LUXURY ESTATES
Diesel + Estate = PRACTICALITY

Cargo-haulers are all about utility which should hand the Volvo V70 victory here. However, such cars have also become trendy alternatives to the saloon. Can the stylish Peugeot 407 SW prove a point here?

Bangkok Post Motoring > Friday July 21, 2006

Are you yearning for a brand new station wagon in Thailand? Look no further than the Chevrolet Optra Estate that is competitively priced under B900,000. But you may find the Korean-developed Chevy too bland and a tad small, too. So what else is there in the market?

If that sounds like stretching matters a bit, quit reading. We say that because for the Optra's money, there isn't a single model around that can match it in terms of pricing. Double the amount? Tough. Triple the moolah? Yes. Still have the cash? Then read on.

Folks, estates are still a rarity in Thailand. Which means that the closest thing - at least - to the Optra are the Volvo V70 and Peugeot 407 SW, both priced at B2.867m and B2.79m respectively.

Of course, the V70 and SW aren't competing in a sector where buyers are demanding genuine levels of practicality. With those kind of prices, potential buyers are also expecting unique packages to make up for the dullness they could be getting in a BMW 3-series or Mercedes-Benz C-class saloon.

But the good part of the Volvo and Peugeot lifestyle vehicles is not only their estate bodies. Additionally, both models have a diesel engine to choose from. And judging from our previous driving experiences of both model ranges, the petrol counterparts have virtually nothing to boast over their modern turbo-diesel units.

While estates aren't necessarily used as outright cargo-hullers - in Thailand at least - they still must be capable for users who demand that their concepts are properly understood.

That said, we are looking for practicality with a touch of style. Moreover, their diesel engines should yield a good balance between low-to-mid-range grunt and fuel economy. And topping it off, they should have good cruising ability.

Exterior appeal

Volvo has a heritage with estates and is leader in this sector in Thailand. Ever since its launch, including previous models, the V70 has attracted a particular set of premium car buyers. That explains why Volvo can afford to be the only maker to assemble estates in the country.

The trademark boxy profile of the V70 is something brand punters understand and can identify with. Despite passing mid-life, the V70 still looks good in its own right. It looks best from the rear where the tapered lights clearly indicate pronounced shoulder lines on both sides of the car.

Despite offering estates in other markets for long, Peugeot has only just started selling such body variations in Thailand. The 407 SW is the newest Pugg estate so far to land in Thailand in completely built-up form.

But the 407's mission seems to be slightly different from the V70. The French car oozes with style such as the sleek profile, distinguished rear quarter design and an aggressive front end including that gaping front grille.

One thing's clear here: Volvo is putting function ahead of form; Peugeot the other way round. So, there isn't much to explain further here, except for one thing.

The sexy-looking 407 comes with a smaller package. You may consider that flaw as one of the typical compromises in design of estates.

But the fact is that the 407 SW is the more genuine rival to the V70's smaller brother: the V50 (see sidebar on opposite page) that has yet to reach Thai shores. By now you can see why the imported 407 SW manages to price itself within the range of the Thai-built V70.

 

Interior appeal

Because the 407 SW is more or less a competitor for the V50 (new V40), it won't have the outright space to match the V70. Park the 407 and V70 side by side, lift the boot lids and note the marked difference in their cargo space.

Complementing the V70's wide and deep boot are underfloor cubby holes. The 407 doesn't get such a feature, but a hooked mesh instead to hold small stuff together. Both have rear foldable seats agr? la estate, although the V70 has a tidier and easier process.

Despite being a larger car overall, the V70 isn't outrightly spacious to sit in when compared to the 407. Rear-seat space in both cars, for instance, is basically the same: comfortable enough.

But since you sit higher in the V70, it feels airier than in the 407. Both cars have a rear centre armrest that also doubles as a platform for cupholders. Scan the cabin to see which one is more thoughtfully designed in terms of functionality and the answer will be the V70.

But it feels more special in the 407, despite some ergonomic glitches for the driver like the operation of the gimmicky centralised functions on the centre console. The 407's dashboard feels more playful in appearance and yields a contemporary feel.

But you really can't fault the V70 for having a more basic, more intuitive and better built fascia. Like exterior design, the V70 is about logic; the 407 is more about shape.

V70 has more conservative styling. 407 puts form ahead of function.
Dash is very straight-forward to use. Devices are slightly complicated to use.
Rear passengers sit quite high. It feels less airy in the rear.
Rear passengers sit quite high. 407 also offers cupholders in armrest.
Ride is occasionally jittery. Ride is also fidgety at times.
V70 has wide and deep boot. Boot not as big, but still practical.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Driving appeal

Estates are all about practical performance, hence the use of turbo-diesels yielding merits of low-to-mid-range punch without sacrificing fuel consumption usually evident in petrol motors.

Since the V70 is slightly bigger and heavier, it gets a 2.4-litre inline-five unit mated to a six-speed auto 'box.

The marginally smaller and lighter 407, in contrast, has a less powerful 2.0-litre four-cylinder version coupled to an auto 'box with only four forward cogs.

Despite the differences in power, torque and transmission figures, the 407 is still a decent mover providing enough oomph even for the more spirited driver.

But the V70 is simply better. There's a small amount of turbo lag, but elsewhere, the amount of shove is far more aggressive than in the 407 and better transmission response when overtaking at high speeds.

The driving characteristics in both cars are similar: easy to steer at low speeds, tidy to handle in corners within the prescribed limits and are sufficiently stable at high speeds.

If there was one thing the V70 does better than the 407, it would be the brakes that feel more progressive and powerful when decelerating hard on the highway. In the same vein, the 407 yields fractionally more grip when the roads become empty.

And while both the V70 and 407 are generally effortless cars to drive for people needing an express ride to their favourite countryside resort, the duo share one shortcoming: only fair secondary ride.

Over road imperfections and secondary road surfaces, there's an excessive amount of vibration intruding into the cabin (unlike the diesel clatter that is virtually subdued when cruising).

Monetary appeal

Retailing at under B3m, the V70 and 407 are equipped basically well to justify their rather lofty prices for those not accustomed to this segment. You'll find all the necessary safety equipment in both cars, as well as the luxuries you would expect at such a price level.

Fuel economy in the 407 is slightly more than in the V70. On a trip to eastern Thailand mostly involving highway driving, the 407 returned 14kpl on average, while the V70 delivered a lower 12.5kpl. It appears that performance comes at a small price here.

For the first time, we have also included resale value forecasts in our comparison. According to Red Book (Thailand), the V70 should hold 73% of its value after three years, while the 407 would depreciate to just 66% of its current value.

Verdict

It's basically simple here. What we have are two kinds of winners.

One does a perfectly right job in defining what an estate is supposed to be conceptually. That's the no-nonsense V70.

The other is what buyers would want to differentiate itself from the premium, mainstream stuff like saloons. The 407 is the lifestyle alternative.

Is the Peugeot's 407 appeal quite relevant in the estate market here in Thailand? We think so, because that's one way potential buyers can feel unique when needing to fork out B2.7m - enough to get you three Optras.

But the 407 can't win over the V70 which is, in the first place, the more proper estate and more practical car. That said, it's for you to decide.