Test Car Specifications
Model: 2023 Peugeot 408 GT Plug-In Hybrid 225 e-EAT8
Price: 408 from £31,050
Engine: 1.6-litre petrol with 81kW electric motor
Transmission: eight-speed automatic, front-wheel drive
Battery: 12.4kWh lithium-ion
Range: 39 miles
Power: 225hp
Torque: 360Nm
Emissions: 24-30g/km
Economy: 211.3-269.5mpg
0-62mph: 7.8 seconds
Top speed: 145mph
Boot space: 454 litres
Styling
The Peugeot styling team has been knocking out belters for years, now, and this 408 is another for the growing album of greatest hits. With the swooping roofline and the silkily styled front end, it's definitely a good-looking car. From the rear, it's perhaps a little less attractive, with its chunky plastic bumper and those 'cat's ears' over the rear window, but it's still a pretty cohesive development of the 508 design language. And as this car is all about desirability, that should stand it in good stead.
Interior
For the most part, the 408's cabin is stolen directly from the smaller 308 hatchback. The two cars have essentially identical dashboards, with the same widescreen infotainment system and the 3D digital instrument cluster perched above the small steering wheel. As with the 308, the infotainment system isn't all that brilliant, but it is aided by a clever touchscreen that's tacked on beneath it, offering customers a customisable shortcut bar for easy access to commonly used features. The real advantage of the 308-based interior, though, is the quality, which is easily up there with that of Seat and Ford, as well as Volkswagen and Renault. Some of the plastics look worse than they feel, which is a shame, but it's all pretty robust and family-friendly.
Practicality
On the face of it, the 408 looks as though it should be fairly practical. The boot is slightly larger than that of a 308 hatchback and the whole car is considerably larger in terms of the space it takes up on the road. But the sloping roofline that makes it look so dramatic has played havoc with the interior space. Rear legroom is excellent, but headroom is limited and that reduces its usefulness when carrying four adults. That said, it should still cope with two or three children in the back.
Performance
Like the Citroen C5 X with which it shares a platform, the 408 comes with a choice of three powertrains. There's a basic 1.2-litre petrol engine with 130hp, or you can have a 1.6-litre plug-in hybrid with 180 or 225hp. It's the latter we tested, with 225hp and an all-electric range of 39 miles on a single charge. As a result, it's capable of well over 200mpg on the official economy test, but you'll need very specific circumstances to achieve that. Keep journeys short and the battery topped up, and you might get somewhere near, but otherwise you'll be looking at perhaps 50mpg on a long run. And although it's quiet in electric mode, or when the engine is idling, it makes quite a racket when you put your foot down.
Ride & Handling
Unsurprisingly, Peugeot has centred the 408 around comfort, rather than handling, but we're not convinced it fills the brief. Yes, the ride is mature and soft, but the way the car seems to sag into potholes leaves us concerned that it'll struggle when we get it on the UK's notoriously terrible roads. It certainly won't feel especially sporty, and although the light steering gives it a little agility in town, it rolls too much to feel confidence-inspiring in corners. And nor will it have much off-road capability, with no all-wheel-drive option available. That rugged rear bumper and raised ride height is very much for show.
Value
Peugeot 408 prices start from just over £31,000, which pays for the basic Allure model. Although it's the cheapest in the range, it still comes with a navigation system and a reversing camera, as well as 17-inch alloy wheels and two-zone climate control. In comparison, a similarly equipped but more practical 308 SW estate costs £1,000 less. Our top-of-the-range GT-spec test car, meanwhile, came with goodies including 19-inch alloys and a heated steering wheel, although prices start at £34,650 for the petrol version and £43,200 for the 225hp hybrid.
Verdict
Unless the styling is up your boulevard, the 408 probably isn't worth choosing over a 308 SW or a 3008 SUV. But if you love the image and the styling, you won't find any nasty surprises hiding beneath the surface. It isn't exciting, but this is an efficient and well built family car.
