In truth, Peugeot's 407 probably didn't need a mild styling tweak. Even a couple of years after it was unleashed upon an unsuspecting market, it remains one of the most boldly-styled cars in its class. The latest revisions have done nothing to change that fact but serve to offer the discerning customer something extra. Factor in a punchy diesel engine and the 407 saloon and SW estate now look tough to beat in the ultra-competitive medium range market.

Peugeot twigged quite early that customers would gladly sacrifice a little of the old 406's athleticism for vastly superior build quality, a whole host more electronic sophistication and styling that would raise comment rather than pass unnoticed. The 407 has, in the intervening in years since launch, gone on to become a mainstay of the Peugeot line up, its sales far outstripping the pessimistic predictions of the old buffer brigade of motoring journalists. Time waits for no man, even if he is behind the wheel of one of the most futuristic looking cars in the mainstream market and Peugeot have taken this opportunity to tidy up the 407 range a little. Only a little, mind.

Let's kick off with those exterior changes. They don't add up to a whole hill of beans but a chrome-plated grille now gives the car's front end a little more definition while the new Executive V6 HDi model gets body-coloured side mouldings. Don't bother holding the front page. That's your lot. There are farther-reaching changes elsewhere, possibly the most significant being a reappraisal of the 407's trim levels at prices starting from £15,700. There are now five trims - S, SE, Sport and GT - and equipment levels have been given a hefty shot in the arm across the range. Even the S model seems very well appointed and the SE adds sophisticated features like rain-sensing windscreen wipers, automatic headlights, tyre pressure sensors and electrically-folding door mirrors. The Sport model is a relative newcomer and adds electric adjustment of its half-leather trimmed front seats, a six-disc autochanger, a rear parking aid and a multi-function colour display screen. None of which is really all that sporty but you probably won't buy a 407 if you're interested in cornering on your door handles.

If you really want more toys than Hamleys, you'll need to take a look at the range-topping GT trim level. As well as 17-inch alloy wheels, the GT models get the Peugeot RT3 system, a package that integrates a CD stereo, GSM mobile telephone, colour satellite navigation and a voice activation system so that you can keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road ahead. Also included as standard are (deep breath) xenon headlamps, rear seat side airbags, full leather trim, laminated side windows, heated front seats, rear side window sunblinds and a rear screen sunblind on the saloon models.

"The 407 stays ahead of the pack"

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, a Mondeo or a Mazda6 will probably be a better bet. Where the 407 outshines all of its rivals is in offering a genuinely big car feel and big car features for a relatively modest price. Now it also gets a proper big car engine, the 2.7-litre V6 HDi diesel unit, that's offered in Executive trim only. This diesel engine has been developed in conjunction with Ford, variants of it are found beneath the bonnet of the Jaguar's S-TYPE and XJ as well as the Land Rover Discovery. Fitted with an FAP particulate filter, in this guise, it develops a hefty 205bhp. By comparison, the petrol 3.0-litre engine fitted to the 407 feels weedy. Just a glance at the torque statistics will show why, the petrol-engined car manages a peak torque figure of 295Nm versus a whopping 447Nm for the diesel model.

You'll feel the difference out on the open road. The 407 V6 HDi features a six-speed manual gearbox as standard and the top ratio has been geared very high for super-relaxed cruising. Trying to accelerate against such big leverage can prove beyond the petrol-engined car, requiring a drop down to fifth or even fourth on some motorway gradients, but the automatic diesel just keeps ploughing on regardless. Such is the refinement of the 407 that you'll often find yourself travelling far faster than you at first imagined, something worth bearing in mind when coming into a hairpin bend! The combination of engine smoothness and noise insulation (helped by features such as laminated side windows) also means that this is one of the only diesel engines I've ever driven that feels happy being driven right to the redline. Whereas most oil burners sound very harsh and cease to produce meaningful go as you approach the rev limiter, the Peugeot's big V6 just keeps pulling. It feels an even better installation than in the Jaguar S-TYPE, lacking that car's rather obvious dip in the low-down manual gearing.

Aside from the big V6 HDi, four petrol engines and three diesel units are offered, both diesels including a particulate emission filter and those with manual gearboxes compliant with Euro4 standards thus neatly sidestepping the three per cent benefit in kind surcharge. These HDi diesels consist of a 1.6-litre unit that cranks out 110bhp and 240Nm of torque (260Nm of temporary 'overboost') and a 2.0-litre powerplant that develops 136bhp and 320Nm of torque (340Nm on overboost). Next up is a 2.2-litre 170bhp unit with twin turbocharged performance from £21,325.

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. If you do fancy automatic transmission, the 160bhp 2.2-litre engine is probably a better candidate, although if you prefer a manual gearbox, this model boasts a six-speeder.

The 407 stacks up very well in a market stuffed with quality. Now that it offers a clearer value proposition and a diesel engine that's one of the biggest hitters available in this sector, it's hard to see a comeback from its key rivals.

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 £339	Saving £5,400	Price £18,790
	Peugeot 407 2.0 HDi 136 GT Multimedia 5dr SW Estate
	ETR	Mthly £313	Saving £5,021	Price £17,669
	Peugeot 407 2.0 HDi 136 Sport Multimedia 5dr SW Estate
	ETR	Mthly	Saving £4,693	Price £16,697
	Peugeot 407 2.0 HDi 136 SE Multimedia 5dr SW Estate
	ETR	Mthly	Saving £4,603	Price £16,432
	Peugeot 407 2.2 HDi 170 Sport Multimedia 5dr SW Estate
	ETR	Mthly	Saving £5,071	Price £17,819

typical 10.20% APR

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