Peugeot 407 SW (2004 – 2011) Review
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Peugeot 407 SW (2004 – 2011) At A Glance
Well equipped, Five-star crash test rating. Good value second-hand.
Not as roomy as some rival estates. Poor result in 2007 JD Power Customer Satisfaction Survey.
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.
Since, quite rightly, we're 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 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?
Peugeot 407 HDI 136 2004 Road Test
Peugeot 307 and 407 SW 2004 Road Test
Reviews for Peugeot 407 SW (2004 – 2011)'s top 3 rivals
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Peugeot 407 SW (2004 – 2011) handling and engines
- Engines range from 1.6 HDi to 3.0 Automatic
- Readers report Real MPG to be between 28–56 mpg
It's 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 Driver's 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 it's not only grippy and accurate, it doesn't 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 doesn't 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 they're 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 don't 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.
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 that's what's going to earn him his bonuses and promotions. Not a propeller or a three-pointed star.
| Engine | MPG | 0-62 | CO2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 HDi | 50–58 mpg | 12.1 s | 129–140 g/km |
| 2.0 Bioflex | 34 mpg | 9.1 s | 196 g/km |
| 2.0 HDi | 39–58 mpg | 10.1–12.1 s | 129–192 g/km |
| 2.0 HDi Automatic | 41 mpg | 11.0 s | 179 g/km |
| 2.2 HDi | 46 mpg | 9.0 s | 165 g/km |
| 2.7 HDi | 33 mpg | 8.8 s | - |
Real MPG average for the Peugeot 407 SW (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
28–56 mpg
MPGs submitted
128
Peugeot 407 SW (2004 – 2011) interior
- Boot space is 430–1365 litres
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 4763 mm |
| Width | 1811 mm |
| Height | 1494 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2725 mm |
The back seat is definitely nothing like as comfortable as the front. There isn't 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 can't hear from the front seats, is also very evident.
Peugeot 407 SW (2004 – 2011) models and specs
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 4763 mm |
| Width | 1811 mm |
| Height | 1494 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2725 mm |
| Miscellaneous | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight | 1533–1852 kg |
| Boot Space | 430–1365 L |
| Warranty | 3 years |
| Servicing | 12500–20000 miles |
| Costs | |
|---|---|
| List Price | £17,195–£26,945 |
| 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
| Estate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| S HDi 110 FAP 5dr | £20,995 | 57.7 mpg | 12.1 s |
| Sport HDi 110 FAP 5dr | £23,295 | 57.7 mpg | 12.1 s |
| Sport HDi 140 FAP 5dr | £24,295 | 49.5 mpg | 10.1 s |
| Sport HDi 163 FAP Automatic 5dr | £25,545 | 40.9 mpg | 11.0 s |
| SR HDi 110 FAP 5dr | £21,995 | 57.7 mpg | 12.1 s |
| SR HDi 140 FAP 5dr | £22,995 | 49.5 mpg | 10.1 s |
On sale until November 2010
| Estate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| S 2.0 Bioflex 5dr | £19,545 | 34.0 mpg | 9.1 s |
| Sport 2.0 Bioflex 5dr | £22,195 | 34.0 mpg | 9.1 s |
| Sport HDi 170 FAP 5dr | £24,795 | 45.5 mpg | 9.0 s |
| SR 2.0 Bioflex 5dr | £20,545 | 34.0 mpg | 9.1 s |
On sale until July 2009
| Estate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| Sport HDi 136 FAP 5dr Auto | £24,245 | 39.2 mpg | 11.2 s |
On sale until May 2009
| Estate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| Sport V6 HDi FAP Automatic 5dr | £25,995 | - | - |
On sale until October 2008
| Estate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| GT HDi 170 FAP 5dr | £24,495 | 45.5 mpg | 9.0 s |
| GT V6 HDi FAP Automatic 5dr | £26,695 | - | - |
| S HDi 140 FAP 5dr | £19,650 | 49.5 mpg | 10.1 s |
| SE HDi 110 FAP 5dr | £20,950 | 50.4 mpg | 12.1 s |
| SE HDi 136 FAP 5dr Auto | £22,950 | - | - |
| SE HDi 140 FAP 5dr | £21,950 | 49.5 mpg | 10.1 s |
On sale until April 2008
| Estate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| GT HDi 136 FAP 5dr | £22,695 | - | - |
| GT HDi 136 FAP 5dr Auto | £22,695 | - | - |
| S 1.8 5dr | £17,195 | - | - |
| SE 2.0 5dr | £18,995 | - | - |
| SE 2.0 5dr Auto | £18,995 | - | - |
| Sport 2.2 5dr | £20,945 | - | - |
| Sport HDi 136 FAP 5dr | £21,395 | - | - |
| Sport HDi 136 FAP 5dr Auto | £21,395 | - | - |
| Sport HDi 170 FAP 5dr | £22,895 | - | - |
On sale until May 2007
| Estate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| GT 3.0 V6 Automatic 5dr | £25,747 | - | - |
| S HDi 136 5dr | £18,667 | 47.1 mpg | 10.1 s |
| Sport V6 HDi Automatic 5dr | £24,942 | - | - |
On sale until March 2006
| Estate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| Executive 3.0 V6 Automatic 5dr | £25,445 | - | - |
| Executive HDi 136 5dr | £23,100 | 47.1 mpg | 10.1 s |
| Executive HDi 136 5dr Auto | £23,100 | - | - |
| Executive V6 HDi 5dr | £26,945 | 33.2 mpg | 8.8 s |
| Executive V6 HDi 5dr Auto | £26,945 | - | - |
Model History
January 0001
Dramatic station wagon of new 407
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.
August 2008
Revamped 407 for 2009 announced 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 SW 2009 MY ‘on-the-road’ prices:
407 HDi 110FAP S £18,495
407 HDi 140FAP S £19,495
407 HDi 110FAP SR £19,495
407 HDi 140FAP SR £20,495
407 HDi 110FAP SE £20,495
407 HDi 140FAP SE £21,495
407 HDi 136FAP Automatic SE £22,495
407 HDi 170FAP GT £24,495
407 HDi V6 FAP GT £26,495
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
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
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.
24-08-2019: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.
