The 605 was a saloon built on the same platform as the Citroën XM and was the successor to the critically well received, but slow selling, Peugeot 604, which went out of production four years earlier.

[3] High equipment levels, a luxurious interior, a smooth ride, and exceptional handling were strong points for the 605.

Also like the XM, the 605 initially suffered from quality issues that resulted in numerous breakdowns or malfunctions (particularly with the ambitious electrics).

[4] An extensive recall operation took place at great cost, in which most of the engine room wiring and exhaust system (as well as numerous other parts) were exchanged, but by then the damage to the car's reputation had been done.

[citation needed] A 2.0 litre (8 valve) turbocharged four cylinder petrol engine 108 kW (147 PS) was added in 1991, and provided good performance but proved unreliable.

The Peugeot 605 is featured prominently in the car chase scenes of John Frankenheimer's film Ronin (1998).

In the first chase, three Peugeot 605s are escorting a Citroën XM carrying a mysterious briefcase, where it comes under attack by mercenaries, including the character played by Robert De Niro.