Boldy styled with acres of space inside and a commitment to quality that will surprise many, Peugeot's 407 is that rarest of commodities - a big French car you might actually spend your own money on. With some great diesel engines and a brilliant SW estate model, it's a class act.

Rumours of the demise of the medium range family car market appear to have been grossly exaggerated. The future of the traditional large family car looked a little dicey for a while as buyers deserted their saloons and estates in favour of trendier 4x4s and more practical MPVs but an injection of exciting new blood into the sector over recent times has shown there to be life in the old dog yet. Peugeot's 407 can't really be classed as new blood having made its debut in 2004 but the distinctive French cruiser has been subjected to a life-giving transfusion of equipment and styling revisions in its latest facelifted guise.

The market's cycles appear to have conspired against the 407 somewhat. It arrived as a brand new model at a time when many of its key rivals were entering middle age. Then was the time for the fresh-faced Peugeot to capitalise, something that it never really managed to do. Peugeot described sales levels over that period as "reasonably successful" which was never going to be good enough. Today, the tables have turned and the mid-life facelift version of the 407 must compete for hearts and minds against all new versions of Ford's Mondeo, Renault's Laguna, Citroen's C5, Honda's Accord and the Vauxhall Insignia. It's a tough task but will the 407 be up to it?

The 407 has long been regarded as a long distance mile-muncher par excellence that also has the ability to entertain, but if you want something sporty, there are other models which will probably be a better bet. What the 407 can deliver is a genuinely big car feel and big car features for a relatively modest price. The engine range, although all-diesel, is usefully diverse and well-suited to the various demands that 407 owners are likely to make of their cars. Proceedings open with a 110bhp 1.6-litre HDi unit. Then comes a 2.0-litre 140bhp and a 2.2-litre 170bhp HDi. All feature FAP diesel fuel particulate filters and manual transmission. There are two engines available with automatic transmission; a 136bhp unit and the largest engine in the range, the 2.7-litre V6 HDi. If you want to be the alpha-green, a 2.0-litre Bioflex engine is also available that runs on E85 fuel.

"The look of latest 407 has been altered but in a very measured, non-drastic way.."

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 engines help keep noise level in the cabin down as does the 407's slippery shape.

The look of 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 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 in selected models, 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 Peugeot 407 has consistently been one of the better-equipped models in the medium range sector and that looks set to continue. The entry-level S trim features remote central locking, electric windows, a leather steering wheel, climate control, a trip computer and an ultrasonic alarm. Outside you can expect to find body coloured bumpers, side mouldings, door mirrors and door handles and an opening rear tailgate in the touring model. Next up is SR which will get you 16-inch alloy wheels, a Smartnav satellite navigation system and Bluetooth hands-free telephone equipment on top of your standard fare. SE adds a panoramic glass roof, an RT5 multimedia system with colour satellite navigation, GSM phone and MP3 music storage. You also get the practical bonus of front and rear parking sensors and electrically folding door mirrors. If you require the utmost available comfort and have the pocket to stretch to it, the range-topping GT trim upgrades your wheels to 17-inch alloys and adds front heated seats, full leather upholstery and electric seat adjustment.

Go for the punchier 2.2 HDi 170 and there's very little penalty in terms of fuel economy (46.3mpg) but emissions rise to 160g/km. The 2.7 V6 HDi makes all the performance numbers but is fairly costly to run, managing 33.6mpg and falling into insurance group 15. A hefty 223g/km of carbon dioxide emissions will also see it struck off many company drivers' lists.

Building a volume-selling medium range car is a whole lot tougher than it would first appear. Despite the prosaic names that familiarity has caused us to view with a degree of contempt, cars like the Ford Mondeo, the Citroen C5 and the Renault Laguna are all brilliantly fit for purpose and in order to succeed against them, a manufacturer needs to bring something different to the party. Peugeot has exactly that with the 407, a car that's boldly styled and feels at home on the long journeys that it's typically asked to do. It's not the freshest kid on the block but Peugeot has priced it at a level that will keep it relevant for a few years yet.

Serious downsides are few. The centre console is still rather busy and the sporting element to the handling that many buyers look for isn't really present. The penalty for that swooping roofline is tight rear headroom but other than that, the 407 gets a generally favourable report card. The SW estate remains one of the most desirable mainstream estates around with genuine presence.

TOP 5 407 DEALS

The results below show the top 407 deals on buyacar

	Peugeot 407 2.2 HDi 170 GT Multimedia 5dr SW Estate
	ETR	Mthly £384	Saving £5,459	Price £19,031
	Peugeot 407 1.6 HDi 110 SE Multimedia 5dr SW Estate
	ETR	Mthly £336	Saving £4,570	Price £16,375
	Peugeot 407 2.0 SE Multimedia 5dr SW Estate
	ETR	Mthly	Saving £4,329	Price £15,756
	Peugeot 407 2.0 HDi 136 SE Multimedia 5dr [6] Tip Auto SW Estate
	ETR	Mthly £366	Saving £5,052	Price £17,893
	Peugeot 407 1.6 HDi 110 SE Multimedia 4dr Saloon
	ETR	Mthly £318	Saving £4,253	Price £15,437

typical 12.05% APR

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