Kick off any discussion regarding the Peugeot 407 and the key theme will always be that styling. Get beyond that to the car's more tangible qualities and there's little dissent, especially if you opt for a car fitted with the 136bhp HDi diesel engine. Developed in conjunction with Ford, it's a very good unit that complements the 407's smooth ride and relaxed feel perfectly. Peugeot hope to have established a new class benchmark.

Priced from £18,455, the engine is the third most powerful diesel unit available in the 407 saloon and SW line-up. The 2.2-litre HDi 170 starts at over £21,000 while the 2.7-litre V6 diesel as seen in the Jaguar S-TYPE is the range-topping option at well over £25,000 and will be out of reach for typical 407 buyers. All this talk of Ford and Jaguar collaborating with Peugeot may seem a long way distant from the days when Peugeot ploughed a proud and singular Gallic furrow, but the spiralling costs of developing contemporary powerplants means that such joint ventures are usually the most cost effective way of sharing the financial burden.

This 2.0-litre common-rail diesel unit first appeared in the Focus C-MAX but it now features a particulate filter to help the 407 meet full Euro4 emissions standards. Accelerate at full bore between 1,500 and 3,200rpm and an overboost facility kicks in, lifting the peak torque to a healthy 251lb/ft. Given that the 407 tips the scales at a hefty 1,505kg, this overboost facility comes in particularly handy during overtaking manoeuvres or when accelerating up a motorway on ramp.

The engine isn't the quietest diesel powerplant we've ever come across at idle, but once warmed up it settles to an offbeat thrum that's not unpleasant. The turbocharger offers a surprisingly linear delivery with none of the lag and surge many such units are afflicted by. Peugeot quote a sprint to 60mph time of 10.7 seconds but the car feels a little quicker. The tall gearing may have something to do with it, blunting the car's acceleration off the line a little. The six-speed gearbox manual is a little notchy in its action although you'll be hard pushed to wrong slot a gear.

Top speed is pegged at 129mph but perhaps more importantly the wind cheating shape and efficient powerplant combine to return an average fuel consumption of 47.9mpg; excellent for such a big car. With Co2 emissions rated at a relatively saintly 155g/km it's likely that fleet managers will be eyeing the 407 HDi 136 with interest. It's a car too good to leave to corporate bean counters although the interior shows some evidence of cost cutting in some of the materials used.

"The 407 HDi136 is a car too good to leave to corporate bean counters"

No matter how good the engine is, you've got to be able to live with that styling. Designed in-house at Peugeot it's reasonably conventional when viewed from behind but the front is very unorthodox. The long overhangs go against contemporary car styling trends and the massive gaping grille takes a good deal of getting used to. As with all the best Peugeots of yore, the lines are elegant, sleek and fluid. The windscreen is steeply raked back, giving a very sporting appearance and the latest models are marked-out by their chromed grilles. Aside from the four-door saloon, we've also borne witness to the 407SW estate that is, if anything, even better looking. With its canted back C-pillar, the SW looks impossibly fast - an automotive Exocet amid a sea of lumbering trebuchets.

Peugeot are keen to stress that the 407 is their very 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.

The French maker has 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. The chassis itself incorporates not only the highest level of torsional rigidity ever seen on a Peugeot saloon - as you might expect - but it also features a device known as an impactor that anchors the engine to the subframe and prevents it being shunted into the passenger cell in the event of a crash. Pedestrian protection is a major design criterion these days and the 407 features foam padded bumper bars and a bonnet that deforms to absorb shock, the top of the engine a good distance below that sweeping bonnet line. Up to nine air bags can be specified - twin fronts, side, curtain and steering column units offer optimum protection.

The cabin looks very Peugeot - which is possibly the weakest part of the 407 make up. It's neat and everything seems to work very nicely but there isn't a great deal of showroom 'wow factor' to it. The seating position feels a long way distant from the scuttle and the windscreen pillars create large blind spots. The problem with seating the driver this far back is limited rear space and the Peugeot also features one of the smallest boots in the class. Sophisticated multiplexed electronics allow for a huge amount of individual customisation when specifying your 407, with such features as rear view mirrors linked to reverse gear, parking sensors, self-imposed speed limiters, low tyre pressure monitors and variable cruise control systems all capable of being fitted quickly and, just as importantly, at very modest expense.

It's not often that we comment upon a car's air conditioning system - most set ups being much of a muchness - but the 407's deserves special mention. A humidity sensor constantly monitors the air in the interior to prevent fogging and a gentle dash-top diffuser dehumidifies the air without subjecting the passengers to the usual gritty blast. Peugeot have also developed an externally controlled compressor that uses atmospheric conditions to reduce the work the system has to do, thus reducing fuel consumption. A pollen filter also keeps summer trips bearable for those afflicted by hay fever.

There are elements in the make up of the Peugeot 407HDi136 that are by no means top of the tree. If interior space, luggage capacity and cabin quality are key priorities, it's possible to come away a little disappointed. On most other scorecards though, the car excels. The engine is something special, the prices look competitive and the sleek looks are anything but mainstream. Peugeot have been bold with the 407 where it would have been so easy to play safe. They should be rewarded for it.

TOP 2 407 DEALS

The results below show the top 407 deals on buyacar

	Peugeot 407 2.0 HDi 136 SE Multimedia 5dr [6] Tip Auto SW Estate
	ETR	Mthly	Saving £4,937	Price £17,553
	Peugeot 407 2.0 HDi 136 SE Multimedia 4dr Tip Auto Saloon
	ETR	Mthly	Saving £4,634	Price £16,656