Hugo, a young lad who is keen on cars and lives across the street, doesn’t usually want to take a closer look at a middleweight saloon or estate car but the Peugeot 407 SW got his attention.

He described the big Ferrari-like grille and swoopy headlights as a “happy face” and loved the way that the windscreen glass swept right back over the roof but was a bit puzzled by the wrap-round rear window and the stubby rear end. The estate version of the 407 is, we agreed after detailed consideration, a rather curious-looking car, but first impressions are all-important and Peugeot’s latest certainly has the “wow” factor.

Peugeot is being brave here. It has upset some of its loyal and conservative customers. At one time almost half of the sales of this car’s predecessor, the 406, were the estate version. The 406 was — and still is — a particularly sensible and spacious estate car. The 407 SW (which may or may not stand for “station wagon” — Peugeot won’t admit to adopting an old English term) is longer and wider but does not accommodate bulky items as easily as the square-cut 406. Style has prevailed over substance; we are encouraged to consider the SW as a “sports tourer” rather than a part-time van.

When I tested the 407 saloon I gave it three stars and reckoned it was close to a fourth. Dynamically, there is nothing to choose between the saloon and the SW but the estate is more versatile, and if you are going to make a style statement with one of the most extrovert of family cars you may as well have the rakish back to go with the avant-garde front. This time I have promoted it to four stars.

Viewed as a hatchback, rather than the ultimate load lugger, the 407 SW has several advantages over the saloon. Of course, the rear seats split and fold (and form a flattish floor without having to remove the head restraints). The back of the front passenger seat also folds down to give 106in of through space for carrying extra-long items.

The tailgate is unusual in being hinged deep into the roof and having a separately opening window that allows the loading of shopping or other small items in a restricted parking space.

Speaking of parking, the SW has 3.4in more rear overhang than the saloon and although the posher versions are equipped with an audible parking distance control, the rear bumper protrudes deceptively at the sides, as I found out to my embarrassment and Peugeot’s cost.

The 407 SW feels like a big car, what with its extended nose, driving position well back behind a steeply raked screen, and restricted rear quarter visibility — from the inside mirror, the view is like looking down a tunnel.

The huge panoramic glass roof, which extends parallel to the front seatbacks, gives a light and airy feel to the interior. Passenger overheating is prevented by thick (6mm) specially tinted laminated glass and an electric blind that can be set in nine different positions.

Peugeot confidently expects 80% of 407 customers to choose a diesel. So it was appropriate that my test car had the 136bhp 2 litre HDi diesel engine. It was the top-of-the-line Executive specification, which means 17in alloy wheels, leather upholstery with the electric front seat adjustment, xenon headlamps, cruise control and the full panoply of safety devices, including nine airbags. The price of this model is £21,550 but the 407 SW is available from £15,850, £1,100 more than the saloon.

The HDi 136 comes with a six-speed manual gearbox, which gives the optimum performance (126mph and 0-62mph in 10.1sec) and fuel economy (average 47.1mpg), but in a car like this I would trade a little bit of both of those for the relaxed comfort of an automatic (although I would have to pay an extra £1,000).

I had no complaints about the engine’s power delivery — except for the usual diesel characteristic of slow step-off from a standstill — although the manual six-speed requires too much effort for too little reward. If you want to exploit the impressive high-speed cornering characteristics of the 407 you would do better with a petrol engine, two of which are available with Executive trim, a 160bhp 2.2 four-cylinder and a 211bhp 3 litre V6.

The SW versions of other Peugeots are more traditional estate cars — the 307 SW even has three rows of seats like an MPV — but the 407 SW has moved more towards the “sportwagons” popularised by Audi and BMW. Which is, in fact, where the market has gone.

Traditionalists may not approve but Peugeot recognises that the day of the anonymous, common-or-garden family car has passed. The 407 is a sound, well-equipped car with look-at-me styling. The estate version goes a step further. It demands a second look.

VITAL STATISTICS

Model: Peugeot 407 SW Executive HDi 136
Engine type: Four cylinder, 1997cc
Power/Torque: 136bhp @ 4000rpm / 240 lb ft @ 2000rpm
Transmission: Six-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Fuel/CO2: 47.1mpg (combined) / 159g/km
Performance: 0-62mph: 10.1sec / top speed: 126mph
Price: £21,550
Verdict: Radical style of 407 reaches a new level with the SW. Not for those who like to travel incognito
Rating:

THE OPPOSITION

Model: Honda Accord Tourer 2.2 CDTi Executive, £21,213
For: Diesel engine is best in class
Against: Neat but not very distinctive styling

Model: Rover 75 Tourer 2.0 CDTi Connoisseur, £21,095
For: The traditionalist's choice. Well finished and with BMW diesel engine
Against: Getting old. Relatively poor performance