Monday, March 07, 2005
Peugeot 407SW
Peugeot 407 SWHot on the heels of its new 407 saloon launch, Peugeot has introduced the 407 SW - the initials unofficially standing for Sport Wagon. In showrooms now, the 407 SW is priced from £15,850 for the 1.8 S, rising to £23,350 for the 3.0-litre V6-powered Executive automatic. Car rental uk.
Take the badge off the rear tailgate and you could be forgiven for thinking that this is a car from the Saab stable, with its coupe-like styling and bold C-pillar. As a result, its profile lives up to expectations as far as the 'sport' element of the name is concerned and company car drivers who crave a little extra space for samples or luggage will appreciate the low sill height of the tailgate and unimpeded access. Car rental uk.
However, the 'wagon' part is less evident and readers who see the 407 SW as the natural successor to the cavernous 405 and 406 estate models will be surprised to learn that its loadspace is significantly less than its predecessors. For while rivals like Vauxhall and Ford have unashamedly gone down the route of the voluminous repmobile, Peugeot's designers have decided that there's more to be gained from being a lifestyle accessory than a leg-iron.
As far as size is concerned, the SW is some 87mm longer than the saloon - a function of a rear overhang of 1009mm compared to 922mm in the saloon. It is also slightly higher than the saloon, by 41mm, though this is to accommodate a different roof design rather than to provide more passenger headroom.
In volume terms, these dimensions translate into a modest increase in boot space over the saloon - 432 litres vs 455 litres (489 litres when the side storage compartments are taken into account). However, while the saloon's seats are fixed in place, those in the SW fold to reveal a flat load floor capable of swallowing up to 1365 litres of luggage and - with the front passenger seat folded flat - taking items up to 2700mm in length. Car rental uk.
By way of comparison, Vauxhall's Vectra offers 500 litres of luggage space in hatchback form, while the estate has 530 litres with the rear seat up and 1850 litres with them folded. Peugeot has no plans for a truly load-lugging estate version of the 407 and the battle lines between 407 SW and its rivals will be drawn according to the load space requirements of the commercial traveller.
Engine options mirror those of the saloon, with 1.8-litre, 2.0-litre, 2.2-litre and 3.0-litre V6 petrols, plus the 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre diesels. Sales of Peugeot's 407 saloon have been predominantly to fleets and predominantly diesel and there's no reason to suppose that the SW will buck this trend, though its stylish looks and functionality will certainly give the range more retail appeal.
Pick of the engines is undoubtedly the 136bhp diesel developed jointly between PSA and Ford. Alongside CO2 emissions of just 155g/km and a combined fuel consumption of 47.1mpg, it offers a top speed of 126mph and accelerates from rest to 62mph in 10.1secs. For those with cash to burn, there's the 3.0-litre V6 petrol which, while marginally quicker than the HDi 136, is nearly twice the price in BIK terms and less enjoyable to drive.
Up-rated rear spring and damper settings on the SW are in place to accommodate heavier loads, though there's no self-levelling suspension on offer. Stiffer springs might mean a marginally firmer unladen ride, but only the most sensitive will find fault with the 407 SW's chassis, which combines excellent straight-line stability with an impressive performance on twisting roads. A double wishbone set-up is used for the front suspension, with a multi-link rear axle. Car rental uk.
The news that there's not going to be a load-lugging 407 estate might have raised a few eyebrows in solus Peugeot fleets, but those who are on user-chooser schemes will be attracted by the SW's smart styling and versatility. Standard specification and safety levels are impressive and the HDi 136 is a gem.
Take the badge off the rear tailgate and you could be forgiven for thinking that this is a car from the Saab stable, with its coupe-like styling and bold C-pillar. As a result, its profile lives up to expectations as far as the 'sport' element of the name is concerned and company car drivers who crave a little extra space for samples or luggage will appreciate the low sill height of the tailgate and unimpeded access. Car rental uk.
However, the 'wagon' part is less evident and readers who see the 407 SW as the natural successor to the cavernous 405 and 406 estate models will be surprised to learn that its loadspace is significantly less than its predecessors. For while rivals like Vauxhall and Ford have unashamedly gone down the route of the voluminous repmobile, Peugeot's designers have decided that there's more to be gained from being a lifestyle accessory than a leg-iron.
As far as size is concerned, the SW is some 87mm longer than the saloon - a function of a rear overhang of 1009mm compared to 922mm in the saloon. It is also slightly higher than the saloon, by 41mm, though this is to accommodate a different roof design rather than to provide more passenger headroom.
In volume terms, these dimensions translate into a modest increase in boot space over the saloon - 432 litres vs 455 litres (489 litres when the side storage compartments are taken into account). However, while the saloon's seats are fixed in place, those in the SW fold to reveal a flat load floor capable of swallowing up to 1365 litres of luggage and - with the front passenger seat folded flat - taking items up to 2700mm in length. Car rental uk.
By way of comparison, Vauxhall's Vectra offers 500 litres of luggage space in hatchback form, while the estate has 530 litres with the rear seat up and 1850 litres with them folded. Peugeot has no plans for a truly load-lugging estate version of the 407 and the battle lines between 407 SW and its rivals will be drawn according to the load space requirements of the commercial traveller.
Engine options mirror those of the saloon, with 1.8-litre, 2.0-litre, 2.2-litre and 3.0-litre V6 petrols, plus the 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre diesels. Sales of Peugeot's 407 saloon have been predominantly to fleets and predominantly diesel and there's no reason to suppose that the SW will buck this trend, though its stylish looks and functionality will certainly give the range more retail appeal.
Pick of the engines is undoubtedly the 136bhp diesel developed jointly between PSA and Ford. Alongside CO2 emissions of just 155g/km and a combined fuel consumption of 47.1mpg, it offers a top speed of 126mph and accelerates from rest to 62mph in 10.1secs. For those with cash to burn, there's the 3.0-litre V6 petrol which, while marginally quicker than the HDi 136, is nearly twice the price in BIK terms and less enjoyable to drive.
Up-rated rear spring and damper settings on the SW are in place to accommodate heavier loads, though there's no self-levelling suspension on offer. Stiffer springs might mean a marginally firmer unladen ride, but only the most sensitive will find fault with the 407 SW's chassis, which combines excellent straight-line stability with an impressive performance on twisting roads. A double wishbone set-up is used for the front suspension, with a multi-link rear axle. Car rental uk.
The news that there's not going to be a load-lugging 407 estate might have raised a few eyebrows in solus Peugeot fleets, but those who are on user-chooser schemes will be attracted by the SW's smart styling and versatility. Standard specification and safety levels are impressive and the HDi 136 is a gem.
# posted by Liz Laurie @ 2:28 AM 
