Peugeot 4007 Reviews

June 30 is D-Day. The end of the financial year is the best time to buy a new car because there are always special deals in showrooms. As carmakers and dealers aim to clear their outdated stock, Toyota uses a June push to cement its showroom leadership. Some of the special deals are on cars that have done demonstrator duty, or were built in 2012, or are just not selling as well as expected. So they're not the tastiest fruit in the bowl.But there is great buying across the board as demand for new cars fuels one of the longest growth periods in motoring. The bottom line is that you can save money -- and lots of it. So here's a look at the June sales, with Carsguide's assessment of the best deals on wheels.CITROENThe new importer is pushing hard so the Aircross SUV starts at $31,990 drive-away front-wheel drive or $33,990 with AWD, a saving of $3800. There's $5000 off the C4 Seduction turbo diesel auto hatch at $25,990. Carsguide says: The Aircross isn't great, but the C4 discount is tasty.FORDThe death notice for the Falcon and Territory has not helped buyer confidence but a 2.9 per cent finance push on Fiesta and Focus still looks good. The superseded Kuga SUV from $31,990 drive-away is a $10,000 saving. You can save about $3000 on a 2012 Escape SUV from $27,990 drive-away.The Territory gets a $6500 tickle, the TX seven-seater at $38,490 drive-away (third-row seat usually costs $2500). The impressive Mondeo liftback starts at $29,990. Good buying on Falcons, thanks to the arrival of the VF Commodore, from $33,990 and better if you haggle.HOLDENAs the VF Commodore creates queues, the outgoing Z-Series starts at $34,990 with five years' warranty and roadside assist. That also applies to the SV6 at $35,990 and the Cruze SRi and SRi-V at $23,490 and $26,990. Last year's Barina CD hatches are $15,990 drive-away with a sunroof. The Colorado is $39,990. Hard to see past the excellent Cruze SRi.HONDAClipped prices and free on-roads. The City VTi sedan is $17,990 and the (slightly) more lavish VTi-L automatic version starts at $21,990. The bigger Civic sedan is being cleared from $21,990. Free auto on the Jazz VTi at $19,990. The Civic is worth a look at $2500 off.KIAFree on-roads, discounts and $1000 gift vouchers on many models. A five-door Rio S is about $3K off at $15,990 drive-away with a $500 gift card; the three-door Rio is $14,990 and the five-door Si is $18,990. Runout Cerato TD sedans start at $17,990 for the S, saving about $5000, the Si sedan is $23,990 and hatch at $17,990. All get a $1000 gift card. Cerato SLi and SLS have drive-away pricing but miss the gift card. All Optimas have free on-roads. A 2012-build Optima Platinum is $37,990, saving about $4000 with a $1000 gift card. Most Sportage SUVs include on-roads and a $1000 gift card. Carnival and superseded Rondo pricing is drive-away. The Sportage diesel and Optima are top-notch.MITSUBISHIThe manual Lancer gets an old-school value pack on the Special Action Model for $19,990 drive-away. The Mirage is $12,990 drive-away for the ES manual, with a $500 cash-back that also applies to the auto.Driveaway prices also for the compact ASX at $24,990 for the 2WD manual, the Outlander LS 2WD auto at $29,990, Pajero GLX-R auto at $54,990 or $59,990 for VRX. Both come plus $3000 cash-back, saving about $6000.The Triton ute is now tackling Great Wall from China at $19,990 drive-away for a GL single-cab 2WD with alloy tray, or add luxury for a GLX dual-cab 4WD diesel at $31,990 drive-away with $2000 cash-back, saving about $14,000. The utes look good at those prices.NISSANA 2.9 per cent finance package, with agreed value after three years, makes the Pulsar ST sedan look good at $49 a week or $19,990 drive-away. The X-Trail ST 2WD petrol manual cops a $4000 reduction to $25,990 drive-away, while the Navara RX 4WD dual-cab manual is cheaper than ever with a $9500 cut to $30,990 drive-away. The Pulsar sedan deal is attractive.OPELThere are drive-away deals across the range. The basic Corsa is down by about $2500 to $16,990 drive-away, the Astra is from $22,990 drive-away for the 1.4-litre turbo petrol hatch with three years of free servicing, saving about $5500. The top-line Insignia sedan is from $39,990 drive-away with heated leather seats. The Astra is easily best of this breed.PEUGEOTFree on-roads at Peugeot on most models but not the cool new 208. The 4008 SUV cops a $1500 saving from $29,990 drive-away and there are deals on the outgoing 4007. Nothing to see here.RENAULTA Koleos from $26,990 drive-away looks even better with interest-free finance. The Megane hatch is from $22,990 drive-away with finance pegged at 1.9 per cent. The slow-selling Fluence and Latitude sedans are available with 2.9 per cent finance. The Megane CC convertible goes from $43,990 including on-roads. The sporty Clio RS is from $34,990 drive-away and the hotrod Megane RS has 2.9 per cent finance.Commercial deals start with the short-wheelbase Kangoo petrol manual with dual sliding doors from $20,990 drive-away, moving up to the Trafic short-wheelbase manual for $29,990 and the long-wheelbase manual for $32,990, while the Master large van starts from $46,990 drive-away. There's a five-year/200,000km warranty on all light commercials ordered in June. Hard to argue against a $3000 bonus on the Koleos but stocks are tight.SUBARUDrive-away pricing -- for savings of $3000 to $4000 -- is the bait, with Impreza pricing from $23,990 (excluding the WRX, of course). The Tribeca from $54,990 now includes on-roads but you need to visit a dealer to get the full story. Nothing outstanding.SUZUKIThe front-drive SX4 gets a Navigator pack with voice-controlled 6.6-inch satnav with Bluetooth for $19,990 drive-away for the manual and $21,990 auto. That also applies to the 2WD auto Grand Vitara at $29,990 drive-away, including reversing camera and satnav with Bluetooth. The Alto GL manual also gets satnav for $11,990 drive-away for the manual, with the Swift GL manual at $17,490 drive-away including cruise control and Bluetooth. The Grand Vitara is a polished piece.TOYOTAThere's 2.9 per cent finance on Aurion and Camry with the Camry Altise looking best at $29,990 drive-away. Other drive-away deals include $15,990 for the Yaris YR five-door, $21,490 for the Corolla Ascent automatic, $39,990 for the Kluger KX-R 2WD five-seater, $60,990 for the Prado GXL turbo diesel auto and $39,990 for the HiLux SR 4WD dual-cab ute. The right time for the cabbies' new favourite, the frugal hybrid Camry.VOLKSWAGENDrive-away pricing on passenger cars and zero finance on commercials. The Polo is $16,990 on-road, the Jetta is down to $25,990 and the Passat $36,690. The Polo is Carsguide's 2010 COTY.VOLVOFuel and servicing for three years or 60,000km plus roadside assistance. There are conditions -- with a pre-paid BP card based on 15,000km a year and $1.50 a-litre pricing -- and the latest V40 hatch is excluded. Clever twist on bargaining but a pity it doesn't apply to the V40.Paul Gover's 10 COMMANDMENTSYou must still do your homework. You must still check the fine print. You must still be prepared to haggle and compromise.But do it right, crunching the numbers and running right to the dealer's deadline, and you can drive away in something special at a special price.The starting point is all the deals, from sticker specials to cheap finance and steak knife-style free extras, being offered by most of the 60-plus brands in showrooms today.If something you want is on special, go for it. But check that the car was built in 2013, and is not a geriatric old-timer from 2012, and ensure your target is exactly what you want - not a stripped-out stocker, perhaps missing an automatic gearbox - that will cost thousands to get the way you want it.Once you lock down a target, don't think the advertised special is the end of the deal. You also need to negotiate for a better price on delivery and on-road costs, and avoid the trap of buying over-priced extras such as paint and upholstery protection, window tinting and extra-long warranties.No-one can expect to go into the ring with a showroom professional and expect to win, because buyers only get a new car occasionally and sales staff are dealing every day. But, by concentrating on the real bottom line - the changeover price - and being prepared to compromise, you can come out ahead.The best tips are the simplest. Run as close as you can to June 30 to sign the deal and get the car, because dealers are all aiming for targets that can mean tens of thousands in bonus money from headquarters. Also be prepared to take a car they have in stock, even if it's not your favourite colour, because dealers are aiming to clear everything they have on the lot.And have your finance in place before you arrive, especially if you're taking up a special deal, because that makes things quicker and you'll also be spared any hassle and potential extra costs.Watch out for 2012 cars because the warranty clock has already been running, don't forget that a big discount today will also mean less at changeover time, and remember that a demonstrator car could have had a hard life already. 

Is there anybody out there who actually believes their quality of life has been improved by the invention of voice-recognition phone answering services?  Peugeot at least must think so, because – while normal Bluetooth phone pairing in a car can be taxing - the Peugeot 4007 Bluetooth uses a voice-recognition system that raises the definition of frustrating to a whole new level.However, once installed, the voice-recognition works fine for dialling and answering calls hands-free.  Thankfully the Bluetooth pairing system is the only odd thing about the new Peugeot 4007 compact soft-roading SUV.  You can usually expect all sorts of quirky switches and controls in French vehicles, but this car is straight forward and conventional.Appearance and fit-outAnd unlike most Pugs, the 4007 seems to be in touch with its masculine side. It has rugged good looks, plenty of brushed aluminium accents inside and out, plus four-wheel drive with a diff lock and a rattly diesel engine. Essentially it's an Outlander made by Mitsubishi in Japan.While the exterior looks bold and macho with its aluminium roof racks, rugged panels and solid sidesteps, the interior is all luxury in the top-of-the-line, seven-seater SV trim model I tested.  Over the standard ST trim, the SV adds 18-inch alloys, electric driver's seat, heated front seats, leather upholstery and trim, and Xenon headlights with auto height adjustment and washers for an extra $5000.The leather is soft and plush with tasty contrast stitching. The instruments have nice chrome accents and there is plenty of brushed aluminium and fake carbon fibre aboard to satisfy most male egos.  Some of the plastics are a bit hard and could scratch with use, but the areas that your elbows and hands will touch are padded leather.The coloured computer display in the centre of the instrument binnacle is a nice touch with plenty of information.  While the steering wheel is annoyingly non-adjustable for reach, the electric driver's seat is multi-adjustable so it isn't too difficult to find a good driving position.The Pug comes in five or seven seat options, but the SV is only available with the extra third row.  There is plenty of leg and headroom in the cabin, even in the third row of seats, although that back bench is thin and hard, suitable only for children on short trips.Folding out the rear row is a bit tricky first go and a bit stiff, but that should loosen up with some use.  When folded down it leaves a flat floor and the second row also tumbles forward to provide an enormous rear cargo area.  Drivers will find the controls conventional and the driving experience fairly typical of most soft roaders.MechanicalIt features a 2.2-litre diesel engine that owes its origins to Ford and the PSA group that builds Citroens and Peugeots, and also appears in the Land Rover Freelander 2.  It's not the smoothest and quietest of diesels around. It clatters at idle and rumbles under power, but has strong pick-up, 380Nm of hauling power and will deliver good fuel economy. Even in peak-hour traffic it returned a very respectable 7.4L/100km.There is hardly any lag when you accelerate off the mark with maximum 380Nm of torque on song from just 2000rpm. However, it doesn't cope well with all that torque, spinning the front wheels in the wet, lighting up the traction control and yanking the steering wheel left and right.Four-wheel drive systemThere is much less wheel-spin and torque-steer histrionics when four-wheel drive is engaged on the convenient rotary dial in the centre console.  The dial makes it a simple process to move from 2WD to 4WD and to lock the diff, giving you the impression that this is a go-anywhere adventure machine.But its lack of a full-size spare, clearance and approach and departure angles, plus its overall level of luxury appointments mean it will rarely venture into more challenging terrain than the gravel driveway of your children's private school.  Most drivers will probably stay in 2WD for the economy benefits and only engage 4WD to negotiate the slippery grass around the rugby field.DrivingIt has a plush ride, a tippy feeling in corners and the steering is a bit too sensitive, especially on the highway.  But the brakes have a solid effect on slowing the 1.8-tonne vehicle, and the double-clutch, six-speed auto transmission is quick, slick and silky smooth.Despite its rugged appearance and the off-roading pretensions of the drive selector dial, this is a suburban soccer taxi.  The Bridgestone Dueler tyres tell the tale: They are the ‘HT’ type for highway terrain, not ‘AT’ for all terrain.

A sensible Mitsubishi Outlander wrapped in stylish Peugeot bodywork sounds like a good idea.  Which is precisely why the French company has produced its latest, the 4007.Despite years of resisting the SUV push - Xavier Peugeot once said he thought the 4007 was too much of a departure for Peugeot - the company has been forced to accept the sales growth of compact soft-roaders.  Peugeot is now playing catch-up, aiming to recover some of the ground lost to the Japanese, Koreans and even European contenders like the classy Renault Koleos.Peugeot may have had to be dragged into the off-roader segment but since its launch, the company has sold more than 25,000 4007s worldwide.  However, the 4007 is still a curious cross-cultural experiment.  It uses the Mitsubishi Outlander body, all-wheel drive system and interior as well as Peugeot's own state-of-the-art 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine under the bonnet.Peugeot has redesigned the front of the car to give it not only a Pug family look but a beefier off-road presence. It also threw in a bit more chrome at the SV model but the rear-end and interior are still easily identified as the Outlander.Models and pricesIn Australia there are two 4007 models, a starter ST and more luxuriously appointed SV.  Prices open at $45,490 for the six-speed manual ST, topping out at $54,190 for the leather-clad SV with a six-speed dual clutch gearbox.Fit-out and equipmentWith a seven-seat option the 4007 is definitely aimed at families with a versatile seating and load carrying arrangement. The SV gets the third row pew, which retracts into the floor when not needed, as standard.  The second-row sliding seats also split 40/60 while the entire row can be flipped and folded away automatically in the SV.Like the Outlander, the rear tailgate is a split affair. The lower section can fold down to be used as a picnic table or seat and can support up to 200kg, equivalent to two adults and a cheese platter.  The SV gets all the fruit expected of a range topper.There are six airbags, electronic stability control, cruise control, rear park sensors, climate control air-conditioning, 18 wheels, rear privacy glass, chrome door sill kick plates and window surrounds, Xenon headlights, leather trim plus electric and heated front seats, Isofix child seat mounting points.DrivingAnyone jumping out of an Outlander will feel right at home in the 4007.  It drives and feels like the Mitsubishi, and the only real difference is the silky six-speed DSG gearbox and energetic 2.2-litre turbodiesel in place of the 2.4-litre or V6 Mitsubishi engines.Like all Peugeot diesels, this one is strong on urge and reasonably frugal. I managed a respectable 8.5 litres/100km in mostly city driving.  But it is so torquey at low speeds it will tug at the steering wheel in front-wheel drive mode until speed picks up.That's really no surprise because 300Nm of torque is readily accessible from just 1500 revs, propelling the car like a slingshot.   The DSG is smooth once underway but can be a little hesitant from the traffic lights.The diesel heartbeat is well concealed from the cabin. Only under hard acceleration am I aware that this four is an oiler. At cruising speeds the diesel is almost silent.  The suspension comes from the Mitsubishi donor car and still feels too soft and wallowy for me compared to a VW Tiguan or Nissan X-Trail.  For most conditions the ride is fine but push through the corners and the 4007 feels less precise, the extra weight of the diesel over the front end making its presence felt.Inside, the SV gets leather on the dashboard and seats but still has a little too much Mitsubishi seeping through.  Like the Outlander, the front seats are comfortable and supportive but could do with more vertical adjustment. Even at the lowest setting, they are still set too high. Shorter folk will love the driving position though.  The third row is a child-friendly zone only.Despite a valiant attempt, Peugeot has not really given the interior enough of a distinct French look or feel. Slam the rear doors and you'll see what I mean. They feel tinny and cheap.  The lack of a reach-adjustable steering wheel has also been inherited from the Outlander.So the 4007 gives Peugeot a start in the soft-roader race but it has only built a marginally better Outlander. Diehard Peugeot fans will love it but the superb diesel cannot hide the fact that this is really just a more-expensive Mitsubishi.The bottom lineFrench off-roader with an identity crisis.75/100

Life - human and automotive - is so unpredictable. When my 75-year-old father went looking for a car to retire with, he sought reliability, durability, comfort and a long warranty.  He bought a Hyundai, thinking that with a five-year warranty it should ‘see me out’.In fact, he saw it out. The Hyundai Lantra is still ultra-reliable in the hands of a mate of mine while my now 84-year-old father has moved himself and my active mother into the latest Corolla.  I would have expected my parents to drive a Mercedes-Benz in later life as a reward for their tenacity through economic depressions and wars.In fact, they chose economy in reverence to their working-class lives and have come out with only minor financial scars from their post-retirement car purchases.  You can as well. Carsguide readers with retirement looming all want new cars. Most of them want a 4WD or something powerful to tow a caravan or boat because ‘we're not dead yet’.It doesn't have to be expensive, but if you are retired or just on the point of pulling the pin on a working career, you want the least possible hassles.  We'll start this week with 4WDs and SUVs. These are some choices. They clearly aren't all that is available and personal choice will play its role. At the very least, this should get you thinking.4WD is for the adventurer who actually wants to go off the beaten track. These have excellent towing ability, diesel engine options (the better choice), a versatile cabin with seven seats that can be removed when not wanted, good safety levels and a comprehensive feature list. On the downside, they are big, less comfortable than a sedan, require more expensive servicing and repair (especially tyre replacement) and for aged limbs can be difficult to get in and out.Toyota Prado (from $55,990)Solid, high resale (and high initial purchase), great off the road and in the latest model, comfortable on the road.Engine: 127kW/410Nm 3-litre 4-cyl turbo-dieselTransmission: 6-speed manual/5-speed auto/2-speed transferEconomy: 8.3 l/100kmSafety: 7 airbags, ESC, traction controlLand Rover Discovery-4 (from $81,990)Exceptionally competent and fitted out with excellent comfort. Fourth generation aims to rid Land Rover of quality bugs.Engine: 180kW/600Nm 3-litre V6 biturbo-dieselTransmission: 6-speed auto/2-speed transferEconomy: 9.3 l/100kmSafety: 8 airbags, ESC, traction controlMitsubishi Pajero(from $49,290)Great all-rounder on and off road at an affordable price. Better cabin package than Prado.Engine: 147kW/441Nm 3.2-litre 4-cyl turbo-dieselTransmission: 5-speed auto/2-speed transferEconomy: 8.4 l/100kmSafety: 2 airbags, ESC, traction controlSUV: Don't want to go to the Outback but like the practicality of a tall wagon? The SUV usually has all-wheel drive but less rugged construction and no low-range gearbox. Some are even only front-wheel drive so save on purchase price and fuel consumption.Hyundai Santa Fe (from $37,990)Practical, versatile and reliable with a long five-year warranty. A good allrounder. Only available as a diesel and with all-wheel drive.Engine: 145kW/421Nm 2.1-litre 4-cyl turbo-dieselTransmission: 5-speed manual/5-speed auto/AWDEconomy: 6.7 l/100kmSafety: 6 airbags, ESC, traction controlPeugeot 4007 (from $45,490)Culturally diverse Peugeot made by Mitsubishi (it's basically an Outlander shell) in Japan with an aggressive grille and very desirable turbo-diesel engine and optional six-speed auto.Engine: 115kW/380Nm 2.2-litre 4-cyl turbo-dieselTransmission: 6-speed manual/6-speed auto/AWDEconomy: 7.0 l/100kmSafety: 7 airbags, ESC, traction controlSubaru Outback diesel (from $40,490)Long-awaited diesel expands Subaru's out-of-town ability in a very desirable package. New style isn't the prettiest but is functional and roomy.Engine: 110kW/350Nm 2-litre 4-cyl turbo-dieselTransmission: 6-speed manual/AWDEconomy: 6.4 l/100kmSafety: 7 airbags, ESC, traction control