
The 2.2 litre 4 cylinder 16 valve diesel engine in the 4007 generates a healthy 156bhp at 4,000 revs, giving the 4007 enough power to make it appealing to drive if not lightning quick from a standing start. The engine also generates 285 lb ft of torque at 2,000 revs, giving the driver plenty of the low down power which Peugeot diesel engines are renowned for. The 4007 is a fairly large and heavy vehicle, weighing in at 2410 Kg gross weight, however the engine does have enough in its locker to move all of this weight along comfortably. On motorways you should not ever feel short of opportunities to overtake, equally the 4007 will cruise comfortably at 70 mph between 2,000 and 3000 revs. Power isn’t exactly delivered in an urgent fashion although the 4007 does feel livelier than a lot of its competitors.
The superb ride and handling has been hallmark of Peugeot vehicles over the years and the 4007 certainly does not let the side down. The quilted leather seats that the car we road tested came with, come as standard on the higher spec Sport and GT models. They are extremely comfortably and help make the 4007 a joy to drive. The handling is sharp for a vehicle of this size and body roll is only noticeable by its absence. This is certainly the best handling vehicle of its class I have driven and the most comfortable to drive. The larger alloys which were fitted to our car did not seem to hinder the drive at all.
Inside the cabin the 4007 has a definite air of quality, we tested the Sport XS model which comes with quilted leather seats, climate control, cruise control and all round electric windows and mirrors a standard. The quality of the materials used within the cabin is high with soft touch plastics being employed on the dashboard and most fittings. The stereo and computer are well spaced out and fitted. One slightly bizarre function of the stereo is the option to enhance the sound by asking for the output to be ‘hall, stadium, live or studio’. Put the stereo on hall setting and it does actually sound like you are listening to the stereo in a hall all by yourself! If you opted for the lowest spec SE model you still get a generous level of kit including; satin chrome roof bars, split tailgate with 200kg load capacity, 16'' Manyara alloy wheels with anti theft wheel nuts, trip computer, front fog lights, air conditioning with climate control and cruise control.
The Euro NCAP ratings for the 4007 were not available at the time of publication but there are a plethora of airbags surrounding driver plus front and rear passengers in the 4007. Electronic stability programme, alarm, immobiliser and front seatbelt pre-tensioners are all standard across the entire 4007 range.
The 4007 is a large vehicle and as such does not suffer from a lack of space for passengers and their luggage. Maximum boot capacity is an impressive 1686 litres. Parking sensors for the 4007 are a real bonus as it is a large vehicle to manoeuvre, however they are only available on the top spec GT model, with no option to add them to the Sport or SE.
The 4007 is a great looking, nice to drive entry into the SUV market for Peugeot. It has a lot to offer in terms of ride, drive and presence on the road whilst insurance groups of 12-13 a combined MPG of 38.6 for the Sport and GT models is impressive in this vehicle sector. Peugeot will undoubtedly have a host of appealing personal contract purchase offers on this range with the only possible worry in ownership set to be the depreciation rate. However as the Peugeot 4007 is only available as a diesel option it should not be too much of a worry.

At the core of any Peugeot 4007 is an excellent 2.2 HDI diesel unit with plenty of grunt to call upon, the oil burner is capable of 156bhp at 4000revs and performance is truly spirited and leaves the driver with the impression of driving a premium SUV. With plenty of torque to also call upon coupled to the power available the car belies its size offering swift acceleration and a no fuss approach motorway cruising. Zero to 62mph takes only 9.9 seconds on its way to a top speed of 124mph and you can feel this perkiness every time you get behind the wheel – if you’re expecting a lethargic, cumbersome SUV which is a chore to drive then think again, the car makes a mockery of its dimensions! Fuel economy is also somewhat of a welcome surprise, with an official ‘target’ combined figure of 38.6mpg the car on a long motorway test averaged over 35mpg. The Car’s CO2 figure of 194g/km places it in band J for Vehicle excise duty, which is pretty much middle of the road for a car of this size.
Love or loathe the Peugeot philosophy when it comes to handling, there is something unique about the way the French carmaker sets up a car, and the trademark lightness of steering is apparent in the mighty 4007. With the ability to switch between two- and four- wheel drive modes this does make a dramatic difference to the feel when driving. The four wheel drive option feels more assured on the road, in contract to two wheel drive where at times the car can feel a little skittish, especially with surface water. The handling makes for an involving and engaging drive.
The Peugeot 4007 is actually built by Mitsubishi in its well established Japanese plant churning out Outlanders and C-Crossers, the result is a well put together, sturdy car and the quality of materials used is of a good standard. The leather interior of the XS sport with its crosshatching detail on the seats was a particular highlight in what is a strong overall package. The Peugeot is a bit of a bridging car – it echoes some of the features that can be seen on the premium end of the SUV market without being in the same price bracket. However it’s also refined enough to be a step up from the more basic models on the market. Reliability doesn’t appear to be a concern with the car too; the 2.2 litre HDi engine is a tried and trusted unit which pops up in a multitude of models, so we don’t envisage any problems with its continued performance. All in all the car should be able to take the hammer of an active family.
It’s usually at this point in proceedings where the reviewer regales the reader about the number of stars the car obtained in its Euro NCAP crash testing appearance – sadly either the Peugeot 4007 (or sister car the Citroen C-Crosser) have had the pleasure of being smashed up in the name of science so there are no scores to help compare the car to others in the same class. However, all is not lost for the lovers of the star rating as the car is actually based on the Mitsubishi Outlander, which has been through the rigorous simulation and performed well, with a respectable 4 stars for adult protection, 3 stars for child protection, and 2 stars for child protection – side impact protection looks to be a particular strength in the design. As with all new cars the 4007 comes equipped with a multitude of airbags – front, side, and curtains for rows one and two all comes as standard across the range. The SUV all benefit from that sensation of being big and chunky and built to protect your family, the Peugeot 4007 is no different. The electronic “on demand” 4WD system, ABS + EBFD, and ESP all comes as standard and it’s all working away for your benefit, so keeping the car on the road should not be an issue. The one downside with the XS Sport model is lack of rear parking sensors as standard, as you would expect the car isn’t the easiest to navigate and guessing becomes part of your parking routine! The top of the range GT undoubtedly benefits from this addition to its package.
If you’re considering a five/seven seat vehicle then no doubt space is pretty high up on the list of must haves, and the 4007 for five people is very spacious – plenty of room in front, back and boot. Theoretical maximum space available with the rear seats down is 1686 litres. Using the car as a five seat SUV should mean that all the space you never need can be had with the boot. The XS Sport which took part in the test drive comes in the five door set up, while the two alternatives the SE and top of the range GT come in with the seven seat offering. Another quality addition to the car is the robust tailgate, which can cope with a weighty 200kg, it also comes in handy as a make shift seat when removing muddy boots and wellies after a walk! Sometimes it’s these additional features that really lift a car and resonate with the car buying public; this is one such feature for the outdoor crowd.
The mid range XS Sport is pitched competitively with an RRP of almost £25,000 and comes complete with a high level of refinement and kit. Peugeot first foray into the Sports Utility Vehicle market might be made by someone else but it has enough of the positive Peugeot influence to make for an engaging drive. Cars of this size are never the cheapest to run, with average fuel costs on the high side and VED near the top rate. Perhaps the biggest problem that the Peugeot 4007 encounters is that its sibling the Citroen C-Crosser is equally as capable, while both have some way to top the excellent Land Rover Freelander2. Another down side to the 4007 is its poor residuals which make it an expensive option.