If you started at Land's End and asked everyone you met to name the first Peugeot that came to mind, you would probably be north of Inverness before you found anybody who gave the 607 as an answer. By far the largest non-MPV in the range, it suffers from Large French Car Syndrome - people in the UK just don't seem to be interested in this sort of thing when there are so many British and German equivalents to choose from.Over the next twelve months, therefore, Peugeot expects to sell only about 1000 607s (which is still a few more than Citroen's claim for the C6), and most of those are likely to go to corporate buyers. A Peugeot spokesperson recently told me - with a frankness that I found quite refreshing - that few private customers could be expected to buy new, simply because the car depreciates like a punctured balloon in the first twelve months.Obviously, that's not an exact quote, but you get the idea. Since fleet business justifies the selling of 607s in the UK, this new model makes a lot of sense. It's fitted with the Ford/PSA Peugeot Citroen 170bhp 2.2-litre turbo diesel engine, which combines adequate performance (0-62mph in 9.3 seconds and a maximum of 139mph) with accountant-friendly fuel consumption (44.1mpg combined) and CO2 emissions (170g/km).These figures make the car quite appealing to private buyers too, but the 607 has other charms which can't be enumerated so easily. It's reasonably attractive, mostly because the wide-mouthed frog look characteristic of other Peugeots isn't as pronounced here. It's also comfortable, and it has a lot of space for front passengers and for luggage (509 litres), though the rear is surprisingly cramped considering the overall size of the car; I doubt that four occupants could happily travel very far in it if they were all over six feet tall.It doesn't feel in any way like a luxury car, but it rides quite well, with better body control than large French saloons of the past. In fact, it's not much less nimble than the similarly-powered 407 SW, which says a lot for how good a job the Peugeot engineers have done on the suspension.As for the straightline performance . . . well, don't expect to be pinned back in your seat as time bends around the wing mirrors. But do expect decent acceleration, particularly at the lower end of the rev range. One of the finest features of this engine is the fact that it produces its maximum torque of 277lb/ft down at 1500rpm.The HDi 170 takes up the middle position in the 607 range, and it offers a good compromise. Below it is the HDi 136, which is cheaper and slightly more economical but quite a bit slower, while one step above comes the 3.0 V6 petrol model (the only one with an automatic gearbox), which is barely any quicker yet costs £2545 more and gulps through fuel at the rate of 27.7mpg on the combined cycle.All three come in the same trim level (called Executive, though there's no need to call it anything since there's no alternative) and - nice touch here - there are no options whatever. Everything that Peugeot supplies with the car is fitted as standard, including colour satnav, a JBL audio system with 6-CD autochanger, an electric sunblind for the rear screen, dual-zone climate control air-conditioning and laminated side windows.On the whole, there's nothing at all dramatic about the 607, but it's a pleasant car nonetheless, and never more so than with the HDi 170 engine. And while it has neither the wow factor nor the badge appeal to challenge Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz or any other non-French rival, I like it enough to regret the fact that it won't do any better in this country than Peugeot expects it to. Engine 2179cc, 4 cylinders Power 170bhp Transmission 6-speed manual Fuel/CO2 44.1mpg / 170g/km Acceleration 0-62mph: 9.3 seconds Top speed 139mph Price £26,495 Details correct at publication date
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