This is the new Peugeot 408, a car that on paper is halfway between the 308 and 508 sedans, but which presents us with a very different bet, since, although halfway in length with those two, the 408 offers a very unique aesthetic, with a raised body and very SUV wheel arches, but also with classic sedan lines, at least in the Peugeot world, which we already know have a high stake in terms of design.
Its forceful front headed by the new logo of the brand and the identifying numbers of the model and the LED type lights, which do not forget the classic “fang” design common in Peugeot products, give way to a relatively low side, with a fairly flat roof that ends at the rear in a coupe style and a generous black bumper that again brings us closer to the crossover concept.
Undoubtedly, a very daring aesthetic bet that will surely have more lovers than detractors, but in reality what the brand wants to offer us is a generous car with good habitability.
They are 4.69 meters long with a wheelbase of 2.79 meters, together with a width of 1.85 meters, which translates into a very spacious interior with front seats with large armchairs and a traced tablier design. that of the 308. This means that it maintains the same geometric shapes of its controls, the central screen facing the driver, the buttons for direct access to the menus or the front with the classic i-Cockpit design, with the flattened steering wheel and the Fully digital 3D clock panel displayed above the steering wheel. Something that likes a lot or convinces little.
Be that as it may, its finishes are of high quality as a car with a premium philosophy to which it aspires, although in general it can vary between the three available finishes Allure, Allure Pack and GT, generally from the most basic it comes with a wide range, such as You can see it in the attached pictures.
In the rear seats we see a fairly generous access, better than the 508 itself, and once inside we will enjoy a remarkable width and distance for the legs, a surprising value, not so the ceiling height that is somewhat conditioned.
For its part, the trunk varies from 536 liters of the gasoline versions to 476 liters of the plug-in hybrid versions. A cargo space that is not excessively large, but very functional due to the wide access, the tray that is removed with the gate itself and the lever-folding system that allows its capacity to be increased to 1,600 liters.
The 408 is available with gasoline and plug-in hybrid engines, but in reality the brand only offers us a single and fair gasoline engine, the 1.2 three-cylinder and 130 hp and two plug-in hybrid versions, the same as the 308, that is, a PHEV of 180 CV and another with 225 CV.
These two hybrids are identical in terms of their small 12.6 kWh battery and their 100 CV electric drive and only the power of their common 1.6 gasoline engine changes between them, but one of 150 CV and another of 180 CV.
The e-EAT8 eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive are also common throughout the range, because the 408 range, despite its crossover aesthetics, will not come with all-wheel drive in any case.
The 408 PHEV’s charging system is also shared, proposing a charging port of up to 7.4 kW of alternate charging that would allow the battery to be completed in just under an hour and three-quarters. Fast charging is not available for this model.
As for the 225 CV PHEV engine, it is clear that it is one of the most successful for this 408. Well, it is capable of offering a very balanced operation, with a relaxed response, but also with sufficient performance potential when more is required. reactivity.
The change is also very much in line, offering remarkable response quality and relatively fast if required, although its sequential paddle shift mode is not very obedient in these situations.
Added to this are the three operating modes, Hybrid, which is the one that automates management and works by default, Electric mode, designed to make the most of battery charges on short journeys, and Sport mode, which, unlike the other two, forces the use of the gasoline engine with the constant support of the electric one.
In terms of consumption, the fully charged battery gives a theoretical autonomy of 63 km, so, in that margin and taking advantage of the Electric mode, that official consumption of 1.2 l/100 km is achieved. Once that battery is consumed and already in Hybrid or Sport mode, the cost rises between 5 liters in very careful use and 6 and 8 liters in mixed use.
At the frame level, it must be recognized that this 408 follows the same line as the rest of the brand’s products, with a very balanced suspension at the level of comfort, but without giving up extra effectiveness. The suspension is in all cases mechanical and without the possibility of adapting to the driving modes, but it is capable of keeping the car quite firm in the face of determined driving, with good poise and very precise steering, although too assisted in some situations.
As we have already said, this model offers Allure, Allure Pack and GT with these three finishes and with this it is offered in a range of prices ranging from 33,500 euros and 47,000 euros and although the GT model is extended with driving aids level 2 semi-autonomous, from the most basic finish the safety, comfort and functional endowment is first class. Undoubtedly, a clear commitment to Peugeot’s commitment to this medium segment.
