Opt for a medium range estate car and you're usually somewhere in the automotive hierarchy below white van man but above those who weld written off cars together and sell them to pensioners. In other words, there's not a whole lot of prestige attached to a load lugger without a premier league badge. Most of the time you're expected to put up with something dull but worthy, a car that utterly blends into the background. Unless, that is, you've just ticked the box marked 'Peugeot 407 SW'.

Love it or hate it, you can't have helped but notice the Peugeot 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 version (priced at an £1,200 premium from £16,900) 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. The latest cars also have a chrome grille to mark them out.

It's not all about good looks either. As Alfa Romeo and Lexus have shown, it's quite easy to build a great looking 'sportshatch' style estate but end up with little or no space advantage over the saloon it was based on. The 407 SW tacks another 87mm onto the rear overhang and features a tailgate with a very low and practical load height. Lift the fifth door and there's a respectable amount of room, Peugeot's designers concentrating on sheer utility. The load bay is never less than 1,100mm wide and the front passenger seat can fold forwards, allowing items up to 2,700mm to be carried. Two side storage pods in the load bay also allow gear to be stowed well out of harm's way. A solid carpeted cover aids security by keeping what's in the load bay out of sight of prying eyes.

"The 407SW looks like some sort of terrain hugging missile; low, sleek and streamlined"

The rear seats split in a 66:33 fashion and fold virtually flat to the floor without the tedious necessity to remove the head restraints. Thus equipped there's a 1,700mm load length. A full five seater, the 407SW features a number of thoughtful features designed to make the car easy to live with. As touched upon before, the rear loading lip is only 61cm from ground level and shorter drivers will appreciate the strap that dangles from the tailgate. The luggage bay incorporates a soundproof membrane to isolate road and suspension noise and includes four support bars so that heavy suitcases can easily be slid in and out without risking a herniated disc. Options include a ski flap, luggage nets and a six CD autochanger and JBL bass box which are mounted adjacent to one of the side luggage bins.

Peugeot have concentrated on keeping their trademark supple ride and like the saloon, the 407 SW is fitted with 16" wheels with 205/60 R 16 tyres, or 17" wheels with 215/55 R 17 tyres. The 407 is also their first car to feature double wishbone front suspension, which may not mean a great deal to many but in essence sums up the French company's commitment to handling excellence. Many cars these days have so-called 'multilink' rear suspension systems, but most persevere with a simple strut front set up. In offering a more sophisticated front suspension system, Peugeot have raised the bar again.

Three petrol engines and four diesel units are offered, the diesels including a particulate emission filter rendering them compliant with Euro4 standards. These HDi diesels consist of a 1.6-litre unit that cranks out 110bhp and 240Nm of torque (260Nm of temporary 'overboost'), a 2.0-litre powerplant that develops 136bhp and 320Nm of torque (340Nm on overboost), a 2.2-litre 170bhp unit with twin turbocharged performance and a 2.7-litre V6 with 205bhp and 447Nm. It's through a strategic link with Ford that Peugeot have access to this 2.7-litre V6 HDi engine, a unit that first saw service in Jaguar's S-TYPE.

Petrol buyers are well catered for with a range that opens with a 16-valve 1.8-litre unit with 117bhp, mated to a five-speed manual gearbox. Step up to the 2.0-litre engine and you'll have access to 136bhp and the choice of either a conventional five-speed manual 'box or a four-speed automatic 'autoadaptive' gearbox with Porsche Tiptronic System control. The 160bhp 2.2-litre engine is probably a better candidate and it features a six speed manual gearbox.

Peugeot have set something of a precedent to follow with some very good previous Euro NCAP crash test results but the 407 again takes a big step forward. Active safety in the form of brake discs with a diameter of up to 330mm and next-generation ESP stability control which is standard on every model. As well as marshalling the anti-skid function, ESP also acts as a controller for the anti lock braking system, the emergency brake assist and the electronic brakeforce distribution to each individual wheel. Up to nine air bags can be specified - twin fronts, side, curtain and steering column units offer optimum protection.

The Peugeot 407 SW will sell to many on the strength of its looks alone. It looks like some sort of terrain hugging missile; low, sleek and streamlined. Fortunately it's not all good looks and no substance. With a cleverly designed luggage bay and a crop of excellent engines, Peugeot could well have a surprise winner on their hands.

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 S 5dr SW Estate
	ETR	Mthly £298	Saving £3,989	Price £14,656

typical 12.12% APR

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