Peugeot's 407 HDi 140 ticks the boxes that the car's core of fleet and company car buyers look to. It's got the power and pace to tackle long journeys while the economy and emissions should keep costs down. The styling won't be to everyone's taste but the 407 is well equipped and temptingly priced and that will swing it for many.

The French have long held a soft spot for diesel and these days the fuel from the black pump is almost as popular on this side of the channel. It all bodes well for cars like the Peugeot 407 HDi 140 which sets out to showcase the latest French expertise in the art of burning heavy oil.

You'll pay a bit more for a diesel engine compared to an equivalent petrol in most cars but its superior economy and lower CO2 emissions will eat into that premium as the miles tick by and a diesel car's residual values are likely to be stronger too. Cover a medium to high annual mileage and the diesel should pay for itself in relatively short order. Of course, there's more to most car-buying decisions than the bottom line and Peugeot hopes its latest 407 can do a lot more than simply help to balance the books.

HDi common-rail diesel engines feature in models from across the Peugeot range and they tend to be very adept units characterised by their smoothness and plentiful torque as well as their economy. The HDi 140 engine in the 407 sits above the entry-level 1.6 HDi and is a progression on from the 136bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine which served the 407 very well until it was superseded. In fact, that 136bhp unit still soldiers on in the 407 mated to the automatic gearbox. The HDi 140 produces its 140bhp at 4,000rpm and a sizable 320Nm maximum torque output at 2,000rpm. That kind of torque rating promises some serious overtaking urge and with the 0-62mph sprint being dispatched in 9.8s the 407 HDi 140 is no slouch away from the lights either. The top speed is 129mph and if you go for the slightly heavier SW estate model, it's 127mph and a 10.1s time for the 0-60mph sprint.

"In the wider market the 407 HDi 140 looks competitive"

In general, the 407 doesn't feel as planted or responsive on the road as its sportiest rivals but buyers who prioritise comfort could easily be persuaded. The car rides poorly surfaced roads very well and is a relaxing drive on the motorway where it displays a high level of refinement.

The look of the latest 407 has been altered but in a very measured, non-drastic way. The chrome grille has been tidied up, there are new bumpers at each end and the one at the rear incorporates a defuser-style insert at its base. Love it or hate it, you can't have helped but notice the 407 saloon. It's a car that looks utterly stunning from some angles and decidedly odd from others. Much of this is due to the perceived imbalance between the long front end and the abbreviated tail.

Imagine however, getting shot of the notchback rear and instead stretching the 407 back as if it had been squeezed out of a very big tube of toothpaste. That's the effect you get with the SW estate version and it looks nothing less than sensational. For those of you accustomed to medium range estates being saloon cars with a hunched fenestration on the back and all the aesthetic elegance of a conservatory mounting your vehicle, it comes as a welcome change.

Inside, Peugeot has gone large with the Piano Black finishes. This lustrous black plastic now features across the range, adding a touch more class to proceedings. The 407's interior still feels a little dated with some of the materials not quite living up to expectations and those steering column stalks which seem to have featured in every Peugeot and Citroen product since year dot. The central control panel always looks a little busy with its cluster of small buttons but models with satellite navigation get a modern system with an extremely good display.

The 2.0-litre HDi 140 engine can be obtained in three of the 407's four trim levels. The S model opens proceedings with a detailed specification that includes electric windows, climate control, cruise control with a speed limiter, remote central locking and a trip computer. Buyers at this level certainly shouldn't feel short changed, especially with standard safety equipment that includes ESP stability control plus front, side, curtain and steering column airbags. The SR model has body-coloured bumpers and side mouldings and 16" alloy wheels to improve its exterior look but it also has satellite navigation and a Bluetooth hands free phone kit. The SE is the plushest model and has headlights and wipers that function automatically, parking sensors, dual-zone climate control and the RT5 Multi Media system.

The Peugeot 407 has consistently been one of the better-equipped models in the medium range sector and that looks set to continue. It will certainly need to have a strong value proposition in light of the ferocious competition it faces in the sector. Mondeo, Insignia, Laguna, Citroen C5 - all of these big guns are battling it out for a finite number of sales and the fleet customers which form the mainstay of this market will be driving as hard a bargain as ever.

More power tends to mean a bigger thirst but the HDi 140 is actually more fuel efficient that the 136bhp unit it replaces. The combined cycle economy of 49.5mpg is excellent for a car of this size and Peugeot's FAP particulate filter also helps to kerb emissions of the nasties that diesel engines have a tendency to chuck out. In terms of CO2 emissions, the engine registers 150g/km which will go down well with the 407's tax-sensitive core market of fleets and company car drivers.

Diesel engines will account for the major part of the Peugeot 407's sales and of its diesel units, the 2.0 HDi 140 is the standout choice. Committed cost-cutters will prefer the entry-level 1.6-litre unit but the mixture of pace and parsimony laid on by this 2.0-litre engine makes it a more satisfying all-round choice.

In the wider market too, the 407 HDi 140 looks competitive. Its equipment levels are tough to better anywhere else and although the looks are slightly gawky from some angles, the car is a distinctive choice that stands out visually from its contemporaries. A comfortable, relaxed driving experience also adds to the 407's appeal and together, these factors should be enough to underpin its continued success.

TOP 5 407 DEALS

The results below show the top 407 deals on buyacar

	Peugeot 407 2.0 HDi 140 SR Smartnav 4dr Saloon
	ETR	Mthly £311	Saving £4,278	Price £15,412
	Peugeot 407 2.0 HDi 140 S 5dr SW Estate
	ETR	Mthly £309	Saving £4,267	Price £15,378
	Peugeot 407 2.0 HDi 140 SE Multimedia 5dr SW Estate
	ETR	Mthly £345	Saving £4,848	Price £17,097
	Peugeot 407 2.0 HDi 140 S 4dr Saloon
	ETR	Mthly £295	Saving £4,014	Price £14,631
	Peugeot 407 2.0 HDi 140 SE Multimedia 4dr Saloon
	ETR	Mthly £327	Saving £4,531	Price £16,159

typical 12.11% APR

PCP finance quote over 48 months,  10,000 miles pa,  deposit of £1000