Peugeot 4007

Peugeot 4007
On sale 23/24 July

As a former Girl Guide you might think I’d be used to sleeping under the stars. That was many aeons ago though and nowadays kipping in a tent where I discover I have an extra sleeping companion in the form of some ‘huge’ insect isn’t exactly my idea of heaven.

However it was Peugeot’s idea of how to launch its first off road vehicle to the motoring press. Which is how I ended up, sleeping in a Tipi shipped from the Nordic regions of the world to the middle of Longleat Safari Park where I spent the night listening to the rumblings of wild animals. Or that could have just been sounds from the neighbouring tents!

The 4007 is the Lion brand’s new SUV which has all the attributes of a four by four, is unusually environmentally friendly and seats five with a plus two facility on demand.

The Peugeot 4007 has a high driving position and a manually operated four wheel drive system for those occasional slippery roads and forest tracks.

It emits less CO2 than some family cars due to its efficient diesel engine. CO2 emissions are 191g/km. It also returns an impressive mpg performance of 39.2mpg with combined use.

The seating is really useful. There is ample space for five adults with two seats in the floor of the large boot. When two extra seats are needed for short journeys, pulling a tab pops them out of the floor. By pulling another tab in the boot, the middle seats automatically fold down and up against the front seats giving easy access to these two small rear seats or extra cargo space.

The 4007 is a joint project with Mitsubishi and Citroen and the 4007 is basically the same car as the Outlander and C-Crosser but with the Peugeot pointed snout and large grille at the front. The brand’s chrome strip across the rear I think makes it look rather cluttered.

Inside it is all very good quality and it is spacious. There are two trim levels, SE at £22,790 and GT at £25,490. Both models include roof bars, automatic air conditioning with climate control, pollen and dust filters, front fog lights, radio/CD player with MP3 compatibility and a host of safety features such as six airbags.

The top of the range gains full black leather upholstery, 18” alloys, a 6 disc CD autochanger, rear parking aid, xenon headlights and dark tinted rear windows.

There is only one engine, a 2.2 litre 156bhp with a six speed manual transmission. This is a great engine with lots of torque and good acceleration.

This SUV has an exceptionally small turning circle and the word ‘cumbersome’ which you might allude to when talking of other four by fours just doesn’t apply to the 4007. The driving mode is very easy and you could almost be behind the wheel of a saloon. I drove around the Salisbury Plains and on one road in particular which has more turns in a two mile stretch than any other road in the country. The 4007 took every turn with direct efficient steering and no wallowy effect.

When I lie awake all night watching the walls of my ‘room’ shaking with every gust of wind I wonder why on earth I do this job. Then I drive a car like the Peugeot 4007 and realise why it’s all worth while in the end.

Facts at a Glance
Model: Peugeot 4007
Price: SE at £22,790 and GT at £25,490
Engine Options: 2.2 litre diesel
Performance: 0-62mph in 9.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 124mph
Combined fuel consumption: 39.2mpg
CO2 emissions: 191g/km

By Sue Cooke