Peugeot 408 review

Driving position

You’d be forgiven for thinking that the experience behind the wheel of the 408 would be similar its cousin, the Citroen C5 X. That couldn’t be further from the case.

We spent some back-to-back time in a 408 and a C5 X, and the Peugeot stood out for its low-slung, sporty feel.

The seats, covered in Alcantara and faux-leather in our GT-spec car, offer the right amount of support without being over-the-top.

Peugeot has been placing the steering wheel lower than most other manufacturers for many years. The idea is that you look over – not through – the wheel at your speedometer. Previously, it got a lot of mixed reviews.

In its latest format, the so-called i-Cockpit works really well. The compact and slightly angular steering wheel doesn’t get in the way and, if anything, adds to the sporty and engaging feel.

Our only gripe was the fairly sizeable blind spot around the C-pillar, between the rear seats and the rear windscreen.

Tech and features

Because this is a new model, it builds on a well-equipped and tech-heavy base. All cars get a slick widescreen 10-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support.

Besides the digital instrument cluster, there’s also a third screen situated beneath the main infotainment display.

It complements the primary display with some customisable physical shortcut keys lower down on the centre console.

In theory, it works great and makes getting into certain menus, like the ‘Energy’ view for hybrid models, far easier.

The only complaint is that the climate control shortcut takes you to an on-screen adjustment. We’d prefer physical controls for basic climate controls.

Other standard-fit equipment includes bright LED headlights, ambient interior lighting, rear parking sensors, a reversing camera and keyless entry.

Allure models come with everything you’ll need, but consider stepping up to GT or adding some optional extras for a better spec.

Some worthwhile upgrades include a full 360-degree parking camera and the adaptive matrix LED headlights our test car had.

Engines and power

If you’ve got access to a home charger and are willing to spend a bit more upfront, one of the two plug-in hybrids might appeal.

They use larger 1.6-litre petrol engines to produce a total system output of either 180hp or 225hp. We tried the more powerful version, which is only available in top-spec GT models.

Both use the same 110hp electric motor, so they feel as punchy as each other around town, and there’s only 0.3 seconds between their 0-62mph times, so for most, the 180hp is a far more sensible choice.

That electric motor and battery combination can deliver a genuine 30 miles of electric-only range. It will also handle motorway speeds with ease, though the battery might not last on longer drives.

The 408 is a bit lighter than the C5 X, and we found this translated to a slightly better electric range.

Those after plain petrol power can opt for the 130hp turbocharged three-cylinder engine. It feels pretty punchy for the most part, and because the 408 is a touch lighter than the C5 X, it might not feel so strained.

There’s also a mild hybrid 1.2-litre petrol with a slightly higher 136hp output. It’s an upgrade worth considering because it promises to improve fuel economy by around 5-10mpg.

Handling and ride comfort

Compared to the Citroen model that’s built on the same platform, the Peugeot 408 feels considerably more sporty. Exactly what the French marque intended.

For such a big saloon-like car, the steering feels pleasantly responsive and the car’s just as comfortable on twisty country roads as it is around town.

We tried the 225hp plug-in hybrid model where the extra weight of the batteries helped lower the car’s centre of gravity, giving it a more planted feel.

In line with this sporty feel, the Peugeot 408 has reasonably firm suspension to keep the car in check, but it’s not so firm that it becomes a problem around town. In fact, it strikes just the right balance.

Charging times

The 3.7kW charging speed is a bit low, considering many plug-in hybrids come with higher 7kW support. Since the 408 has a fairly small 12.4kWh battery, a full charge does only take around 3.5 hours.

A quicker 7.4kW system is an option, but your money would be better spent elsewhere because most owners tend to top up slowly each night anyway.

Boot space

The Peugeot 408 has a pretty impressive 536-litre boot. That’s eaten into by the batteries of the hybrid model, bringing it down to 471 litres. Still, both offer almost SUV-like levels of space.

The wide hatchback-style boot opening really helps when loading bulky items, although we did notice that the coupé-like sloping roofline does impact how high you can stack things.

A small amount of under-floor storage is good for loose odds and ends, but it’s not enough to keep your charging cable out of sight, which is a shame. The upgraded Focal sound system’s subwoofer also eats into this space.

The amount of space you get is on par with other big saloon-based models like the Volkswagen Arteon, and above what you get in something like an Audi A5 Sportback.

In fact, go for a petrol-powered model, and you’ll have more space than you get in the bigger Peugeot 508 saloon, which has a narrower and more awkward saloon-style boot opening.

There’s also a really handy ski hatch between the rear seats, so you can load longer items (like skis or impulse purchases from IKEA) without folding down the rear seats.

Rear seats

Because the Peugeot 408 sits somewhere between a family hatchback and a compact saloon, interior space is fairly average.

If you’re upgrading from a hatchback, then you’ll be pleased with the extra legroom – adults should have no problem doing a longer trip in the back of one of these.

However, if you’re changing from a saloon, you’ll notice the coupé styling does eat into headroom slightly. Still, it’s hardly what you’d call cramped.

Storage solutions

Up front, Peugeot has done a good job of refining the cockpit feeling, so everything wraps around the driver.

We like the sliding cover for the cupholders in the centre console and the split-opening armrest that’s reminiscent of premium BMW models.

There are plenty of USB-C charging ports dotted around the cabin, plus back-seat passengers get a pair of cupholders built into the armrest and the usual door bins and seatback pockets.

There’s also a wireless charging pad, which is a convenient addition.

Safety

The Peugeot 408 was tested in 2022 when it first came out, and got a respectable four-star safety rating from Euro NCAP.

Adult and child occupant protection systems scored well, as did the features designed to protect other road users and pedestrians.

It shares many parts with the Citroen C5 X and the more compact Peugeot 308 hatchback, which were also awarded four stars.

Fuel economy

The petrol and mild hybrid both get around 40mpg with mixed driving and likely around 50mpg on a longer motorway trip.

In our plug-in hybrid test car, we averaged well over 90mpg doing a mix of shorter journeys and charging the batteries regularly for around £1 each time (off-peak rates). You also get about 30 miles of electric-only range.

On a longer 300-mile round trip after the batteries had drained, we averaged 40mpg. The clever e-Save mode will help you maintain the battery at 25%, 50% or 100% (or use the engine to charge it up) if you want some juice left when you get where you’re going.

Plug-in hybrid models do have a smaller 40-litre tank (compared with 52 litres in the petrol), so you might need to fuel up more frequently if you’re running on an empty battery.

Reliability

Part of Peugeot’s success in recent years has been the way it shares platforms with other brands.

This means resources are pooled into better mechanicals, and Peugeot has been able to focus on making its cars feel more premium.

The 408 is a fairly new model for Peugeot, but under the guidance of Stellantis (its parent company), reliability has been good so far.

Insurance groups

The petrol-powered model sits around the group 20 mark, depending on the spec. Plug-in hybrids are around group 30 because they have more power.

It’s about what you’d expect from cars in this category, but lower than luxury models like an Audi A5 Sportback or BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé.