What they said when the Peugeot 607 was new… (Mar 5 2001)
The Peugeot 607 is the French company's best hope at making a lasting impression in the executive market.
Previous models have not been as successful as they might have been and the new model is visually striking, well equipped and has a good engine range. But it is up against some tough competitors where no quarter is given.
For my first drive in the new series car I chose the 2.2 petrol SE costing £23,195 and which comes with standard metallic paint, alloys, air conditioning, CD player, six front airbags, full powered windows and heated mirrors among other things. Insurance group is 17.
The four cylinder, 160bhp engine’s emissions for tax purposes are 217 Co2g/KM. It was an immediate starter, very smooth and quiet even when pushed hard. And it had to be worked to pull along this 4,600LB car with gear ratios which were obviously chosen to aid economy rather than progress in this heavyweight. As a result, it felt slow off the mark although its 0-60mph time of about 10 seconds was not too bad, however easing off the throttle and then pushing again to overtake meant it took time to gather pace.
Mid and top range acceleration was disappointing, particularly with a load in the car, but it cruised easily at the motorway limit. The gearchanges were light and the steering well weighted for feel and assistance with a good turning circle and lack of vibration at speed.
An adjustable height column matched to the powered seats would allow a range of drivers to find their ideal position behind the wheel and the facility to memorise seat and mirror settings is appreciated when more than one person drives a particular model.
The brakes had a really good feel and feedback underfoot, slowing and stopping the car quickly and undramatically as power gradually increased on the pedal. The handbrake was also very effective.
Secondary controls were all grouped around the wheel for convenience but some stalks were not in immediate line of sight and could be confusing. Even the sound system's many buttons were not particularly clearly marked either side of the wheel centre.
I liked the straightforward heating and ventilation and its effectiveness, backed up by the four powered windows and the heated door mirrors.
Oddments room was very good throughout the cabin and the boot was a very useful 21 cuft with a clever restraint net for smaller items.
There was also very good access for passengers and once inside the room was extremely good, particularly in the back. The seats were large, well shaped, and had excellent adjustment.
The comfort of the seats was very welcome on a long cross country journey but some may find the new big Peugeot's ride somewhat disappointing. You could hear how hard the suspension was coping with road shocks but too often you felt them as well. In so sophisticated a car as the 607 I would expect a softer ride than it exhibited and this feature put it at a disadvantage against rivals which are sporting but supple as well.
It is a big car at 192 inches long, 72 inches wide and 58 inches high but, unlike some competitors, it also felt big to drive. That high waistline and tail restricted all round visibility but the lights and wipers were good and a parking sensor system helped compensate for not being able to see the bootlid from the driver's seat.
The fact it is a very big car, well equipped for the money and possesses striking styling both inside and out would be the main attractions to buying but it struggles with the 2.2 litre engine if you need to get a move on and the ride quality is not up to class standards.
Words: Robin Roberts
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