Alternative review of Peugeot 607

Historically, the French and the Germans have had their fair share of run-ins, the prompt, unyielding efficiency that characterises people from one side of the border never quite gelling with the bolshy Gallic temperament emanating from the other. The executive saloon market sector is a prime example of a modern-day arena where the French and the Germans don't quite see eye to eye. Teutonic manufacturers do very well at selling premium saloons to the English with the likes of BMW, Mercedes and Audi virtually cornering the market but the French are intent on upsetting their neighbours' sausage cart with some well-equipped and attractively-priced cars of their own - cars like the Peugeot 607. In the grand scheme of today's motoring market, the executive saloon isn't the most practical of cars. For the same sort of money you'd be spending on a Peugeot 607, you could be climbing into a full-sized MPV like SEAT's Alhambra, a fully-loaded Ford Mondeo Estate or a rugged lifestyle 4x4 like the Nissan X-Trail. What the executive saloon is supposed to offer to justify its pricing premium over these other vehicles is image, prestige, a touch of class if you will. The Germans can offer badge equity by the barrow load but it's here that the French fall down slightly. Whichever way you look at it, Peugeot's prancing lion is not on a par with the Mercedes three-pointed star in the status symbol stakes. This is a shame because if you examine the 607 objectively as a product in comparison with the Germanic offerings, it holds up quite well. It's certainly much less ostentatious and it's got character - a quality that I really like.

Now let's forget about the usual suspects from Germany who usually come to the fore when the executive saloon sector is mentioned and focus on the 607. The car has bean pleasantly styled in-keeping with the Peugeot tradition of sleek feline front ends and with an elegant curve down to the boot at the rear. It's a big car too, priced equivalently to vehicles in the compact executive segment but with boot and rear leg space that betters most larger executive saloons. The driving position is very comfortable. With numerous different adjustments possible to the seat, it's almost certain that you'll find a set-up that suits you - eventually. On longer journeys, the space and comfort contained within the cabin are a godsend, you certainly get the impression that the controls are well located and there aren't really any obvious design flaws that might prove annoying over time. One small gripe would be that the collection of control stalks jutting out of the steering column might prove a little difficult to reach for smaller-handed drivers as they are situated quite far back from the wheel itself. The decor inside was another plus point. In my opinion you can't go wrong with a bit of walnut on the dashboard - even if it is plastic. The ambience leaves you in no doubt that you're in a car of a class that's above and beyond your Mondeo and Vectra family saloon fare. In the back, legroom is impressive with loads of space even for taller occupants. Plus, having slammed the doors, pushed the buttons and flicked the switches, I can confirm that the build quality is up to scratch.

On the road, an executive saloon should be quiet, refined and relaxing, a cocoon for stressed-out executives to cut themselves adrift from the outside world and unwind. The 607 makes a decent stab at this, road and engine noise are well-suppressed and the steering is feather light - perhaps a little too light. Some sounds and vibrations do eek their way into the cabin to stop you from dropping off but overall the 607 fulfils the criteria by being a relaxing car to drive. Driver aids are always important in an executive car. The latest labour and hassle saving gadgets usually debut in vehicles at this end of the market and then filter down to less plush cars in the range. The 607 I tested certainly had its fair share. As a lengthy car with substantial overhangs front and rear, the 607 would have proved a tricky customer to park were it not for the rear-parking sensor fitted to my model. As you back carefully towards that unseen car park bollard or the £10,000 paint-job on your neighbour's Rolls-Royce, a series of bleeps warn you of impending disaster and they get quicker depending on how impending that disaster actually is. This way, you can make full use of all the available space when parking and keep your 607's extremities in top-notch condition. Other plus points include the automatic windscreen wipers/headlights which come on by themselves whenever it gets too wet/dark. Then there's the wing mirrors that fold themselves in when you lock the doors. The 2.0-litre HDi engine in the model I tried pulled strongly through the middle of the rev range and was refreshingly quiet. If you're still living with the misguided notion that diesel engines are noisy, smokey and slow, you really must drive one of the latest common-rail diesel units. The reasons for buying a petrol-powered car are looking less compelling all the time.

There would be no great chore involved in living with the 607. It's a relaxing, comfortable car to own. The car's executive saloon layout might not suit people looking for a jack-of-all-trades family car but the pricing is more than reasonable, there's loads of equipment and the 607 fulfils the role it was designed for very well.