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<p dir="ltr">Peugeot has its strongest model line-up for some years, with some of its cars now rated by our testers as being among the very best available.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Highlights focus around the firm’s newest SUVs, the 3008 and 5008. The 5008 was named Large SUV of the Year at the 2018 What Car? Awards, thanks to its appealing blend of space, interior quality and low running costs.</p>

<p dir="ltr">That bodes well for future launches, too, because many of the learnings from these cars will be passed on as new versions of existing cars are launched – something that could take many years, because the Peugeot range is so big, ranging from an entry-level supermini with the 108 to an executive saloon with the 508, up into the SUV range and also vans.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Buyers should evaluate some of the lower-rated cars in the range more carefully, though. Some are now quite old, and are subsequently left behind in terms of quality when compared with the opposition, making them below-average buys, in our estimation.</p>


PEUGEOT

<p>The Peugeot 407 SW is a distinctive family estate that's practical, if not hugely spacious</p>


Used Peugeot 407 SW 2004 - 2011

<p>The diesels are more expensive to buy, but they're far more frugal than the petrols, as well as much nicer to drive. Our favourite model, the 2.0 HDi, gives an average of 47mpg and the 1.6 HDi extends that to just over 50mpg.</p>

<p>The 2.7 V6 diesel isn't so good at 33mpg, and even the 1.8 and 2.0 petrols beat that, although the 3.0 V6 petrol is even worse, landing you with an official average of 28.5mpg.</p>

<p>Service costs are about as cheap as you'll get for a family estate.</p>

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The Peugeot 407 SW is a distinctive family estate that's practical, if not hugely spacious

<p>You'll find plenty of diesels, which is good news. They'll cost more to buy than the equivalent petrol models, but it's a price worth paying for their smooth, strong, frugal character. There's a 2.7 diesel, but it isn't cheap and you can easily get by with the performance of the far more fuel-efficient 136bhp 2.0 HDi - our favoured model.</p>

<p>If you're dead-set on petrol, the 2.0 gives the best balance of cost and ability, but the 2.2 isn't far behind. The 3.0 V6 is quick but pricey and the 1.8 too laboured when loaded.</p>

<p>All cars have seven airbags, climate control and a CD player. Most SV models have alloy wheels and a full-length glass roof. The posh Executive gets a CD multi-changer and useful rear parking sensors.</p>

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Huge boot and excellent practicality</li> <li>Plenty of interior space so you can carry passengers as well as luggage </li> <li>Strong engines to pull a heavily laden car</li> <li>Comfortable ride, especially on the motorway</li> <li>Low running costs for company car drivers</li></ul>

<p>If you’re after bags of space but you don’t want to commit to the van-like dimensions and styling of an MPV, there are some great estate cars on offer that should do the job.</p>

<p>Tricks to look out for include an electric tailgate&nbsp;that opens automatically when you wave your foot under the rear bumper; this is&nbsp;particularly handy if you’re trying to load in a heavy or&nbsp;bulky item. You should also look for handles in the side of the boot itself that can drop down the rear seats; these are much more convenient than having to walk around the side of the car to do it.</p>

<p>There are some terrific estates at most price ranges. The humble Skoda Fabia Estate offers cavernous space for not much cash at all, for example.</p>

<p>Further up the price range, another of our perennial favourites is the Skoda Superb Estate;&nbsp;it’s great to drive and as practical as most people should ever need. Meanwhile, for serious mile-munching ability and a premium, well-finished interior, it’s hard to look beyond the BMW 5 Series Touring.</p>

<p>The 407 SW shows all the signs of being the best-built Peugeot estate yet. The company has worked hard to raise the quality on this car and its shows.</p>

<p>There have been isolated reports of problems with the HDi diesels. Watch for any that run roughly at idle or fail to rev cleanly and consistently. Injector problems, sticky throttles or trouble with the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve may be the cause. A few have even blown their turbos.</p>

<p>Don't touch any car without a full service history. Many used 407 SWs were fleet cars, which means they will have been maintained properly, so there's no reason to risk a car with patchy maintenance. A proper service record is also essential if the car is still within its original three-year/60,000-mile warranty.</p>

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<p>Never mind outright space, feel the versatility. That's one of the Peugeot 407 SW's main appeals as a family estate. The load bay isn't as big as many rivals' but it's a useful shape and accessed by a split-opening tailgate. The rear seats split and fold to leave a virtually flat load floor, which is probably no more than you'd expect, but to swallow even longer loads, the backrest of the front passenger seat also folds flat - very neat.</p>

<p>Those in the front have plenty of space and the estate's higher roofline creates more rear headroom than in the saloon. There's stacks of kit, too, but all those buttons on the dash can be confusing.</p>

<p>The diesel engines suit the car far better than the petrols. Their undemanding low-down response is more in tune with the 407's softer, more comfort-biased drive. Even so, many rivals ride more smoothly, and many more are sharper in corners, too, where the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/peugeot">Peugeot</a> feels slow-witted.</p>

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Used Peugeot 407 SW 2004 - 2011 review

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