The Peugeot 604 is an
executive car
Executive car is a British term for a large car which is equivalent to the European E-segment and American full-size classifications. Executive cars are larger than compact executive cars (and the non-luxury equivalent mid-size cars), and small ...
produced by the French manufacturer
Peugeot
Peugeot (, , ) is a French brand of automobiles owned by Stellantis.
The family business that preceded the current Peugeot companies was founded in 1810, with a steel foundry that soon started making hand tools and kitchen equipment, and the ...
from 1975 to 1985. 153,252 cars were sold during its 10-year production life. It was made in France and also assembled by
Kia
Kia Corporation, commonly known as Kia (, ; formerly known as Kyungsung Precision Industry and Kia Motors Corporation), is a South Korean multinational automobile manufacturer headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. It is South Korea's second lar ...
in South Korea.
The
Pininfarina
Pininfarina S.p.A. (short for Carrozzeria Pininfarina) is an Italian car design firm and coachbuilder, with headquarters in Cambiano, Turin, Italy. The company was founded by Battista "Pinin" Farina in 1930.
On 14 December 2015, the Indian mu ...
-designed 604 was unveiled at the
Geneva Motor Show in March 1975 and drew praise for its formal, handsome styling. Denmark's ''Bilrevyen 1976'' ("The Car Review 1976"), for example, described the styling as possessing a "calm elegance". Sales began in September 1975.
[ Based "on the principles of the ]Peugeot 504
The Peugeot 504 is a mid-size, front-engine, rear-wheel-drive automobile manufactured and marketed by Peugeot from 1968 to 1983 over a single generation, primarily in four-door sedan and wagon configurations – but also as twin two-door coupé ...
",[''Autocar'', November 1977, p. 17] using its bulkhead, doors, and part of the 504 floorpan, and usually powered by the then-new 2.7-litre V6 PRV engine
The V6 PRV engine is an automobile petrol V6 engine that was developed jointly by Peugeot, Renault and Volvo Cars – and sold from 1974 to 1998. It was gradually replaced after 1994 by another joint PSA-Renault design, known as the ''ES'' engi ...
, developed in conjunction with Renault
Groupe Renault ( , , , also known as the Renault Group in English; legally Renault S.A.) is a French multinational automobile manufacturer established in 1899. The company produces a range of cars and vans, and in the past has manufactured ...
and Volvo
The Volvo Group ( sv, Volvokoncernen; legally Aktiebolaget Volvo, shortened to AB Volvo, stylized as VOLVO) is a Swedish multinational manufacturing corporation headquartered in Gothenburg. While its core activity is the production, distributio ...
, the car was Peugeot's first entry into the large luxury saloon market for 40 years - the most recent being the short-lived Peugeot 601
The Peugeot 601 was a range-topping car produced between 1934 and 1935 by Peugeot. It had its formal launch on 5 May 1934 and marked a return by the manufacturer to six-cylinder engines.
Together with the Peugeot 401, the 601 was the first car t ...
of 1934.
In the marketplace
The Sochaux-built 604 represented Peugeot's first entry into the market segment
In marketing, market segmentation is the process of dividing a broad consumer or business market, normally consisting of existing and potential customers, into sub-groups of consumers (known as ''segments'') based on some type of shared charact ...
for executive car
Executive car is a British term for a large car which is equivalent to the European E-segment and American full-size classifications. Executive cars are larger than compact executive cars (and the non-luxury equivalent mid-size cars), and small ...
s since the 1930s. It augmented the Peugeot range. The drive to enter a product in this class came from the increased affluence of the French market which Peugeot felt could accommodate a car more expensive than the 504.[
Price at launch was ]US$
The United States dollar (symbol: $; code: USD; also abbreviated US$ or U.S. Dollar, to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies; referred to as the dollar, U.S. dollar, American dollar, or colloquially buck) is the official ...
10,990. In the UK the car was sold for £4,785 (compared to £4,399 for a BMW 520
The BMW E12 is the first generation of BMW 5 Series, 5 Series executive cars, which was produced from 1972 to 1981 and replaced the saloon models of the BMW New Class#New Class Sedans, BMW New Class range.
Initial models were powered by inline-fo ...
, £4,361 for a Citroën CX Pallas, and £3,485 for a Ford Granada 3000 GL).
The 604 had several noteworthy attributes. From the 504, it inherited a damped and supple ride,[Nicols, M (1975) Luxury, Peugeot style. Car magazine. August 1975, page 27] equal to a contemporary Jaguar XJ6, its "good handling",[''Autocar'', 7 May 1977, p. 66] its spacious passenger compartment and highly rated steering described as "a model of its kind", "highly accurate" and "one of the finest yet produced". The 604 had unusually wide opening doors which made entry and egress very easy for users.[''Motor'', 6 December 1975, p. 5] This was especially appropriate for the car in its role as a limousine.
Despite critical success, the 604 was a commercial failure.[Buckley, ''Classic & Sportscar'' (January 2007), p. 149] The production of 153,252 units was half that of the V8 engine
A V8 engine is an eight-cylinder piston engine in which two banks of four cylinders share a common crankshaft and are arranged in a V configuration.
The first V8 engine was produced by the French Antoinette company in 1904, developed and us ...
Rover 3500 and an eighth of its stablemate, the CX. Peugeot made a profit on each car made, primarily because of the shared tooling and engineering with the 504, but the car ceased production without an immediate successor.
France's car manufacturers have not had much success internationally in the executive segment after the Citroën DS
The Citroën DS () is a Front-mid-engine, front-wheel-drive layout, front mid-engined, front-wheel drive executive car manufactured and marketed by Citroën from 1955 to 1975, in fastback/sedan, wagon/estate, and convertible body configurations ...
's successor, the underpowered Citroën CX
The Citroën CX is a large, front-engined, front-wheel-drive executive car manufactured and marketed by Citroën from 1974 to 1991. Production models took the form of a four-door fastback sedan, station wagon (estate), and a long-wheelbase fastb ...
. The 604-era was perhaps the last point at which PSA Peugeot Citroën
The PSA Group (), legally known as Peugeot S.A. (Peugeot Société Anonyme, trading as Groupe PSA; formerly known as PSA Peugeot Citroën from 1991 to 2016) was a French multinational automotive manufacturing company which produced automobiles ...
could theoretically have focused resources on becoming a viable long-term competitor in this lucrative market segment. PSA Peugeot Citroën
The PSA Group (), legally known as Peugeot S.A. (Peugeot Société Anonyme, trading as Groupe PSA; formerly known as PSA Peugeot Citroën from 1991 to 2016) was a French multinational automotive manufacturing company which produced automobiles ...
actually went in the opposite direction, creating a third competitor, the Talbot Tagora
The Talbot Tagora is an executive car developed by Chrysler Europe and produced by Peugeot Société Anonyme (PSA). The Tagora was marketed under the Talbot marque after PSA took over Chrysler's European operations in 1979. PSA presented the f ...
.
The German manufacturers did not hesitate to exploit this confusion in France, with cars like the 1974 BMW 5 Series
The BMW 5 Series is an executive car manufactured and marketed by BMW since 1972, succeeding the New Class Sedans, and currently in its seventh generation.
The 5 Series was initially available as a sedan, with a wagon/estate body style (market ...
(which also entered a segment new for the manufacturer) that had relatively good build quality. German cars created an unassailable position in the executive class auto market during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The Germans were not challenged again until Japan addressed this segment 15 years later.
Like the situation in the US with the Lincoln Town Car
The Lincoln Town Car is a model line of full-size luxury sedans that was marketed by the Lincoln division of the American automaker Ford Motor Company. Deriving its name from a limousine body style, Lincoln marketed the Town Car from 1981 to ...
, French luxury cars are now primarily used in fleets.
The 604 was introduced during the recession
In economics, a recession is a business cycle contraction when there is a general decline in economic activity. Recessions generally occur when there is a widespread drop in spending (an adverse demand shock). This may be triggered by various ...
caused by the 1973 energy crisis
The 1973 oil crisis or first oil crisis began in October 1973 when the members of the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC), led by Saudi Arabia, proclaimed an oil embargo. The embargo was targeted at nations that had supp ...
, which created a marketplace that was even more unfriendly to large-engined cars in France. Contemporary journalists
A journalist is an individual that collects/gathers information in form of text, audio, or pictures, processes them into a news-worthy form, and disseminates it to the public. The act or process mainly done by the journalist is called journalism ...
attributed this relative failure to a variety of reasons, such as the conservative styling, the lack of technical innovation, modest performance, and a reputation for problems with rust
Rust is an iron oxide, a usually reddish-brown oxide formed by the reaction of iron and oxygen in the catalytic presence of water or air moisture. Rust consists of hydrous iron(III) oxides (Fe2O3·nH2O) and iron(III) oxide-hydroxide (FeO(OH ...
. Others said that the recent energy crisis
An energy crisis or energy shortage is any significant bottleneck in the supply of energy resources to an economy. In literature, it often refers to one of the energy sources used at a certain time and place, in particular, those that supply n ...
made this an inauspicious time for Peugeot (along with Renault, whose own six-cylinder saloon went on sale a few months earlier) to be moving into the market for six-cylinder saloons. However, by the time the oil shock hit the western economies Peugeot, along with joint venture partners Renault and Volvo, presumably believed they had invested too much in the design and development of production facilities for the new shared engine that would power the 604, to abandon the venture.[
Over 36,000 cars were built in the first full year of production (1976). The launch of the similarly sized but cheaper ]Peugeot 505
The Peugeot 505 is a large family car produced by the French manufacturer Peugeot from 1979 to 1992 in Sochaux, France. It was also manufactured in various other countries including Argentina (by Sevel from 1981 to 1995), China, Thailand (by Yont ...
in 1979 along with another oil crisis, halved sales of the V6-engined 604. By 1981 7,000 examples were produced.
Peugeot did launch some detuned economy versions of the 604, but they did not do much to increase the car's overall sales. Most surprisingly, a turbodiesel
The term turbo-diesel, also written as turbodiesel and turbo diesel, refers to any diesel engine equipped with a turbocharger. As with other engine types, turbocharging a diesel engine can significantly increase its efficiency and power output, ...
version was introduced at the 1978 Geneva Motor Show, alongside the expected 305 D. Peugeot initially tried to convince buyers of the upper-middle class that the 604 had "The engineering of the Mercedes-Benz 280E, the handling of the BMW 5 Series
The BMW 5 Series is an executive car manufactured and marketed by BMW since 1972, succeeding the New Class Sedans, and currently in its seventh generation.
The 5 Series was initially available as a sedan, with a wagon/estate body style (market ...
and the elegance of the Jaguar XJ
The Jaguar XJ is a series of full-size luxury cars produced by British automobile manufacturer Jaguar Cars (becoming Jaguar Land Rover in 2013) from 1968 to 2019. It was produced across five basic platform generations (debuting in 1968, 1986, 1 ...
6" but did not convince enough buyers of this proposition.
Sales, which were only strong for a few years after launch, dipped further in 1980 following the launch of the 505
Year 505 ( DV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Theodorus and Sabinianus (or, less frequently, year 1258 '' Ab urb ...
, and the last 604 rolled off the production line in 1985. A mere 581 examples were produced in 1985, with sales continuing into 1986. Peugeot's next major executive car, the 605
Year 605 ( DCV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. The denomination 605 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the pr ...
, was launched in 1989 although a V6-engined 505 served as an interim flagship model.
Today the 604 is a rare automobile in United Kingdom - there are only 17 that are road-legal as of the second quarter of 2014.
Development
The 604 was launched in March 1975, at the Geneva Motor Show
The Geneva International Motor Show is an annual auto show held in March in the Swiss city of Geneva. The show is hosted at the Palexpo, a convention centre located next to the Geneva Cointrin International Airport. The Salon is organised by th ...
. It was originally available in a single specification, as the 604 SL. In 1977, the 604 was launched in the US in carbureted
A carburetor (also spelled carburettor) is a device used by an internal combustion engine to control and mix air and fuel entering the engine. The primary method of adding fuel to the intake air is through the venturi tube in the main meterin ...
V6 SL trim, with twin rectangular headlights and larger bumpers. In September, the somewhat quicker 604 TI model with Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection
Fuel injection is the introduction of fuel in an internal combustion engine, most commonly automotive engines, by the means of an injector. This article focuses on fuel injection in reciprocating piston and Wankel rotary engines.
All comp ...
and a five-speed manual transmission was added. In late 1978, for the 1979 model year, the 80 horsepower 604 D turbo turbodiesel
The term turbo-diesel, also written as turbodiesel and turbo diesel, refers to any diesel engine equipped with a turbocharger. As with other engine types, turbocharging a diesel engine can significantly increase its efficiency and power output, ...
model was introduced; it entered production in February 1979. The diesel could be ordered with either a four- or a five-speed manual transmission, as well as the GM-sourced three-speed automatic. The six-cylinder 604's received modified gearbox ratios.
For 1979 there were some minor modifications, including the change of the petrol filler cap from round to square. The US 604s receives a larger 2849 cc engine, although with no change in power. In 1980 the 604 underwent a minor facelift, featuring a new rear-view mirror, while the bonnet badge was removed, the indicators were changed to orange, and there was also a new plastic dashboard and gearstick. The limited edition luxury "Grand Comfort" model with power windows and locks, a sunroof, tinted windows, and other amenities was also made available this year. US sales "faded away" during 1980.
In 1981 the 604 STi, with Michelin TRX tyres and alloy wheels, was introduced. From January 1981, the automatic gearboxes used in the 604 were no longer sourced from General Motors' factory in Alsace, but rather from ZF in Germany. The existing diesel model was replaced with two different specifications, GRDT and SRDT. Total body immersion anti-corrosion treatment was also introduced across the entire range. The turbo diesel was now exported to US, where it replaced the already absent V6 entirely. In 1982, the carburetted base 604 SL was discontinued and in 1983 the TI and GRD Turbo versions were removed from the lineup; this left only the STi and SRD Turbo.
In 1984, the 604 GTi with a 2.8-litre engine was introduced, replacing the 2.7-litre STi. Also, the new GTDT diesel model was introduced. US sales were discontinued after 1984. In November of the next year (1985), the production of the 604 came to an end. As a partial replacement, a V6 version of the 505 soon appeared, and in 1989 the front-wheel-drive Peugeot 605
The Peugeot 605 is an executive car produced by the French manufacturer Peugeot between 1989 and 1999, with a facelift in 1995.
History
The 605 was a saloon built on the same platform as the Citroën XM and was the successor to the critically ...
arrived to fill the empty slot left by the 604.
Turbodiesel
The 604 is noted for being the first production turbodiesel
The term turbo-diesel, also written as turbodiesel and turbo diesel, refers to any diesel engine equipped with a turbocharger. As with other engine types, turbocharging a diesel engine can significantly increase its efficiency and power output, ...
car ("604 D turbo") to be sold in Europe, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SD having been marketed in North America since 1977. The turbodiesel was launched in 1979. It uses the 2,304 cc Indénor Diesel engine with a turbo fitted, designation XD2S. This was a reliable engine, overshadowed by one major problem. Like many diesel engines of the time they were hard to start in the cold weather, the 604 was one of the worst with this problem, it was a very difficult car to start and some owners ensured it was parked on a hill to get around this. However, some minor tweaks to the glow plugs and compression made the car easier to start.
The tall inline-four diesel engine was slanted at 20 degrees to fit underneath the low bonnet of the 604. Sometime in 1983, this was upgraded to a 2.5-liter version ( XD3S), originally producing at 4,150 rpm. This version could reach when fitted with the manual transmission. Soon thereafter the engine was upgraded to electronic rather than mechanic fuel injection (XD3T), and then produced at the same engine speed. USA and Canadian market turbodiesels mostly were delivered with a three-speed ZF automatic gearbox, which was optional elsewhere - but some five speeds were sold in Canada and the USA. Thus equipped, top speed dropped to .
''Autocars Edward Eves conducted a long-term test of the turbodiesel in 1981. The test concluded that the "604D Turbo is a fine, friendly type of car which really begs to be used. This can be seen in the way the mileage is being built up with it at the rate of 24,000 miles in the year". The overall fuel consumption was estimated at 32.5 miles per gallon (8.7 liters/100 km). The author noted that while the car was not intended as a high-performance vehicle, "it is a very practical vehicle for experienced drivers and is capable of very high point-to-point averages once the technique of driving on the torque curve is mastered". It was also described as "an effortless long-distance car and should be considered by anyone whose motoring is of the order of 30,000 miles a year because this is one of the longest-legged of cars...that I have met". Regarding the diesel engine start-up procedure, the author described it as "remarkably like firing up a petrol engined model". Accommodation inside the car was viewed as being "fully up to international standards for a four-five seater touring saloon with room in the rear seat for two people to travel long-distances in real comfort". The velour seats were praised for their comfort but were viewed as being vulnerable to burns and soiling. ''Autocar'' noted that the map pockets in the doors were insufficiently deep and during the test the speedometer cable failed and the foil insert from the rubbing strip on a door detached.
Heuliez
Heuliez was a French company that worked as a production and design unit for various automakers. It specialized in producing short series for niche markets, such as convertibles or station-wagons.
The business activity ended on 31 October 2013. ...
Limousine
A limousine ( or ), or limo () for short, is a large, chauffeur-driven luxury vehicle with a partition between the driver compartment and the passenger compartment.
A very long wheelbase luxury sedan (with more than four doors) driven by a prof ...
The company Heuliez produced 124 long wheelbase limousine versions of the 604. Available in these versions were two extra movable seats. The limousines were produced from 1978 to 1984.
The boot volume controversy
Persistent disagreement existed over the actual luggage capacity of the Peugeot 604, with figures ranging from 356 litres to 501 litres. Peugeot's official claim was that boot capacity was 498 litres. In between these measures, the following figures were also quoted in period reviews: 385 litres, 402 litres, 413 litres and 462 litres. In their 1976 test ''Motor'' described the boot as "only average", their testers having been able to fit 356 litres of "Revelation" luggage. However, in 1975 ''Autocar'' described the boot as "really capacious," accommodating 699 litres.[Autocar, 12 July 1975, page 25.] This figure was "just a little more than the luggage area of the current 504 Family Estate". Autocar's 1977 long-term test of the SL model commented that as well as the cabin being able to accommodate "up to five people, the boot was "one of the largest he author
He or HE may refer to:
Language
* He (pronoun), an English pronoun
* He (kana), the romanization of the Japanese kana へ
* He (letter), the fifth letter of many Semitic alphabets
* He (Cyrillic), a letter of the Cyrillic script called ''He'' ...
could remember, even with the big spare wheel strapped upright on the right hand side. The beauty of the boot is its depth...it has always seemed to me that a really deep boot stood a much better chance of swallowing awkward loads, and the 604 amply proved the point". In Feb 1980 ''What Car?'' described the boot as "simply vast". Edward Eves conducted a long-term test of the turbodiesel version for ''Autocar'' in 1981. He described the boot as "huge, with four feet of useable width and 33 inches of fore and aft room. As it is, there is ample room for the effects of a family four on a touring holiday" In 1982 ''Autocar'' described the boot as "vast". ''Autocar'' went on to add that the boot was "not only long, fore and aft, but wide and deep so that full-size suitcases can be packed upright". During the course of the car's road test career the matter was never definitively settled.
Critical appraisal
British motoring journals viewed the 604 favorably upon its initial launch in the UK market, though ''Motor'' dissented, viewing the car as generally being a "middle of the road" product.[''Motor'', 6 December 1975, p. 7] Later commentary noted that its "excellence aswidely acknowledged". Throughout its career it was rated above all for its ride quality which ''Car'' magazine described as being superior to the 1980 Mercedes S-Class
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class, formerly known as ''Sonderklasse'' (German for "special class", abbreviated as "S-Klasse"), is a series of full-sized luxury sedans, limousines and armored sedans produced by the German automaker Mercedes-Benz, a divis ...
W-126 and the equal of Jaguar. ''Motor'' magazine viewed the car's ride as being the equal of Jaguars and large Citroëns. As a classic car, the 604 has acquired the lasting image of being "forgotten" and for being less successful than Peugeot hoped, but it is also noted for its "outstanding" ride and accurate, communicative steering.
In August 1975 ''Car'' magazine presented an initial review of the 604 and described it as "such a carefully conceived and thoroughly developed car that one can´t help be utterly impressed".[Nicols, M (1975) Luxury, Peugeot style. ''Car'' magazine. August 1975, page 27] Criticisms concerned the weak airflow from certain vents, the slight lack of lumbar and lateral support from the front seats, brake fade, and the lack of central locking. ''Car'' praised the refinement of the suspension and the smoothness of the engine which was "an exceptionally flexible unit that has the ability to rev to dizzy heights without uttering the slightest complaint at either extremity". The article concluded that "the Jaguar XJ6, the BMW 525/528, the Fiat 130, Mercedes 280E and Volvo 264 GL are going to have to close ranks against a formidable new intruder".
In November 1975 ''Car'' magazine tested the 604 against the BMW 528 and Jaguar XJ 3.4. The test concluded the 604 was faster at cornering than the BMW 528 and was quieter and more comfortable. ''Car'' viewed the 604's roadholding the equal of the Jaguar in the dry and superior in wet conditions and, as a limousine, was more successful than the Jaguar. ''Car'' concluded that "the Jaguar is still a brilliant car, but in some respects Peugeot have managed to better it. And that takes some doing".
The UK's ''Motor'' weekly tested the 604 SL with four-speed manual transmission.[''Motor'', 6 December 1975, pp. 2-7] The article described the car's styling as both "subtle" and "discreet" with "superb ride, sumptuous and comfortable interior, vary spacious in the back" but the car was let down by its "lack of refinement". The performance was called "lively" but "lacked power below 2,500 rpm", though from 2,500 it "pulled lustily and smoothly up to 6,000 rpm". Detail criticism was focused on the ergonomics (awkward window switch placement, poor driver's seat adjustment, "fussy" speedometer markings), mediocre fuel consumption, and some minor assembly faults. The luggage capacity was described as average (12.6 cubic ft/357 litres). Comparatively, the more expensive Jaguar XJ6 3.4 was rated more highly for its ride and noise suppression while the BMW 520i was judged to be more sporting though overpriced. ''Motor'' described the Peugeot as being somewhere between the two.
The Peugeot 604 went on sale in the US market in April, 1977.[''Motor Trend'', May 1977, page 40.] The US magazine ''Motor Trend'' described the rack-and-pinion steering as being "of surpassing excellence and must be experienced to be appreciated" in a review of the 604 SL. Turning to the suspension, ''Motor Trend'' wrote that "springing is soft with a great deal of wheel travel. Movement is damped in jounce and particularly rebound in the manner that only the French, and perhaps BMW, seem to be able to achieve". Despite the comfortable ride, the handling remained secure. The car "leans a bit but clings like a limpet in both fast and slow curves". Braking was described as "excellent", having a decelerating g-force of 0.875.[''Motor Trend'', May 1977, p. 42] The only weak area was performance, the 604 "not coming up the standards of excellence set by ride, handling and stopping ability". The review added that "acceleration and speed are adequate to keep from being overrun by other traffic but by no means can performance be considered brilliant". This was countered by the car's ability to maintain high average speeds on account of its capacity to cope with "twisting, poorly surfaced roads". Overall, given the car's remit as a luxury saloon, ''Motor Trend'' viewed this performance limitation as being of secondary importance. In conclusion, ''Motor Trend'' viewed the 604 as being "competitively priced" and offering buyers "a new choice, a new arrangement of priorities...if comfort, quality and security are high on the priority list, that fact alone has to make the Peugeot 604 a bit of a bargain".
In November 1977 the UK's respected ''Car'' magazine ranked the 604 first in its Giant Test of the Peugeot, BMW 728 and Mercedes 280E. ''Autocars long-term test in 1977 of the 604 SL concluded it was very refined, let down mainly by the design of the front seats and minor mechanical defects. In the following year, ''Car'' compared the fuel-injected 604 Ti with the Lancia Gamma
The Lancia Gamma (Tipo 830) is an executive car (E-segment in Europe) manufactured and marketed by the Lancia subdivision of Fiat. Following its debut at the 1976 Geneva Motor Show as Lancia's new flagship, the Gamma was marketed as 4-door f ...
and Rover 2600 and declared the Peugeot the best car out of the trio: "So strong is its appeal ..hat even the problems some of our team have with the driving position can´t turn us away from it, enhanced as it now is by the extra silkiness that the fuel injection brought, and the greater quietness when cruising that the five-speed transmission allows".
In 1980, ''What Car?'' tested the 604 Ti against the newly introduced Vauxhall Royale, the Ford Granada 2.8 Ghia 'S', and Renault 30 TX. Whilst the Peugeot received commendation for its ride ("outstandingly good"), "superb" headlamp performance, the comfort of the rear passenger compartment and the generously-sized boot, it lost out to the Royale which was viewed as a more rounded overall design. The Peugeot's driving position, and in particular the design of the seat-runners and cushion, were singled out for particular criticism. Of the four cars, the Peugeot 604 Ti had the highest top speed (119 mph), best 0-60 performance (9.7 seconds) and best fuel consumption figures. It was also the lowest priced of the four cars (9,258 GBP versus the 10,018 GBP for the Ford, 9,771 GBP for the Vauxhall and 9,430 GBP for the Renault).
''Autocar'' magazine carried out a long-term, 36,000-mile, test of the Peugeot 604D turbo. The review concluded saying "This was one car we would dearly have loved to have kept in the family. It offers a rare combination of luxury, big car motoring at a very modest cost. And if this were not enough, the standards of ride and handling are difficult to match at any price". The model was chosen by the magazine for testing because it "was the most advanced diesel engined car on the European market" when it was taken onto the magazine's fleet.[''Autocar'', 17 May 1982, p. 20] Overall, the car's main advantages were its comfort for driver and rear passengers, the large boot capacity, low-noise levels and the quality of the steering. The performance "on paper" compared badly to the petrol though was "excellent by diesel car standards."[''Autocar'', 17 May 1982, p. 21]
In April 1983, ''Car'' magazine tested the 604 against the newly launched Volvo 760
The Volvo 700 series is a range of executive cars produced by the Swedish manufacturer Volvo Cars from 1982 to 1992. The 700 series was introduced in 1982 with the luxurious 760, followed two years later by the lower priced 740 which capitalize ...
and Ford Granada 2.8 Ghia X. The reviewers rated the Peugeot's interior space, headlight effectiveness and ride quality as the best of the trio but the "dated and messy interior" counted against it.[''Car Magazine'', April 1983, p. 93] Its performance and economy were also lagging behind the competitors. However, the authors still noted that, in their view, the 604 was "the best-riding car on sale today".
''Classic & Sportscar'' carried out a dual test of the Peugeot 604 SL four-speed manual with the Lancia Gamma Berlina (though did not rank them). The reviewer, Martin Buckley, described the 604 as being "suave and smooth, always on its way to that ambassador´s reception with a glovebox of Ferrero-Rocher." Criticism of the car focused on the "injection moulded dashboard eingfar from pretty" and the "slightly awkward 4-speed gearbox". The tri-choke Solex carburettor arrangement also received a critical commentary, being responsible for leaving the driver "with an impression of a mid-range flat spot" though the car still "surges forward with brisk authority and a smooth lusty hum....".
Engines
* 2.3 L (2,304 cc) '' XD2S'' Diesel
Diesel may refer to:
* Diesel engine, an internal combustion engine where ignition is caused by compression
* Diesel fuel, a liquid fuel used in diesel engines
* Diesel locomotive, a railway locomotive in which the prime mover is a diesel engin ...
I4
* 2.5 L (2,498 cc) '' XD3S/XD3T'' Diesel
Diesel may refer to:
* Diesel engine, an internal combustion engine where ignition is caused by compression
* Diesel fuel, a liquid fuel used in diesel engines
* Diesel locomotive, a railway locomotive in which the prime mover is a diesel engin ...
I4
* 2.7 L (2,664 cc) '' PRV'' V6
* 2.8 L (2,849 cc) '' PRV'' V6
References
External links
Peugeot 604 road test
{{Peugeot timeline 1980 to date
604
__NOTOC__
Year 604 ( DCIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. The denomination 604 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era b ...
Flagship vehicles
Executive cars
Sedans
Rear-wheel-drive vehicles
1980s cars
Cars introduced in 1975
Cars discontinued in 1985
Limousines