Peugeot 405
The Peugeot 405 was launched in 1987 and voted European Car of the Year. It went straight to the top of the medium sized family car sector thanks to its stylish Pininfarina-penned bodyshell, excellent ride and handling and spacious comfortable interior. The engine range started with a 1.7 petrol engine and there was also a 1.9 petrol engine. Some early models were sold with the tardy 1.4 unit but this was slow and unrefined in comparison with the larger engined cars so there were few takers. The 2.0 diesel engine was an economical and refined oil burner which boosted Peugeot's reputation for making excellent diesel engines. The standard 1.9 petrol engine was an 8-valve carburettor unit but could also be had with 16 valves and fuel injection, making it one of the most advanced petrol engines on 1980s family cars.
Other features the availability of four-wheel drive, 16-valve engines and fuel injection on more expensive models. All of this was at a the beginning of a period when 8-valve carburtettor engines were the mainstay of family car production and fuel injected 16-valve engines were a rarity, but the 405 kicked off a Europe-wide change.
Going against the appeal were cheap interior plastics and tinny bodywork which just couldn't match the VW Passat for build quality. Reliability wasn't bad but it still wasn't the best.
During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Peugeot 405 established itself as a hugely popular car in Europe - it was the second Peugeot to be built at the Ryton factory in Coventry after the 309, the factory had previously churned out Hillmans, Singers, Chryslers and Talbots before Peugeot took over completely in 1986.
The Peugeot 405 was replaced by the 406 in late 1995 but continued for another two years until 1997 when it was finally shelved.
