The 407 Coupe comes with a 2.2-litre four-pot diesel and petrol, and a 3.0-litre V6 petrol – but it’s the 2.7-litre V6 diesel that impressed us most. Twist the key and you’d be forgiven for thinking you were at the wheel of the petrol model; it’s one of the quietest cars we’ve ever tested. And the engine’s talents don’t end there. It revs smoothly and silently all the way to the red line, and never loses its composure. This relaxed powerplant suits the 407’s grand touring aspirations. The Peugeot never pretends to be a sports car – so owners are unlikely to be disappointed by its limited pace in a straight line. However, overtakes must be planned carefully, and the standard auto is slow to respond. Fittingly, the Peugeot glides effortlessly over most road surfaces. Chassis composure is good on the whole, too – body roll isn’t an issue, and even when pushed hard, it takes a lot to provoke understeer. It’s just that, when driven energetically, the Peugeot can become ragged and start to lurch; bumpy roads upset the front-wheel-drive 407.
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