Peugeot 407 review

Overview

The Peugeot 407 Coupé makes most sense as a car for two people who sometimes need two more seats and like the idea of crossing the country without driving a conventional saloon. This review covers the late UK 2011 Sport, with the 2.0 HDi 163 particulate-filter diesel and six-speed manual. The saloon and SW estate are different bodies, and the earlier diesels and V6 have their own specifications. Our buying analysis draws on Peugeot's technical material and contemporary UK reviews; RoadMatch has not road-tested this example. Look beyond the Sport badge: this is a relatively large touring car, with a useful boot and costs that depend heavily on the individual car's history.

Exterior and interior

The long nose and low rear roof make the Coupé easy to distinguish from the four-door 407. They also help explain why it is worth trying your usual parking space before buying. Open both doors and inspect their edges, hinges and seals; a narrow space can be awkward even if the car fits between the lines. Inspect the bumper corners and headlamps rather than pricing damage as if it were on a more common body style. Inside, test the seating position and every part of the centre controls you will use. A dated screen is an acceptable compromise if it works; an intermittent climate or lighting fault is worth investigating.

Practicality

There are four places in the manufacturer's Coupé technical sheet, not the five of a typical 407 saloon. Rear access is through the front doors and taller passengers should check headroom and entry before anyone assumes it will replace a family hatchback. Peugeot's same-generation sheet gives 400 litres using VDA blocks, supported by the exact UK variant data. That is enough space to make a weekend away feasible for two people, but the boot lid and opening are not an estate tailgate. Try the cases or equipment you normally carry and work out whether the rear passenger seat you need will remain usable with your preferred front seat position.

Driving experience

The contemporary British accounts make more sense if you think of the 407 as a grand tourer than as a direct answer to a compact sports coupé. It can feel settled in ordinary faster driving, with space and diesel flexibility in its favour, but its bulk matters on narrow roads and sharper bumps. A well-maintained example should steer consistently and brake cleanly. Try rough and smooth roads, listen for suspension noises and consider whether you want a light, quick-reacting car or a calmer driving position. RAC's buying guide is a useful companion, but the feel of an old Coupé also depends on the tyres, alignment and the quality of earlier repairs.

Performance

Peugeot's July 2010 engine table identifies 1,997 cc, 120 kW, 340 Nm at 2,000 rpm and the six-speed manual. We give the power as about 161 mechanical bhp, with 163 PS being the metric figure. The exact UK data lists 9.5 seconds to 62 mph, also reported by contemporary British coverage. Peugeot's French table gives 9.1 seconds to 100 km/h for its driver-only test; we do not substitute that different-condition figure for the UK number. The diesel's practical strength is pulling smoothly once warmed up. Look for a consistent clutch and progressive power, not just a seller's assurance that all older diesels feel coarse when cold.

Fuel economy

The UK combined figure is 52.3 imperial mpg and 140 g/km CO₂ for the 2.0 HDi 163 manual, consistent with Peugeot's contemporary 5.4 L/100 km mixed-cycle figure. This is the old NEDC laboratory basis, not WLTP. For budgeting we use 42 mpg. Over 7,500 miles at £1.55 per litre, 35 mpg instead would cost about £250 more in fuel. The particulate-filter diesel makes more sense for a driver with regular longer trips than for a car that will rarely warm through. Verify the particular registration's status for any clean-air zone you plan to use, and do not assume a different V6 or older 2.0 will share the figure.

Reliability

Start with invoices, not with general claims about the HDi name. Ask about the timing drive, the emissions system and any recent clutch or flywheel work, then have a specialist assess gaps in the records. RAC's used Coupé guide advises checking the electrical equipment. Allow time for the lights, sensors, climate, windows and audio, as several small issues can add up. Look for uneven tyre wear and ask for investigation of suspension noise or recurring engine warnings. For anything distinctive to the Coupé, check replacement availability before buying a visibly damaged car. Our limited-confidence reliability judgement is not a fault-rate estimate and does not certify the condition of any particular car.

Safety

No exact Euro NCAP assessment was verified for the two-door 407 Coupé. The 2004 Peugeot 407 datasheet identifies a four-door test vehicle, so its result is not transferred. Peugeot's UK Coupé literature describes stability control and front, side and curtain airbag protection; its Coupé-specific rescue sheet also identifies airbag and body reinforcement positions. These sources establish equipment, not a crash rating. Verify warning-light behaviour and consult the correct handbook before fitting a child restraint. Use the GOV.UK registration checker and confirm applicable work with Peugeot by VIN. Poor historic collision repair and neglected tyres can matter more to a particular used example than any brochure description.

Technology and features

Period Sport equipment includes ordinary cruise control and rear parking sensors, both worth trying before a test drive ends. Do not mistake cruise control for a following-distance system. The original navigation and audio are of their time; confirm phone calling or music playback directly rather than assuming an old menu implies current compatibility. We have not marked heated seats, a reversing camera, Apple CarPlay or Android Auto as standard on this variant. If a previous owner installed a screen, inspect how it works with the parking warnings and phone you actually use. Check the xenon headlamps and ensure the usual display and climate functions work correctly.

Running costs

RoadMatch's November 2026 purchase allowance of £2,500–£5,500 is for planning only, not a live valuation of this relatively uncommon car. At 7,500 miles, 42 mpg and £1.55 per litre, estimated fuel is about £1,260 a year. An illustrative £200 tax allowance and £650–£1,250 for MOT, servicing and ordinary wear give roughly £2,100–£2,700 before insurance, depreciation, finance and major repairs. Check actual tax and quote insurance using the plate. Budget separately for major faults and price the correct-size tyres as well as any damaged coupé-specific parts. Purchase price is a poor guide to the first year's bill if several major maintenance jobs are overdue.

Advantages and disadvantages