Peugeot 607 (2000–2010): the great French saloon that is emerging as a future classic

Peugeot’s last luxury saloon turns 25, and many enthusiasts are beginning to ask whether the time has come to recognise it as a modern classic with real historical and technical value.

The Peugeot 607 served as the flagship of the lion brand for more than a decade and was the natural heir to a lineage–604 and 605–that always represented the pinnacle of French savoir-faire in the premium segment. Built between 2000 and 2010, it never achieved strong sales figures, yet with historical perspective it now stands out as one of the great forgotten cars of the pre-SUV era, just as it celebrates its first quarter-century.

Advanced engineering and premium ambition

Officially unveiled at the 1999 Frankfurt Motor Show, the 607 was developed on the technical foundations of the 605, but with a thoroughly revised structure and a clear step up in perceived quality. It made history as the world’s first diesel saloon to be equipped as standard with a particulate filter, a technological milestone well ahead of its time. Its chassis featured a McPherson front axle with a decoupled anti-roll bar and a sophisticated multi-link rear axle, while V6 versions benefitted from wheel-by-wheel controlled damping, a solution more commonly associated with high-level motorsport than mainstream saloons.

Designed by Murat Günak, who was also responsible for the Peugeot 206 CC, the 607 adopted a classic, well-balanced look, steering clear of the bold design experiments that undermined rivals such as the Renault Vel Satis and the Citroën C6. Measuring 4.90 metres in length, with generous space for five adults and a 481-litre boot, it delivered outstanding comfort and a sense of quality clearly superior to its predecessor.

From a mechanical standpoint, the 607 launched with a range comprising the 160 hp 2.2-litre petrol, the 207 hp 3.0-litre V6, and the 136 hp 2.2 HDi diesel, although it truly came of age with the arrival of the V6 HDi biturbo, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. Featuring twin variable-geometry turbochargers, piezoelectric injectors and a long-life particulate filter, this engine positioned the 607 among the most advanced diesel saloons of its era in terms of both performance and refinement.

One of the most singular chapters in its history was written by the Peugeot 607 Paladine, chosen by Nicolas Sarkozy as the presidential car in 2007. Converted by Heuliez into an elegant landaulet with an interior crafted by Hermès, it was used for only a short period, becoming one of the most exclusive and short-lived official vehicles of the French Fifth Republic, and further enhancing the model’s institutional aura.

Production of the Peugeot 607 ended in 2010 after 168,875 units were built, making way for the Peugeot 508 and definitively closing the chapter on large French luxury saloons. Today, with still-accessible prices, technology that was far ahead of its time and a design that has aged gracefully, the Peugeot 607 is beginning to gather the credentials of a future classic, particularly in V6 and high-performance HDi versions–a phenomenon reminiscent, albeit on a different scale, of the delayed appreciation of other great European saloons once overlooked in their day.