“The Peugeot 408 has even more space and style than the 308 hatchback, although it’s quite a bit more expensive”

Pros

  • Efficient
  • Striking looks
  • Decent handling

Cons

  • Sluggish powertrains
  • Awkward seating position
  • Top models are expensive

Some questions are hard to answer, such as: does pineapple belong on pizza? Is Die Hard a Christmas movie? And is the new Peugeot 408 a hatchback, a saloon or an SUV?

Whatever it is, Peugeot’s latest addition to its lineup has finally arrived and has been dubbed by the French brand as a ‘C-segment fastback’, designed to rival the likes of the Citroen C5 X (which it shares parts with) and the more SUV-like Renault Arkana.

Underneath the 408’s undeniably stylish exterior lies the same underpinnings used in the smaller Peugeot 308 family hatchback, as well as the new Vauxhall Astra. While the new car will only be offered with petrol and plug-in hybrid powertrains from launch, an all-electric e-408 is likely to be in the pipeline.

Equally as stylish as the 408’s exterior is its interior; like all modern Peugeots, the overall design looks like something out of a concept car and material quality is strong across the board. Every version of the 408 gets the French brand’s i-Cockpit infotainment system which consists of two central touchscreens as well as a 3D digital instrument cluster.

While far from a performance car, the Peugeot 408 handles just as well as its sibling, the 308, out on the road. The steering feels sharp – no doubt due to the car’s tiny steering wheel – and the suspension does well in soaking up bumps. The only drawback is that none of the powertrains on offer provide all that much power; a Cupra Leon is a better bet if you’re after a fast and sporty family car.

android, peugeot 408 hatchback review

Aside from choosing your car’s colour and powertrain, the only other significant choice for buyers is picking one of the 408’s three distinct trim levels: Allure, Allure Premium, GT and the limited-run First Edition. Peugeot predicts the GT will be the biggest seller in the UK, but even the entry-level Allure comes with lots of standard kit including LED headlights, 17-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, a reversing camera and the aforementioned i-Cockpit infotainment system.

The regular 308 is already so stylish it begs the question why anyone would need to step up to its new bigger and more-expensive brother. However, the 408 is quick to make a case for itself with its higher driving position and larger 536-litre boot. While we expect the petrol model will feel underpowered, the 408’s plug-in hybrid powertrains are sure to appeal to private and company car drivers alike.

MPG, running costs & CO2

Fuel-sipping petrol and plug-in hybrid powertrains mean the 408 should be inexpensive to run

Despite looking like a mix between a 4×4 and a family hatchback, the Peugeot 408 leans more towards the latter when it comes to running costs. Buyers have the choice of one of three different powertrains: one being a fuel-sipping petrol, and the others a pair of company car tax-busting plug-in hybrids.

Thanks in part to its small size, the PureTech 1.2-litre petrol engine will return up to a frugal 48.1mpg on the combined WLTP test cycle. This is slightly less than the equivalent 308 with the same engine equipped, though it’s to be expected given the 408 is a slightly larger car. With CO2 emissions of up to 156g/km, the petrol 408 will be of little interest to company car drivers though, given its 36% Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax rating.

android, peugeot 408 hatchback review

Instead, business users should look at one of the two plug-in hybrids on offer. Our pick would be the entry-level 180 model as this offers up to 40 miles of pure electric range, meaning it slots into the low 8% BiK bracket. The more-powerful 225 PHEV can only do 39 miles on a charge, meaning it’ll be slightly more expensive to run with its 12% BiK rating.

Regardless of which PHEV you choose, both will be able to return over 200mpg – provided you keep the battery charged up – and can charge at a rate of 3.7kW as standard – a faster 7.4kW on-board charger is available as an option.

Engines, drive & performance

The 408 feels more than capable out on the road, though we suspect the entry-level petrol will feel underpowered

The Peugeot 408 shares many of its parts with the Citroen C5 X and while that car has been set up primarily for comfort, Peugeot claims its offering has been tuned to appeal to “those who love driving”. So has it worked?

Yes and no. While the 408 is certainly good to drive, it doesn’t offer the same thrills as, say, a Cupra Formentor. Just like in the 308, the steering feels sharp and body roll is kept to a minimum. Even on PHEV models with heavy battery packs, the 408 never feels overly heavy, although it also doesn’t feel nimble enough to give the confidence to fully attack a twisty B-road.

android, peugeot 408 hatchback review

This is no thanks in part to the relatively underpowered powertrains on offer. Nowhere will this lack of grunt be more apparent than the entry-level petrol car. This model utilises a 1.2-litre PureTech three-cylinder engine that produces 128bhp. While we haven’t driven a petrol 408 yet, we have driven the lighter 308 with the same powertrain, and that never felt exactly sprightly. The numbers don’t exactly do the petrol 408 a favour either; 0-62mph takes an unimpressive 10.4 seconds, meaning this variant will be best-suited for driving around town and lower speeds.

The plug-in hybrid models both utilise 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engines, paired with an electric motor to produce 178bhp and 222bhp respectively. The 178bhp PHEV ‘180’ gets from 0-62mph in 8.1 seconds; while the 222bhp ‘225’ model seems much faster on paper, in reality, it's only 0.3 seconds quicker to 62mph than its lesser sibling.

android, peugeot 408 hatchback review

Thankfully, the instant torque from the electric motors means both PHEV cars feel punchier than those figures may suggest. All 408 models – petrol and hybrid – come with an eight-speed automatic gearbox which, unfortunately, can be slow to respond at times.

Interior & comfort

The 408’s interior is certainly striking, but Peugeot’s i-Cockpit may prove a dealbreaker for some

Peugeot has been making some of the best-looking mainstream cars of the last few years and this also goes for the brand’s interiors. The 408’s cabin doesn’t only look stylish, it’s plush and comfortable, too. There are plenty of soft-touch plastics around and the car’s supple suspension means covering long distances should be a breeze.

Like all modern Peugeot cars, the 408 gets the marque’s unique i-Cockpit infotainment setup. The centre screen – measuring 10 inches in diameter – is quick to respond to your inputs and is supplemented by a smaller touchscreen mounted below, which acts as a set of shortcut buttons. One annoyance is that instead of physical knobs or switches, Peugeot has integrated the climate controls into the screens, meaning they can be fiddly to operate when on the move. On a lighter note, all cars come with sat-nav, as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

android, peugeot 408 hatchback review

However, it’s the digital instrument cluster and seating position that will prove to be the most controversial. Peugeot’s i-Cockpit has been designed to position the steering wheel below the dials, rather than having you look through the gap in the spokes. This means that you’ll be sitting with the steering wheel much lower than you normally would so as not to conceal the readouts, and taller drivers may find this uncomfortable. Thankfully, the 3D effect on the instruments themselves is somewhat of a consolation.

There are three main trim levels to choose from – Allure, Allure Premium and GT – as well as the limited-run and full-loaded First Edition. Entry-level Allure cars come with plenty of standard kit including LED headlights, 17-inch alloy wheels, part-leatherette upholstery, sat-nav dual-zone climate control, automatic high beams and a reversing camera.

android, peugeot 408 hatchback review

Stepping up to the Allure Premium costs roughly £1,000 and this includes larger 19-inch diamond-cut alloys, gloss black exterior detailing, keyless entry and a host of extra safety equipment. Finally, the range-topping GT boasts Matrix LED headlights, full-LED taillights, leather and Alcanatra upholstery, a heated leather steering wheel and a powered bootlid.

Practicality & boot space

Despite a sloping roofline, the Peugeot 408 has a decent-size boot

The Peugeot 408 is around 300mm longer than the 308 hatchback and this comes as a great benefit to passenger and boot space. Unlike the 308 which has a cramped set of rear seats, the 408’s longer wheelbase (the distance between the front and rear wheels) means taller rear passengers can stretch out more. However, the 408’s sloping roofline may come as an annoyance instead – though not as much as we’d expected from such a vehicle.

android, peugeot 408 hatchback review

The biggest impact of this increase in size is definitely found in the boot; petrol 408s offer 536 litres of cargo space in the rear, which shrinks to a still-impressive 471 litres on plug-in hybrid models. This is roughly the same as what you’d find in a Renault Arkana, plus you can fold the rear seats down to increase the load area to a cavernous 1,611/1,545 litres of room.

Reliability & safety

The 408 should be reliable, though the 308 could only manage a four-star safety score

Given the 408 only debuted in late 2022, it’s too new to have featured in our Driver Power customer satisfaction survey. However, Peugeot as a brand placed an impressive fourth out of 29 manufacturers, with around 18% of owners reporting an issue within the first year of ownership.

android, peugeot 408 hatchback review

The 408 is yet to undergo safety testing by Euro NCAP either, however, its smaller sibling, the 308, could only muster a four-star rating out of five. Given they share most of their parts, we can expect the same for the 408 – it’s important to remember that this doesn’t mean either of these cars are unsafe, it’s just an example of how stringent Euro NCAP’s tests are becoming.

All 408 models benefit from autonomous emergency braking, adaptive high beams and traffic sign recognition. Higher-spec cars get more safety kit which includes blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist.

Keyword: Peugeot 408 hatchback review

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