Revised Peugeot 4007 review

As much as we would like to be ‘green’ real life motoring requirements, not to mention freedom-of-choice, puts most of us into the ‘red’ as far as CO2 emissions and tax based running costs are concerned.

One model not in the Peugeot Clean and Green stable is their 4007, their first SUV and launched in 2007 but built by 4x4 experts Mitsubishi Motors. Peugeot’s 4007 on demand two or four wheel drive, seven seat, soft off-roader comes from the Mitsubishi Outlander family as does Citroen’s C-Crosser.

There is no doubt that larger sized SUVs or Dual Purpose vehicles, except the Lexus hybrids, are costly to run in fuel and CO2 based taxes and as a result sales fell by 22% in 2008 and have fallen another 22% for the first half of this year.

But UK sales are still over 100,000 units a year so people still want and need large, capable and comfortable 4x4s. Particularly country dwellers and with Winter upon us guess which motorists are going to be safer and happier negotiating travel on ice, snow and muddy roads.

Even in the Summer owners find their big 4x4 is the ideal family tool for towing the horsebox, trailer and now more and more ‘staycation’ Brits have moved back to owning and towing a caravan for the holidays.

SUV market

The 4007 in not a big seller in the grand scheme of things, around 1,000 units this year, competing in the upper medium to large 4x4 sector of the market against the Citroen C-Crosser, Mitsubishi Outlander, Audi Q5, Land Rover Freelander, Honda CR-V, Nissan X-Trail, Toyota RAV4, Suzuki Grand Vitara, and VW Tiguan.

I could include the BMW X3 and Volvo XC60 as well before heading into the 4x4 heavyweights such as the Range Rover, Land Rover Discovery, Volvo XC90, BMW X5, VW Touareg, Mercedes Benz ML/GL, Toyota Land Cruiser, Jeep Cherokee and Audi Q7. Gaining in popularity are the less taxing Lexus RX 450h hybrid models.

There is no shortage of 4x4s to choose from and the price range is just as wide spread. Middle of the road (or more correctly off-road) SUVs are still loved because of their image, useable size, on and off road ability and you will find everybody from city-clickers to yummy mummies to young or old couples driving them.

Most customers opt for diesel powered models and the majority of users want an automatic transmission. Drive forward the revised Peugeot 4007 seven seater which has just received a six speed, twin clutch auto box option to go with the vehicle’s strong and responsive 2.2-litre, four cylinder 156bhp HDi turbodiesel engine.

The Mitsubishi sourced high-tech twin clutch auto box adds £1,176 to the price over a manual version so prices of the latest 4007s now range from £23,636 to £27,356.

There are two levels of specification SE and GT and both specifications are also available with a 6-speed manual gearbox. All models offer electronically operated two and on demand four wheel drive operated with the turn of an easy to use switch. All models also have Electronic Stability Programme as standard.

Peugeot 4007 specifications

The standard ES specification includes 16-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, seven seats in three rows, automatic air conditioning with climate control, Isofix child seat mountings, front, front side and curtain airbags, electrically operated windows and folding and heated door mirrors, trip computer, radio/CD player, alarm, central locking, upper and lower section twin tailgate and front fog lights.

The GT specification adds 18-inch alloys, leather upholstery with heated front seats, electrically operated driver’s seat adjustment, tinted rear windows, rear parking sensors and Xenon headlights.

Tiwn-clutch autobox

We motoring enthusiasts love twin-clutch automatic gearboxes. They provide fast gearchanges, they maximise performance and in most cases either improve fuel economy or get close to do so. Unlike the old design auto boxes there is no power lost by having a heavy torque converter.

With the gutsy engine providing 380Nm of torque at 2,000rpm, the twin clutch gearbox shifts seamlessly and quickly between gears, there is no momentum lost during acceleration and the gear selector changes down the box as well when slowing down or going downhill.

Of course there are the steering column mounted gear-shift paddles if the driver feels a bit sporty but the system can be left in full auto mode or the gear select lever can be used for sequential changes.

Performance and running costs

The top speed is 123mph and 0-62mph takes 9.9 seconds so the 4007 isn’t slow by any means. Having the refined twin clutch auto box option really doesn’t harm fuel economy too much unlike an old torque converter system.

A 4007 manual will officially average 40.4mpg, the new twin clutch auto 38.7mpg and my test car returned a real-life driving average of 33.1mpg. The CO2 emissions for the new auto are slightly higher than the manual at 192g/km over 185g/km.

This means £215 in road tax instead of £175, both will be higher still from next April once The Chancellor has done his sums and currently the Benefit-in Kind tax for company car drivers is 29% and again that is going to increase.

Now and in the future motoring is and will be a costly business so perhaps we should just enjoy what we pay through the nose for. The Peugeot 4007 is not the cleanest or the greenest 4x4 but the new twin-clutch auto option has been a long time coming so enjoy it now it’s here.

Peugeot 4007 MILESTONES

Revised Peugeot 4007 GT HDi 156 DCS Auto

Price: £27,356

Engine/Transmission: 2.2-litre, four cylinder, common rail turbocharged diesel with particulate filter, 156bhp, 380Nm of torque from 2,000rpm, 6-speed twin clutch DCS auto gearbox with on demand two/four wheel drive in three modes

Performance: 123mph, 0-62mph 12.5 seconds, 38.7mpg in the combined cycle (33.1mpg actual on test), CO2 192g/km, VED Band J £215, BIK tax 29%

Insurance group: 13E

Dimensions/capacities: L 4,636mm, W 1,805mm, H 1,7156mm, 184-1,686-litres, maximum braked towing weight 2,000kg

For: Diesel engine and 6-speed twin clutch auto box combination, smooth engine, seamless and fast gear changes, easy to drive, comfortable ride, handles well, roomy for five but will seat seven, well equipped

Against: High tax costs, pricey, interior plastics look only average quality and not as good as the new 3008, third row of seats are very cramped

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