Back in 1998, the Peugeot 406 was a class act but by 2004 it had become rather embarrassingly off the pace. Up against cars like the Mazda6, the Honda Accord, the Ford Mondeo and the Vauxhall Vectra, the 406 couldn't possibly cut the mustard. Something new was needed, something that wouldn't just blend into the scenery. The 407 was the result and sitting on my drive recently, it was still creating quite an impression with my neighbours who were frantically twitching their curtains trying to figure out just what had landed. It's certainly different. I had opted for the 2.2-litre petrol powered model and that gaping chrome grille, priapic bonnet and hunched up rear end gives the car an almost cartoonish proportion. From some angles it looks great and from others rather awkward. One thing it's not is boring and at first acquaintance it seemed a whole lot better screwed together than some Peugeot products I'd sampled.

The 407 may take up a lot of road but the passenger compartment isn't the biggest in class. Yes, there's room to swing a generously sized cat up front without doing too much damage to the soft furnishings but kneeroom in the rear isn't overly generous, especially if a taller driver has bagged one of the front seats. Again, the styling has have taken priority over practicality when it comes to boot space, the stub tail preventing a truly big boot. The solution in this instance is to opt for the low slung 407 SW estate version which has plenty of room astern. Right from the outset, the investment in quality is manifest. The fabric seating of our test car felt better and seemed of higher quality than many of the bargain basement leather trims fitted to upper-spec mid range saloons and the seats had both enough lateral grip and were comfortable enough. The steering wheel is trimmed in leather but featured neat cut outs for the thumbs. The dashboard follows the trend for 'waterfall' centre consoles on which most of the major instruments are placed and sees a welcome move away from the rattly hard plastic ventilation and air conditioning controls that have blighted many Peugeots of yore. Expensively slush moulded plastics yield to the touch along the top of the dashboard whilst there are classy looking applique strips along the dash and doors to brighten the interior ambience a little. The Peugeot staple of chrome-ringed dials and a chrome and leather trimmed gear knob are also evident. Thankfully the steering wheel is a little better looking than some of the blandly bulging tillers fitted to many Peugeots. Some thought has gone into this cabin.

The 160bhp 2.2-litre petrol engine that powers the mid-range 407 model I received will be familiar to 406 customers, powering as it did the sporting SRi version, and it's a very good unit. Zippy enough to entertain in a straight line, it'll make 60mph in 10.1 seconds and run on to a top speed of 136mph, helped in no small part by the 407's very slippery shape. Fuel economy is surprisingly good for a peppy petrol powerplant in what is a deceptively large car, the 407 2.2 returning a creditable 31mpg on the combined cycle. Emissions aren't this 407's strongest suit, although the 214g/km figure won't preclude it from business buyers who are genuinely sold on the look and feel. The steering is very good, as is the gearchange although the car handles more like a big 607 saloon than a spry 307 hatch. As a motorway or A-road car it makes a lot of sense but if you prefer wringing your car out around corners you may well find it a little soft.

Personally, I'd love a 407 on my drive. The neighbours, however, seem undecided.