THERE'S SO MUCH you can tell about a car from the first few minutes of driving it. In the case of the Peugeot 407, it didn't even take that long. In fact, there were plenty of things that struck me before I even got in the car.
Parked among rows of executive and family sedans, the Peugeot 407's distinctive look stood out. With a pointy nose, a wide grin grille, slanted headlights and details such as sprouting side winglets, vertical driving lamps and black protector strips, the Peugot put me in mind of Ferrari's 612 Scaglietti.
And that's exciting, because most sedans in this 2.0-litre, sub-$300,000 category have as much personality as a cheap business suit. But the 407 can raise one's pulse by looks alone. I'd been told that the 407 was an important entry to the mid-sized saloon market. But I didn't need to be told what a classy car it is - that's clear from just one look.
Inside, the 407 isn't quite as impressive - but it's still fine. What caught my eye first is the meaty steering wheel with aluminium-colour plastic trim on the thumb-rests. I'd prefer a leather steering wheel, but the 407's is stylish, nonetheless.
The dashboard is well styled, although it may not be as colorful and fancy as the Honda Accord or as rich and wholesome as a BMW. Start up the engine in the dimmed car park and the white-faced gauges on the instrument panel take on a warm, orange glow, flanked by chrome surrounds. The centre console, finished in the same aluminium colour as the steering wheel's thumb rests, is tidy, easy to read and business-like. It looks a bit German. I turned around to check the rear passenger space. The space ranges from good (for my passenger, who's of average height) to not so good (for me at 180cm).
The most impressive thing about the 407's interior is that the driver's seat is ideally positioned. There's no longer a far-reaching steering wheel that requires a hunched back and crooked wrist to reach, as in the 206. The 407's driving position is just perfect. It's the best-sitting Peugeot I've been in.