The Peugeot 607 is a rare sight on UK roads. Like Citroën's low-selling big C7, it soldiers on a battlefield long ago abandoned by the likes of Ford, Renault and Vauxhall against impossibly tough opposition such as Audi's A5, BMW's 5-Series and Mercedes-Benz' s E-Class. No matter how good it is technically, in the UK a big executive car with the wrong badge - i.e. a non-German badge - is sadly doomed to be a largely unloved thing. Heavily revised as recently as 2006, the current 607 is not a bad looking car. It's a big, traditional looking four-door saloon, simple as that, with no aspirations towards being a coupe or a SUV crossover. The 607 is perfectly capable of transporting four businessmen and all their clutter in comfort, thanks to is compliant chassis and its generous size boot and cabin stowage, although a little more front legroom and a touch more rear headroom would not go amiss. There's little wind noise to contend with and overall refinement is good, allowing occupants to travel in a reasonably quiet environment.
Sadly there's little for the designated driver to get excited about. When it comes to delivering a dynamic experience, the 607 just doesn't dish it up with anywhere near the relish of its admittedly more expensive premium rivals. The steering lacks feel and while the chassis provides a stable and competent drive, it lacks poise on twisty country roads. There are three engines to choose from and the mid-range 170bhp 2.2-litre twin turbodiesel probably provides the best balance between performance and economy, reaching 62mph in 9.3 seconds and returning a combined 44.1mpg, and its C02 of 170/km is only a little higher than the 162g/km of the smaller, less powerful, 136bhp, 46.3mpg 2.0-litre turbodiesel. Of course the 211bhp 3.0litre V6 petrol makes the best sound and accelerates to 62mph in 9.2sconds, but the high 242g/km of CO2 and lowly 27.8mpg extract a stiff financial penalty in company car tax and fuel costs.
Peugeot only offers the 607 in one Executive trim, with the entry level 2.0-litre turbodiesel costing £25,495, the mid 2.2-litre turbodiesel £26,995 and the 3.0-litre V6 petrol £29,795. One thing is for sure; that money secures plenty of kit with a specification that no similar priced rivals get close to matching. Metallic paint, alloy wheels, front and rear electric windows, cruise control are all items you might expect. But Xenon headlamps, front and rear heated seats, a 6-disc CD autochanger and a JBL Hi Fi system are standard fit. So too are colour satellite navigation, front and rear parking aids, bi-zone climate control, automatic 'headlights on' and a GSM phone.
Despite all the kit though, the 607 just doesn't have the driving dynamics, the quality cabin feel or the sheer desirability factor of the tough rivals it faces in this sector.