French giant Peugeot has made an SUV for the first time and the result is impressive.
Peugeot can’t claim all the glory for the new 4007 as it was developed in partnership with Japanese carmaker Mitsubishi and Peugeot’s sister company Citroen.
In the summer of 2005, PSA (Peugeot/Citroen) joined forces with Mitsubishi who had a SUV platform under development and the end result meant that PSA were able to deliver a brand new SUV in less than two years as opposed to a more conventional four years.
The main difference between the 4007 and the Mitsubishi Outlander is the engine offered.
Both Citroen’s C-Crosser and the 4007 have a powerful 156bhp 2.2-litre diesel that’s PSA built (with a little help from Ford) whereas the Mitsubishi makes do with a VW sourced 2-litre diesel (140bhp/310nm). Good new for Mitsubishi fans is that the PSA engine will make its way into the Outlander very soon.
As soft roaders go the 4007 is bang on the money. It has genuine off road ability yet it drives like a car. As for practicality; the standard car is a five-seater but the next step up is a five plus two seating set up that features a pop up rear bench that seats a further two in limited comfort. When not in use the seat fold flat to the floor. Access to the last bench is good (for kids) as the middle outside seats tumble forward.
The split tailgate is a useful tool as it makes loading and unloading very easy. Roof rails are standard and were used to good effect, as I needed to get a 14-foot Christmas tree home from a local farm.
4007 power is delivered through a six-speed manual gearbox; an automatic option is due in 2008. With 380nm of torque available the 2.2 litre engine pulls strongly yet manages to deliver pretty green performance. The clutch and other primary controls are light and easy to use.
On the open road, the 156bhp on tap make cruising pretty effortless although the chassis does not for one minute encourage any sort of enthusiastic driving. Engine power is delivered in front-wheel drive mode normally but with the turn of a dial located near the handbrake 4WD can be selected and this activates an electronically controlled four-wheel drive on demand power setup.
In this mode the 4007 runs in two-wheel drive unless traction is lost. There is a lockable four-wheel drive selector for genuine off road terrain.
4007 has a sweet engine compared to the Mitsubishi Outlander but that said the Outlander is cheaper and does the job well also.
I’m very fond of the Outlander as it has an impressive off road name and it is an honest looking machine. Yes it is true that only a few body panels at the front actually differentiate the three machines but somehow I’d find it easier to justify the Japanese offering.
4007 is pitched at the luxury end of the ‘soft roader’ market and is up against some stiff competition like the Land Rover Freelander 2, Honda CRV and of course the seven-seat Santa Fe from Hyundai.
The choice is yours.
Michael Sheridan
