDi 4dr Auto | £25,725 | - | - |
Model History
January 0001
Dramatic 406 replacement, 4,676mm long by 1,811mm wide by 1,445mm high.
Engine range starts with a 1.8 16v petrol developing 85kW (117bhp) and 163Nm torque, 5-speed manual only.
Next up a 2.0 16v petrol with 100kW (136bhp) and 190Nm torque, which comes with a 5-speed manual or 4-speed 'Tiptronic' autobox.
Next, a 2.2 litre petrol engine with 116kW (160bhp) and 217Nm torque fed through a 6-speed manual of 4-speed 'Tiptronic' autobox.
Next, a 3.0 VVTI V6 with 155kW (211bhp) and 290Nm torque and a 6-speed 'Tiptronic' autobox.
More interesting, the diesels are three new Ford/PSA engines, all Euro IV compliant and fitted with particulate filters. The 2.0 HDI (DW10BTED4) offers 100kW (136bhp) and 320 - 340Nm torque (240 - 251 lb ft) torque at 2,000 rpm, fed through a 6-speed manual. The 1.6 HDI 16v (DV6TED4) pumps out 80kW (110bhp) at 4,000rpm and 240 - 260Nm , fed through a 5-speed manual and will be available later. 2.7 litre V6 HDI (DT17) engine came later.
Underneath, a new type of double-wishbone strut type suspension at the front and very compact multi-arm inclined spring rear suspension supported by an aluminium crossmember. The car is good to drive in the manner Peugeots used to be.
Optional integrated telematic system combines satnav with CD player radio and voice activated hands-free phone. 5 Star NCAP occupant safety rating and 2 Stars for pedestrian safety. Prices from £14,750. Standard Smartnav as Winter 2005/06 promotion. 2.7 V6 HDi offered in rest of the 407 range during 2006.
New four-model line-up for 2006 includes introduction of V6 HDi Diesel engine. Enhanced equipment levels. Introduction of new 407 Sport.
Excellent 170PS sequential twin turbo chain-cam 2.2 HDi launched in June 2006. 277lb ft torque. In Sport models, from £21,100 OTR for the Saloon and £22,300 OTR for the SW. Smooth, strong, stepless power delivery makes this a quick, fine handling car. Very high spec 407 SW ‘SPORT XS’ with this engine at £23,995 in four specific colour choices.
RT4 Multi Media + satnav system available from July 2007. 30 GB hard disk stores European mapping and 180 hours of music. Includes in-built hands-free mobile phone. 3D “birds eye” view graphical display to make finding locations easier, combined with TMC traffic information broadcasts from Trafficmaster to provide “real time” traffic data, and the ability to “divert” around traffic incidents. Offered as a combined option with front fog lights and the visibility pack on the Expert Van and Tepee range for £1,250.
Revamped 407 for 2009 (3rd photo) announced 15-8-2008 with a new HDi 140 diesel and Bioflex (Bio Ethanol) petrol engines. On sale from September 2008. Exterior and interior enhancements include a new RT5 satellite navigation system, a new ‘SR’ model to the range and a new HDi 140 diesel engine producing 150 g/km of (CO2).
New grille treatment and body-coloured rubbing strips. Rear bumper now incorporates a diffuser style number-plate surround. SE and GT models now feature ‘piano black’ finish to the door handle and air vent surrounds and to the centre console. New temperature control and telematics systems. Front parking assistance (essential for the 407's long overhang).
Engines include an updated 2.0-litre HDi 140 engine with a 6-speed manual gearbox which develops a power of 140 bhp - an increase of 4 bhp over the HDi 136. It also benefits from low fuel consumption of 49.5 mpg and CO2 emissions reduced to 150 g/km and is Euro 5. Additive-enhanced diesel particulate filter system (FAP) standard on all HDi Diesel powered 407s, following the introduction of the 1.6-litre HDi 110FAP engine (140 g/km in Saloon). All Peugeot HDi engines, back to 1998, can operate on B30 (Biodiesel at a 30% mixture). A new 2.0-litre ‘Bioflex’ engine operating on E85 fuel will also be available from November, maximising the environmental benefit.
HDi 140 FAP Saloon: 129mph, 0-60 9.5, 49.5mpg comb, 150g/km
407 range ‘on-the-road’ prices
Saloon models (SW models are an additional £1,200)
407 HDi 110FAP S £17,295
407 HDi 140FAP S £18,295
407 HDi 110FAP SR £18,295
407 HDi 140FAP SR £19,295
407 HDi 110FAP SE £19,295
407 HDi 140FAP SE £20,295
407 HDi 136FAP Automatic SE £21,295
407 HDi 170FAP GT £23,295
407 HDi V6 FAP GT £25,295
New Exterior Colours: Moondust, Thorium Grey, Abyss Blue, Moroccan Red Hurricane Grey.
The standard specification of the ‘S’ model – key features include:
* HDi 110 or new HDi 140 (Euro 5) diesel engines
* ESP
* Driver, passenger, side, curtain and steering column airbags
* Trip computer
* Remote central locking with deadlocks
* Electric front and rear windows
* RD4 Radio / CD player with MP3 playback
* Body coloured bumpers, body side mouldings, door mirrors and door handles
* Fog lights front and rear
* Leather steering wheel
* Opening rear tailgate (SW models only)
* Climate control
* Ultrasonic alarm
New SR Added standard equipment over the ‘S’ model:
* HDi 110 or new HDi 140 (Euro 5) diesel engines
* 16” alloy wheels
* Smartnav satellite navigation system
* Bluetooth handsfree telephone equipment
SE Added standard equipment over the ‘S’ model:
* HDi 110 or new HDi 140 (Euro 5) diesel engines with manual transmission, or HDi 136 with automatic
* 16” alloy wheels
* RT5 Multi Media system with colour satellite navigation, GSM phone and MP3 music storage
* Front and rear parking aid
* Panoramic glass roof (SW models only)
* Electrically folding door mirrors
* Automatic windscreen wipers / Automatic headlamps on
* Rear centre armrest
* Dual zone climate control
GT Added standard equipment over the ‘SE’ model:
* Choice of HDi 170 manual or HDi V6 auto diesel engines
* Full leather upholstery
* Heated front seats
* Electric seat adjustment
* 17” alloy wheels on HDi 170 and 18” Soleil alloy wheels on HDi V6 models
May 2009
Further improvements, following new features introduced July 2008 on both the 407 Saloon and SW. Front parking assistance, new 'World in Peugeot' (WIP) navigation and WIP Com telematics systems) included the arrival of the latest 2.0-litre HDi FAP Euro 5 specification engine, capable of 50.4mpg, 150g/km of CO2 with power increased to 140bhp. Latest versions of 407 now benefit from further technical developments - all designed to enhance the overall driving enjoyment including a revised 1.6-litre HDi 110bhp engine with a Combined fuel economy of 57.6mpg with CO2 emissions of 129g/km.
Engine recalibrationcarried out on the 1.6-litre HDi FAP unit to obtain a significant reduction of emissions. Adoption of electro-hydraulic power steering. Finally, the latest 407 is now equipped with new Michelin Energy Saver 205/60 R16 H tyres which significantly reduce rolling friction through advanced tyre construction.
What to watch out for
Clonks from the front usually indicate excessive wear in the front suspension ball joints. A pin corrodes, causing excessive wear. Peugeot will sometimes pick up the parts cost if the car is Peugeot maintained and less than 5 years old. On earlier 407s front wheel hub lower bearings can suffer severe wear and were modified for later 407s.
Reports of repeated EGR valve failure on 2.0HDI 136, possibly from trying to drive at too low revs. Problem of 1.6 and 2.0 16v diesels slipping into limp home mode put down to throttle butterflies sticking or their spindles wearing prematurely causing them to stick. The throttle position sensor identifies this and sends a message to the ECU to limit the engine to limp home mode.
End of plastic dipstick of 1.6 HDI engine can break and drop into sump requiring removal of sump to retrieve it.
Central Dash Display, Part No. 659349 fails and from March to September 2007 replacement parts were simply not available.
Seems to be an unexplained problem of 407 diesel 6-speed automatics cutting out, pinpointed to be in relation to the ECU or Electrical Components Unit.
Front suspension, and steering joints of early 407s can become badly worn by 30,000 miles and need replacing.
Hose for Power steering can corrode through and leak on to the front o/s tyre also at 30,000.
Tyre pressure sensors where fitted corrode and need replacing at over £100 each.
Remember, on diesels, dual mass flywheels may only last 50,000 miles; diesel particulte filters may only last 80,000 miles.
25-01-2012:More reports of turbo oil starvation on 1.6HDI leading to expensive catastrophes. The cure is not just a new turbo, but new oil pipe, pump, pick-up, etc etc. Ford dealer prices for repairs are £1,200 for parts alone. There was a Ford TSB45/2008 about this. Newer engines (2008+) have modified parts. Apparently you can get a new turbo for £350 plus £120 for a "kit" of modified pipes/pick-up unions etc. from Transitpartsuk (International Parts Ltd) to fit next week. eBay supplier TransitpartsUK The oil starvation is due to the oil in the oil feed pipe carbonising because drivers switch off the engines directly from too hot, without idling while the turbo spools down and cools down.
30-05-2012:9th Least Reliable 3-5 year old family car in 2012 analysis of Warranty Direct Claims records on www.reliabilityindex.com
30-05-2012:Strange problem of power steering fluid bubbling out of the PAS flulid reservoir, apparently due to failure of a valve in the system.
08-10-2012:Dual climate control system prone to expensive failure requiring £1,300 - £1,700 parts and labour to fix, which simply won't be worth it. So if buying a 407 check carefully for this problem.
31-12-2012:'Gong' sound means that car battery is failing to hold sufficient charge and needs to be replaced.
24-07-2013:Report of clutch failute of 29,700 mile 2009 407 HDI.
21-04-2014:Was a brake servo recall in 2008. Now the servo of a 2006 Peugeot 407 that was replaced in 2008 has failed again.
02-12-2015:69k mile 2008/58 Peugeot 407 1.6HDI cut out at 30mph driving in a town. Re-started. Happened again the next day showing "depollution system" fault. Diagnostics showed a fault. Dealer tried replacing the fusebox. Ower then went on a relatively long drive and engine cut out at 60mph. Engine started again and got the car to a service area in 'limp home mode'. RAC diagnosed fuel pressure problem. Car transported back to the Peugeot dealer who found corrosion on the fuel pressure sensor and ordered a replacement. This is the kind of problem that could have been used by using supermarket diesel that does not have the necessary detergents in it to keep the fuel system clean. It could have been caused by exhaustion of the Eolys fluid in the reservoir that helps the diesel particulate filter to regenerate. It could have been caused by a clogged EGR. And it could have been caused by a fuse box fault, or by corrosion of the fuel pressure sensor. Diagnostics will show a fault but do not always pinpoint the precise cause of the fault, particularly faults with the fuel tank lifter pump or its relay. They thought it was a fuse box fault. The car then appeared to be fixed. But another fault showed up.
24-08-2019:Report that owner of Peugeot 407 SW recently bought the full set of the latest and updated navigation discs for his 407 SW from a Peugeot dealer in France to find that first thing in the morning (and every morning) his satnav works perfectly. After about 20/30 mins into any journey, the screen goes blank and refuses to work for the rest of the day. As the sat nav works initially he can't imagine that either the screen or the disc is faulty. If I he then goes into the menu, clicks on 'navigation' the screen then asks him to insert the navigation CD Rom although it is already there.
