Peugeot 407 Coupe (2006 – 2011) Review

Peugeot 407 Coupe (2006 – 2011) At A Glance

3/5

+2.7 V6 diesel auto extraordinarily quiet at high speed. All models have very low wind and tyre noise.

-Model did not take off in the UK, so big discounts in 2007.

Insurance Groups are between 34–40
On average it achieves 100% of the official MPG figure

When the Peugeot 406 coupe was new I came out of a shop to find an Italian staring at my test car enraptured. He said it was the most beautiful car he had ever seen, and when I told him it was built in Italy his heart swelled with pride.

The 407 coupe isn't designed by Pininfarina, nor built in Italy. It was shaped in-house by a team now based at Velizy near Paris, and is built on a separate line of the 407 factory at Rennes. It shares the long front overhang of the 407 saloon, balanced by a long rear overhang and looks better from some angles than others. Front three-quarters, rear and rear three-quarters and side-overhead all look stunning. Fill in the gaps for yourself.

Because it's longer and lower than the 407, with no hatchback, Peugeot engineers have managed to make it even stiffer, which is always a good start. Add the 407's excellent front and rear suspension and you have the makings of a fine riding, fine handling coupe that justifies its twenty-two to thirty-one grand touring price-tag.

Peugeot 407 Coupe 2005 Road Test

 

Peugeot 407 Coupe (2006 – 2011) handling and engines

For testing there were only two variations available: the 205bhp 2.7 twin-turbo V6 diesel 6-speed automatic and the 211bhp 3.0i V6 petrol 6-speed manual. We took the diesel first.

Grand tourer it most certainly is. This car will cruise at ridiculous speeds with barely a murmur from the engine, hardly any wind noise and very little roar from the tyres. The tyres will start to squeak a bit if you really press on, because ultimately the car is an understeerer. But grip levels are very high and it isn't upset even by quite vicious mid-corner bumps. Before we got into the cars we were warned they were so quiet we might find ourselves going faster than we thought we were. That didn't happen to us, but I was lucky enough to be driven well and could see that a passenger might not be aware of how quickly he was travelling, even at close to 150mph.

On the downside the six-speed autobox has the usual counter intuitive ‘Tiptronic' selector, so that's something best left alone. No steering wheel paddle-shifts or buttons either, but in truth it doesn't really need them. In ‘sport' mode the box seems to make pretty good decisions all by itself most of the time, with none of those emergency downchanges on the exits of corners that too often blight self-shifters.

You can select Sport or Comfort suspension modes, both of which leave the system to select quite how sporty or comfortable things need to be according to your driving style. That works well too. And the ESP is switchable even though it doesn't jump in and spoil the fun like those nice people working for your money in ‘speed camera partnerships'.

So the 2.7 V6 HDI gets the nod, again. (It's the same engine though a completely different car from the Jaguar XJ diesel.) The 3.0iV6 manual is less impressive, even to the point of begging the question, why bother with a 3.0iV6 petrol at all? It's only a tenth of a second faster to 60 than the V6 diesel automatic, while the 3.0iV6 automatic is actually several tenths of a second slower. And, of course, both petrol V6s use more fuel.

The manual box doesn't make it into a sportscar, either. The shift throws are too long. And, though it's true the driver actually has more control of the gears for ultimate cornering speeds, he also has to let go of the steering wheel to change gear. So while it ticks the box of offering a 3.0iV6 6-speed manual version it didn't do the business for either of us.

But ultimately, whether any version of the 407 Coupe is for you depends on two decisions: Do you love the style of the car? And are you prepared to sacrifice the status of a smaller engined, slower BMW or Mercedes for the same money?

I'd have one rather than a CLK 200K. But instead of the forthcoming new 3-Series I'm not so sure.

And there could be yet another breed of alternative. The new folding tin-top Volvo V70 and VW Eos, as well as the A4 and SAAB 9-3 cabrios.

SECOND BITE

I had another chance to drive a 407 Coupe in early 2008, this time a 2.0HDI 136 Bellagio. It came in stunning metallic Flamenco Red with black leather, standard RT4 multi-media satnav and optional 19" wheels with Pirelli P Zero Nero 235/40 ZR 19 tyres.

This version offers the same whisper-quiet drive as the 2.7HDI, rather rather performance, made up for by an astonishing 45mpg. On the move in the hard-to-find cruise control (hidden behind the steering wheel) it cruised at 70 at 2,000rpm in near silence, the only noise coming from those huge P Zero Nero tyres.

Strangely enough, that was the only downside. Ride remains excellent (which speaks volumes for the 407 chassis), it straddles metre-wide speed cushions and absorbs flat top humps very well, and the grip on long sweepers is so outstanding I'd get scared long before it started to drift. Stir the sweet changing 6-speed box to find the power and torque, and that's satisfying too.

Over 200 miles I pushed the car's average mpg from 45 to 46, which is outstanding, though on the brim to brim it only worked out at 42mpg, possibly because I brimmed it closer than the delivery driver.

No complaints, though. An elegant, quiet-riding coupe with excellent handling and superb ‘birdview' satnav graphics that returns between 42 and 46mpg. Can't be bad.

Engine MPG 0-62 CO2
2.0 HDi 48–52 mpg 9.5–10.1 s 140–156 g/km
2.2 31 mpg 9.2 s 219 g/km
3.0 28 mpg 8.4 s 242 g/km
3.0 HDi Automatic 39 mpg 7.9 s 189 g/km

Real MPG average for the Peugeot 407 Coupe (2006 – 2011)

RealMPG

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

100%

Real MPG

23–60 mpg

MPGs submitted

64

Peugeot 407 Coupe (2006 – 2011) interior

Dimensions
Length 4815 mm
Width 1868 mm
Height 1399 mm
Wheelbase 2725 mm

Full specifications

There are four decent seats in the bright and airy cabin, a 400 dm3 boot big enough to take everyone's luggage, and if there are only two or three of you travelling, the rear seat backs fold down 2/3 - 1/3 to provide extra space for baggage. The long doors make entry to the back reasonably easy. Those holes in the sill in the photo locate the doors when shut to help keep the structure very rigid. Once in there, the seats are comfortable and there's plenty of light so you don't feel claustrophobic. Legroom is on the tight side of reasonable. But if the driver has his seat set low there's nowhere to push your toes under it. And the back of your head is very close to the sloping rear window, so you may need to protect your neck from the sun if travelling long distances there.

Peugeot 407 Coupe (2006 – 2011) models and specs

Dimensions
Length 4815 mm
Width 1868 mm
Height 1399 mm
Wheelbase 2725 mm
Miscellaneous
Kerb Weight 1600–1799 kg
Boot Space 400 L
Warranty 3 years
Servicing 20000 miles
Costs
List Price £21,230–£28,092
Insurance Groups 34–40
Road Tax Bands E–L
Official MPG 27.6–52.3 mpg
Euro NCAP Safety Ratings
Adult 5
Child 4
Pedestrian 2
Overall -

On sale until January 2011

Coupe
Version List Price MPG 0-62
Sport 2.0 HDi 163 FAP 2dr £23,590 52.3 mpg 9.5 s
Sport 3.0 V6 HDi FAP Automatic 2dr £28,090 39.2 mpg 7.9 s

On sale until May 2009

Coupe
Version List Price MPG 0-62
Sport 2.2 £21,995 30.7 mpg 9.2 s
Sport HDi 136 FAP £22,540 48.0 mpg 10.1 s
Sport V6 HDi FAP Automatic £27,140 - -

On sale until April 2008

Coupe
Version List Price MPG 0-62
Bellagio HDi 136 FAP £21,295 - -

On sale until October 2007

Coupe
Version List Price MPG 0-62
Sport 3.0 V6 £21,230 27.6 mpg 8.4 s

On sale until May 2007

Coupe
Version List Price MPG 0-62
GT 2.7 V6 HDi Automatic £28,092 - -
GT 3.0 V6 £25,597 27.6 mpg 8.4 s
GT 3.0 V6 Auto £25,597 - -
SE 2.2 £21,307 30.7 mpg 9.2 s
SE 2.7 V6 HDi Automatic £26,392 - -
SE 3.0 V6 £23,897 27.6 mpg 8.4 s
SE 3.0 V6 Auto £23,897 - -

On sale until May 2006

Coupe
Version List Price MPG 0-62
S 2.2 £21,925 30.7 mpg 9.2 s

Model History

February 2005

Good looking coupe to replace 406 coupe after a gap of a few years. First shown February 2005 Geneva Show, Engine line-up to include 2.7V6 twin turbo diesel with 200bhp and 440Nm torque. Production model launched Frankfurt Motor Show September 2005. Available in the UK January 2006. Plenty of room for four and their luggage.

Three engines: 2.2 litre 16 valve petrol with 160bhp, 3.0 litre V6 24 valve petrol with 211bhp, 2.7 litre V6 24 valve HDI Diesel with Particulate Emission Filter developing 205bhp. All fitted with six speed gearboxes manual or automatic dependent on model. Double wishbone front suspension with integral multi-arm rear suspension. ABS, ESP, traction control, emergency brake assist, seven airbags, active front head restraints. 2.7 V6 HDI auto is particularly smooth, quick and quiet. By far the best choice in the range.

2.2 Petrol S £21,900

2.2 Petrol SE £24,200
3.0 V6 Petrol SE £26,700
3.0 V6 Petrol Auto SE £27,670
2.7 V6 HDi Auto SE £29,200

3.0 V6 Petrol GT £28,400
3.0 V6 Petrol Auto GT £29,400
2.7 V6 HDi Auto GT £30,900

2.0 HDi 136 launched August 2007 with a CO2 output of 156g/km and 48.0mpg Combined. Top speed 129mph, and 0-60mph in 9.8 seconds. Also range change with a single ‘Sport’ trim level and a choice of four engines: new 2.0-litre HDi 136, 2.2-litre petrol, 3.0-litre V6 petrol manual and 2.7-litre V6 HDi automatic.

Prices start at £19,530 for the Sport 2.2-litre petrol, while the new 2.0-litre Sport HDi 136 version is available from £19,995, on the road. All Sport versions are available with, and without, RT4 satellite navigation as standard.

407 Coupé HDi 136 Bellagio launched 22-1-2008 priced at £21,995. Exclusively available in Flamenco Red or new Nera Black metallic. Specification includes RT4 Multi Media System (with satnav) and 18” alloy wheels.

July 2009

Revamp Announced. New V6 HDi PEF 3.0-litre engine is coupled with a 6-speed sequential automatic
gearbox and develops a maximum power output of 241bhp at 3,800rpm. (Same as Jaguar XF.) Maximum torque of 450Nm is available from 1,600rpm up to 3,600rpm.

Performance of 0-60mph in 7.4 seconds matched Combined Cycle of 39.2mpg and 189g/km of CO2. EU 5. 3.0-litre HDi V6 models are distinguished externally by symmetrically mounted twin oval exhaust pipes, on either side of the rear bumper diffuser.

New 2.0-litre HDi PEF engine produces 163bhp at 3,750 rpm and is coupled with a
6-speed manual gearbox. With this power and maximum torque of 340Nm from 2,000 to 3,000rpm. Combined fuel economy of52.3mpg, CO2 at 140g/km.

Styling of 407 Coupé is subtly enhanced by chrome trim spanning the entire upper section of the side windows. The door mirrors, which are now larger to offer better rear vision, conform to new legislative standards, and the 407 Coupé's Connect Navigation (RNEG) now includes BluetoothTM hands-free as standard equipment.

UK prices for the 407 Sport HDi 163 FAP 6-speed manual is £22,990 and £27,490 for the Sport 3.0 V6 HDi 240 FAP 6-speed automatic.

What to watch out for

01-01-0001:

Heavy depreciation if silly money paid in the first place.

Front suspension, and steering joints 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 corrode and need replacing at over £100 each.

31-12-2012:

'Gong' sound means that car battery is failing to hold sufficient charge and needs to be replaced.

19-02-2014:

Noisy on Avon ZV3 tyres. Handles as well and eerily quiet on Michelin Primacy 3. TPMS valeves prone to failure at £65 each, plus £100 a time to reprogramme the receiver. (Better to replace with Tyresafe.)