Peugeot 408 Review 2024

Niche models are no longer limited to premium brands like Audi and BMW. Volkswagen's at it with the Taigo, the Renault Arkana is the obscure coupe-SUV no one asked for - and now the new Peugeot 408 is set to fill a gap between conventional hatchbacks and the hugely popular family SUV class.

The Peugeot 408 takes a similar approach to the new Citroen C5 X. It's a high-riding hatchback with a bold design and none of the compromises of an SUV. That's the theory, anyway.

Under the bonnet, the most affordable Peugeot 408 models come with a 1.2-litre petrol engine. This 130PS unit is sprightlier than you'd expect in a car this size, although we still think a lot of buyers will be looking at the plug-in hybrid motors instead.

There are two plug-in hybrids, each combining a 1.6-litre petrol engine with an electric motor. Crucially, they provide an electric-only range of up to 40 miles - good news for company car drivers seeking the tax advantages of long-range plug-in hybrids. If a pure-electric car appeals, there's also an all-electric Peugeot e-408 on its way later in 2023.

The Peugeot 408 feels a bit sportier than the Citroen C5 X, but that doesn't really come at the expense of comfort. It rides well, while its interior feels suitably upmarket for a brand that's attempting to steer customers away from premium brands.

You can choose from three core models: the Peugeot 408 Allure, Allure Premium and the top-spec 408 GT. We reckon the mid-spec Peugeot 408 Allure Premium makes the most sense - there's no need to spend serious money on a Peugeot 408.

Talking of which, you'll pay upwards of £31,000 for an entry-level car, while the plug-in hybrids are nudging £40,000. We're already seeing pre-reg discounts on Peugeot 408s, though, and we reckon the left-field approach will be good news for bargain hunters a few years down the line (if not for the first owners taking the depreciation hit).

If Peugeot's serious about tempting buyers out of their SUVs into a high-riding hatchback, the 408 needs to pack a punch in terms of practicality. And it certainly ticks that box - it's quite a long car, so the boot's pretty vast (although not as huge as, say, a Skoda Superb Estate's). You don't sit as high as you would in a 'proper' SUV, but neither can you feel the tarmac beneath your seat.

The most impressive thing about the new Peugeot 408 is the interior quality. It looks and feels pretty special, while the new 10.0-inch infotainment system (standard across the range) looks smart and is pretty easy to operate. We like the digital instrument cluster, too, although not so much the 3D dials fitted to the Peugeot 408 GT.

We reckon the Peugeot 408 will be overlooked by a lot of buyers searching for their next family car, but it certainly isn't without its merits. We love the interior, think it looks pretty sharp and its hybrid engines make it a pretty interesting alternative to mainstream competitors. We reckon the upcoming electric powertrain will only add to the 408's appeal.

While the Peugeot 408 shares a platform with the Citroen C5 X, it does feel noticeably sportier than its relation. That's partly down to its diddy steering wheel - while the steering is quite light (and that's a good thing around town), it reacts very quickly to inputs so it feels very agile.

The suspension setup is slightly sportier than the Citroen's, too. That doesn't mean it's uncomfortable, but it remains surprisingly composed in corners. The lower centre of gravity compared to high-riding SUVs helps here, too.

You can't get a four-wheel-drive Peugeot 408, so you'll have to look elsewhere if you regularly traverse muddy fields or snowy rural lanes. There's loads of grip available, though, and even heavy-footed exits from junctions in slippery conditions shouldn't fluster the front wheels too much.

There are three engines initially offered in the Peugeot 408: one petrol and two plug-in hybrids.

The petrol engine is the same 1.2-litre Puretech that we've seen elsewhere in the Peugeot range (not to mention in Vauxhall and Citroen models). It produces 130PS, which doesn't sound a great deal for a car of this size. But, while it's not going to hurtle you down a motorway sliproad, the Puretech 130 actually punches above its weight. Officially, it'll accelerate to 62mph in 10.4 seconds, but it feels punchier than that - helped by the relatively slick eight-speed automatic gearbox that's fitted as standard.

Perhaps more noteworthy is the option of two plug-in hybrid engines. Both pair a 1.6-litre petrol engine with a 12.4kWh battery pack powering a single electric motor. You can choose between a 180PS model badged the Peugeot 408 Hybrid 180, or a more powerful version packing 225PS and named the - you guessed it - Hybrid 225.

We're yet to sample the Hybrid 180 but, on paper, there's little reason to pay extra for the 225. The former takes 8.1 seconds to accelerate from a standstill to 62mph while the latter takes 7.8 seconds. The hybrid system works well, with only a moment's hesitation as the petrol engine kicks in. High-mileage drivers might be better looking for a diesel alternative but, if you can charge a car at home, the ability to drive around town under electric power is quite appealing.

If you're ready to make the jump to electric power, an all-electric Peugeot e-408 is due later in 2023.

There's a long list of driver-assistance technology fitted available in the Peugeot 408, but that's not enough to warrant a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating. A 65 per cent score for safety assist features in the official crash tests led to an overall four-star rating, largely due to the autonomous emergency braking system struggling to avoid a collision with other vehicles.

Don't dismiss the Peugeot 408 as an unsafe car, though. Standard safety kit across the range includes the above camera-based emergency braking system (plug-in hybrid models get radar tech, too), while Allure Premium models and above get the Driver Assist Pack (with adaptive cruise control, rear cross-traffic alert and long-range blind spot detection).

The petrol Peugeot 408 1.2 Puretech has a braked trailer towing capacity of 1200kg while the plug-in hybrid models can tow up to 1400kg. If you're looking to tow a caravan, we'd recommend a four-wheel-drive alternative like the Skoda Karoq (or bigger Skoda Kodiaq) instead.

Measuring 4687mm in length and 2062mm in width, the Peugeot 408 is actually quite a big car - certainly bigger than a Cupra Formentor or Renault Arkana.

That's obviously good news for interior space. It feels very roomy inside, especially for those on the front, while there's a generous amount of legroom for rear-seat passengers. Headroom in the back takes a knock (that's the sloping rear roofline) but kids will be more than happy back there.

You sit a bit higher than a conventional family hatchback, too, although you'd be better looking at a traditional SUV if you're looking for a properly high-up seating position.

The boot can carry 536 litres of luggage, although that drops to 471 litres in hybrid models. Speccing the optional Focal sound system knocks outright boot space, too - down to 508 litres in the petrol 408 or 454 litres in the hybrids.

The rear seats don't do anything fancy like slide or recline but they do split 60:40 should you need to drop them for more boot space. You can squeeze up to 1611 litres with the rear seats dropped (1545 litres in hybrids).

Peugeot is pitching its 408 as a contender in the premium market and the interior reflects this - it looks and feels very well finished with soft-touch materials aplenty.

It does depend a little on which model you choose, but even entry-level variants don't exactly feel like a base-spec rental car. All models come with part-leather-effect seat coverings, although only the top-spec Peugeot 408 GT is available with full Nappa leather (for a fee). The GT comes with a full-grain leather steering wheel, too, as well as plush carpet mats and personalisable ambient lighting - all adding to the upmarket vibe.

The Peugeot 408 gets a 10.0-inch navigation screen as standard across the range. It's positioned in the centre of the dash, below the vents and angled slightly towards the driver. It's not quite as close to the driver's eye line as many sat-nav systems, but it looks less like an afterthought than those plonked on top of the dash.

We've sampled systems that are slightly more user-friendly but it's much slicker than Peugeot infotainment screens of old. If you don't like it, at least you can easily connect your phone and use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto instead.

Below the main infotainment screen is a bank of touch-sensitive buttons that can be configured to act as shortcuts to a variety of functions. These work pretty well, although we still miss old-fashioned buttons.

All Peugeot 408 trim levels come with a digital driver's display behind the steering wheel. This looks pretty cool, although we're not so keen on the 3D effect that's applied to top-spec 408 GT models. It's just a bit unnecessary and looks a bit fuzzy to our eyes.

Peugeot 408 prices start from around £31,000 for an entry-level Allure with the 1.2-litre Puretech petrol engine, while you'll pay a hefty £9000 premium for a plug-in hybrid. There aren't many direct rivals for the Peugeot 408 but this strikes us as relatively good value for money considering the size of the car and the amount of standard equipment.

You'll pay a little more for a Peugeot 408 compared to the similar Citroen C5 X, but it's priced pretty much in line with family SUVs like the Volkswagen Tiguan. And we suspect it won't be long before the Peugeot 408 starts to hit the used market - we're already seeing discounts on nearly-new and pre-registered models.

Buy a Peugeot 408 1.2-litre Puretech and you should see up to 48.1mpg according to WLTP fuel economy tests. That's quite a respectable figure for a petrol engine although, like a lot of small turbocharged units, you might need to lower your expectations slightly in the real world.

Plug-in hybrid versions of the Peugeot 408 officially return up to 270mpg but, again, that figure is best treated with a dose of scepticism - particularly if you're planning on covering long journeys without stopping to charge regularly.

Peugeot quotes an electric range figure of 40 miles for the 408. That means it drops into a lower tax band for company car drivers compared to those PHEVs with a range of 39 miles or less. A 7.4kW home wallbox will charge a Peugeot 408 Hybrid in around three and a half hours.

In terms of VED (that's road tax to you and I), you'll pay a flat rate of £165/year for the 1.2 Puretech or £155/year for hybrid models (due to the green car discount). Tread carefully, though, as cars with a list price of more than £40,000 when new are hit with an extra £355/year in tax for years two to six.

Servicing costs should be fairly manageable, especially for the 1.2-litre Puretech that's used in a wide range of cars. The Peugeot 408 comes with a three-year warranty, while the traction battery in hybrid models is covered for up to eight years/100,000 miles.

The Peugeot 408 Allure comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights with ‘Smartbeam’ assist, as well as a front grille with horizontal chrome accents. Inside, the 408 Allure comes with fabric seats combined with leather-effect trim, as well as ambient lighting. The Allure also comes with a 180-degree colour reversing camera, rear parking sensors and connected navigation. Advanced emergency braking is standard, as well as extended traffic sign recognition.

Upgrade to a Peugeot 408 Allure Premium and you'll get 19-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels. Keyless entry is standard, as well as an Advanced Emergency Braking system with video camera and radar technology. Allure Premium models also offer front parking sensors as well as the Drive Assist Pack which adds rear cross traffic alert, adaptive cruise control with stop & go as well as long range blind spot detection.

Topping the range, the Peugeot 408 GT comes with unique 'Graphite' diamond-cut alloy wheels as well as the brand's Lion shield presented on the front doors. The front grille is also different, featuring body-coloured vertile accents. Inside, GT models come with aluminium door and boot sill trims, while ambient lighting with eight colour choices is also standard. A heated leather steering wheel with green stitching and ‘GT’ badging adds to comfort and styling. Technology upgrades include the 10-inch instrument panel display featuring 3D technology, while ‘Clean Cabin’ Technology improves air quality. A Driver Sport Pack adds steering, throttle and gearbox modes which enhance feedback and response, while the engine sound can also be digitally enhanced. Peugeot SOS & assistance and lane positioning assist improve safety and driver convenience.

The limited edition Peugeot 408 First Edition comes with 20-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels finished in matte onyx black and the upgraded 7.4kW on-board charger. Inside First Edition models come with Peugeot's ‘Seat Pack’ which adds an AGR-certified 10-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat for optimal comfort. Front passenger seat is upgraded to a six-way electrically adjustable seat, with both driver and passenger seats featuring heated and massage functions.