PEUGEOT has been piling in the changes but, other than a serious nose-job, you would be hard pressed to pick them out as far as the latest 307 series is concerned.
The car which won European Car of the Year title three years ago has undergone significant style changes to keep it fresh until an all new version appears in a few years.
Frontal changes to bonnet and lights in line with the 407 series have been made to improve pedestrian safety and visibility as well as tidy up the nose, and there are new rear lights, but the important stuff has gone under the skin.
A new Feline model with 180bhp 2.0 and leather interior has extended from the CC into the hatchback series, while the CC can now be ordered with 136bhp two litre diesel engine and six speed box in two trim levels and there is a 140bhp 2.0 petrol.
All versions get dual-zone automatic air conditioning, seat belts warning buzzer, optional Bluetooth telephone kit and the RDS radio has new functions.
It is the second best selling car in the Peugeot range with 2.2 million made and comes in five body-styles, although half of those bought are diesel and the CC is the sector leader.
Inside, buyers would notice completely new instruments and graphics with chrome and aluminium detailing.
Bigger and brighter headlights are part of the improved safety package which includes six airbags in the tin-tops and a roll-over bar in the CC.
"Peugeot's style, spacious room for the family and higher levels of equipment at virtually little extra cost are the unique selling points for the new 307 range," says Dean Drew, the UK director of advertising for Peugeot, "hence our 'Reaches New Heights' advertising strapline."
Peugeot has now launched three new model ranges in the UK in recent weeks in readiness for the September new registration plate sales period. The newcomers are the 107 city car, the 1007 supermini and now the heavily revised 307 range with five body styles.
UK new car sales are down 5.8 per cent for the first half of the year but Peugeot's sales have been reduced by 17.43 per cent in the same period. Peugeot say the drop was expected because of PSA's (Peugeot and Citroen) policy of reducing involvement in non-profitable areas of fleet and daily rental business. Citroen's UK sales for the first six months of this year were down 10.7 per cent.
With the UK retail market down 2.6 per cent so far this year, pressure for all major manufacturers to increase sales in the profitable areas of the fleet sector to balance the books is high.
Steve Harris, Director of Fleet and Leasing for Peugeot in the UK said this week, "Our 50 per cent expectation of business user sales for the new 307 has to be retained.
"Traditionally the 307 has given us big daily rental opportunities and this will continue although we will be controlling the volume to ensure the trade is profitable. We therefore need to increase our share of the business and user chooser sectors in the fleet market to compensate for the lost registrations in unprofitable areas.
"The revised 307 range and changes to the specification levels gives us the opportunity to increase our share of the overall market. Having the new range allows us to revisit past fleet and business customers with a new sales proposition."
The new engines tested in five-door, CC and SW versions are an appreciable step forward for Peugeot. They bring added smoothness and refinement to the range as well as improved performance and economy, depending on which one you pick as a comparison.
Arguably the most significant will be the new diesel CC which combines style with savings.
But there is no doubt that Peugeot is right in aiming its major offensive at the fleet buyers for the new series.
The latest hands-free Bluetooth system is easy to use and works well, although it still feels strange to shout at the fascia instead of into a handset, and it has not overcome the problem of sudden lost lines.
Whether or not the changes are sufficient to make buyers sit up and take notice is open to discussion in a market which is being bombarded with obviously new models.
Peugeot is going to have its work cut out, but those who are persuaded to put bottoms on seats will be impressed, particularly if the price is right on the button.