I had both a 407 HDi 136 and a Mondeo TDCi 130 from the lease company on trial for a week and covered approximately 1,000 miles in each.

The 407's looks are a matter of opinion, and seemed to divide the people I spoke to pretty equally. There's no doubt it's a braver shape than the Ford, but a lot of people commented that the rear end looks bulbous and awkward. Also, everyone I spoke to said how the big Peugeot badge on the grille totally ruins the lines at the front, and again it was unanimously remarked that the car was truly enormous.

I found the 407 more comfortable than the Mondeo, and it has the 406's wonderfully supple ride, but the Mondeo feels far more of a drivers car. The Ford has far more steering feel, better judged servo assistance (read less) on the brakes, and it generally feels lighter and more nimble. Although the 407 handles well, it doesn't communicate like the Ford. The steering weight doesn't change so markedly as different road surfaces and grip levels pass under the front tyres, and it doesn't change direction as crisply.

After all this, I still plumped for the 407 as I spend 99% of my time pounding motorways, and the 407's superior refinement and comfort won the day. However, viewed purely as a drivers car, and purely in terms of dynamics, I thought the Mondeo noticeably better. If I were 10 years younger, or my driving was a bit more varied I would have gone for the Ford. Indeed, on the rare occasion I find myself off the motorway and on a cracking B-road, I sometimes still wish I had.

Ford took Peugeot's crown for driver focused chassis in mainstream cars about 8 years ago, and Peugeot need to try a little harder than the 407 to win it back. At least they're moving in the right direction though, and as the previous owner of two 205 GTI (1.6 and 1.9), a 306 XSi and 306 GTI-6, I would like nothing more than for them to succeed.