It has a very handy split tailgate that allows the glass area to open up independently or you can use it conventionally and open the whole tailgate, it also has a giant glass roof the saloon lacks hence the name SW or Sky Wagon but that’s about it.
I still only have five seats at my disposal whereas the Pugs little brother the 307 SW offers seating for up to seven! In fairness to the French offering it is meant as a lifestyle vehicle much along the lines of Audi’s A4 Avant and BMW’s 3 Touring. Okay I know which lifestyle I would aspire to but seeing as my 2 litre test car costs just €32,350 it deserves a closer look.
The exterior is dominated by a huge Ferrari-like front end that unfortunately makes the side profile look very front heavy (like most front wheel drive cars these days). The rear end is far more conventional. It is a smart looking machine and not dissimilar to the Lexus Sportcross (IS estate).
Inside the SW is dominated by a huge glass roof that is clever and UV resistant. Initially your heart jumps with excitement when you see the switch next to it but just like the 307 SW you can only open and close a cloth blind, what a bummer!
The upside is a very airy cabin for all occupants but I felt robbed of headroom even with my average five foot ten frame despite the height adjustable seat set at it’s lowest. The SW has a busy but logical centre cluster of buttons and as ever features stereo controls mounted on the steering column.
The driving position is good apart from the lack of headroom. While my test car was in Sport spec (SR, ST Comfort / Sport and SV are the specifications available) there is no inkling of Sporty pretensions inside the car. It is definitely a comfortable cruiser.
The steering is very light about town and generally offers little in the way of driver feedback. The gear lever has quite a long throw also but apart from those niggles the SW isn’t bad.
Power plants available include a 1.8 (118 bhp) and 2 litre (136 bhp) petrol units and two very frugal diesels, a 1.6 (110 bhp) and 2 litre (236 bhp) that features a six-speed gearbox. None of these engines will rip up the tarmac but the small but effective 1.6 diesel deserves yet another mention as it is so fleet and private user friendly. This unit is also found in Citroens and Fords and is a real gem.
407 SW Prices start at €27,320 and rise to €37,850 for the six-speed 2 litre diesel SV Executive. This is basically a two grand premium over the 407 saloon. If you need more seats and want to save a few quid check out the 307 SW whose starting price is a reasonable €24,350.
Potential 407 SW buyers just have to ask the question whether the handy tailgate and big sunroof is worth the extra cash.
- Michael Sheridan
