Peugeot 605
| Industry | Automotive |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1810 |
| Headquarters | Sochaux , France |
| Products | Automobiles, including Peugeot 605 executive car (1989–1999) |
The Peugeot 605 is an executive car manufactured by the French automaker Peugeot between 1989 and 1999, with a significant update introduced in 1995.
History
Sharing its platform with the Citroën XM, the 605 was introduced as the successor to the well-regarded but commercially underperforming Peugeot 604. During this period, Peugeot discontinued the successful Peugeot 505, shifting focus towards the large family sedan Peugeot 405 and the executive-class 605. Although plans existed for a station wagon variant of the 605, it never reached production.
The model debuted in July 1989, initially available with petrol engines; turbodiesel and naturally aspirated diesel versions followed by late 1990. It was equipped with a high level of standard features, offering a refined interior, comfortable ride quality, and competent handling characteristics.
Nevertheless, Peugeot encountered difficulties marketing the 605 outside its domestic market due to its design similarities with the smaller Peugeot 405, which constrained its ability to command a premium price. The interior's dashboard also attracted criticism for lacking originality.
Similar to other large vehicles in PSA’s lineup, Peugeot struggled to carve out a distinct luxury segment presence when compared to rivals possessing dedicated luxury brands such as Lexus/Toyota or Audi/Volkswagen.
Initial reliability problems, especially involving complex electrical components, resulted in expensive recalls that harmed the vehicle’s reputation. To address these concerns, Peugeot launched a comprehensive facelift in 1995 (referred to as "Phase 2"), enhancing exterior styling, interior ergonomics, performance metrics, and overall dependability. At this stage, the naturally aspirated diesel was phased out as the newer Peugeot 406 catered to entry-level buyers.
Despite these upgrades and technological enhancements including side airbags, sales continued to lag. After the successful introduction of the larger Peugeot 406 in 1995, demand for the 605 declined considerably, culminating in its discreet withdrawal from the market in September 1999.
Its replacement, the Peugeot 607, arrived later that year and achieved moderately improved results both domestically and internationally.
The cessation of production marked the conclusion of Peugeot’s "05" series of executive cars across Europe, following over twenty years since the launch of the Peugeot 305. Notably, a Peugeot 605 was utilized as an official state vehicle for French President François Mitterrand.
Design and styling
The styling of the Peugeot 605 bore a strong resemblance to the Alfa Romeo 164 (1987), another design by Pininfarina, yet it was constructed on the Citroën XM platform rather than the Type Four platform. Its aesthetic followed Peugeot’s design language at the time, closely mirroring that of the smaller Peugeot 405. This lack of clear differentiation was generally perceived as a disadvantage in the marketplace since the 605 did not stand apart sufficiently from more affordable models.
Engines
Throughout its production run, eight petrol engine variants were available for the 605:
- 2.0 litre inline-four with an 8-valve carburetor,
- 2.0 litre inline-four with an 8-valve fuel injection system,
- A non-catalyzed version of the 2.0 litre inline-four with fuel injection,
- Turbocharged version of the 2.0 litre inline-four featuring eight valves and fuel injection,
- Fuel-injected inline-four with a 16-valve configuration at 2.0 litres,
- Fuel-injected V6 with three litres displacement and twelve valves,
- V6 engine with three litres displacement and twenty-four valves featuring fuel injection,
- Fuel-injected V6 at 2.9 litres with twenty-four valves,
Diesel powertrains included:
- Naturally aspirated inline-four with indirect injection at 2.1 litres and twelve valves,
- Turbocharged variant of the same inline-four diesel with indirect injection,
- A larger turbocharged inline-four diesel at 2.5 litres with twelve valves and indirect injection,
While dependable overall, both the carbureted petrol engine and naturally aspirated diesel were considered underpowered relative to the vehicle's mass. The turbodiesel option attracted criticism for consuming more fuel compared to rival models. The fuel-injected four-cylinder delivered improved performance but lacked adequate torque at lower and mid-range RPMs. The potent V6 engines were noted for their poor fuel efficiency when mated to automatic transmissions.
In early 1993, PRV V6 engines were slightly reduced in size to meet Swiss taxation requirements. Nevertheless, the top-tier V6 with twenty-four valves attained a maximum speed of , appealing to buyers seeking performance despite higher fuel consumption.
The well-regarded 2.1 turbo diesel eventually became outdated as competitors like Audi introduced advanced direct injection technology. A turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine producing was introduced in 1991 but suffered from reliability issues. Diesel options expanded later with a more powerful 2.5 turbodiesel rated at . By 1997, older three-litre V6 units were superseded by a modernized unified V6 engine displacing 2.9 litres and producing power through twenty-four valves.
Fiction
In John Frankenheimer's 1998 movie Ronin, the Peugeot 605 takes a central role during the high-speed pursuit sequences. Initially, a convoy of three Peugeot 605s accompanies a Citroën XM transporting a briefcase, which comes under attack from mercenaries, including the character portrayed by Robert De Niro.
Sales
Overall, 254,505 units of the Peugeot 605 were manufactured, mostly at the Sochaux plant, with an additional 192 vehicles produced at the Vesoul facility between 1991 and 1992.