Peugeot 408 review

The Peugeot 408 is a bit like a fusion dish that blends familiar ingredients together to form something unique. At first glance, it has the sleek proportions of a saloon, but a closer inspection reveals an SUV-like ride height and a coupé-inspired silhouette.

It’s an unusual combination, but given the popularity of SUVs, Peugeot’s recipe makes more sense than you might think. There’s no denying the 408 stands out, either; especially alongside executive car rivals such as the Audi A5, BMW 3 Series and Skoda Superb.

Peugeot 408 video review

Much like its styling, the 408’s engine options are designed to appeal to a wide range of buyers. You can choose from mild-hybrid or plug-in hybrid (PHEV) power, while those looking for an electric car can opt for the Peugeot e-408.

So, has Peugeot found the perfect blend with the 408, or does trying to combine so many ingredients leave it lacking in certain areas? We’ve assessed its performance, interior quality, practicality and running costs to find out.

What’s new?

- April 2026: We drive the updated Peugeot 408 in Marseille, France
- January 2026: Updated Peugeot 408 announced, featuring revised styling and a more powerful plug-in hybrid (PHEV) option with an improved 53-mile official EV range
- April 2024: Hybrid 136 option added to range, featuring a 1.2-litre petrol engine and 28bhp electric motor
- February 2023: First customer deliveries take place in the UK
- June 2022: Peugeot 408 first revealed

How fast is it and which motor is best?

The entry-level engine in the Peugeot 408 is the Hybrid 145, which consists of a 1.2-litre petrol engine and a small electric motor that combine to produce 143bhp. As a mild hybrid (MHEV), the motor mainly bolsters efficiency and performance, though it can power the car alone briefly at low speeds.

The system works well, pulling the car along effortlessly, with 0-62mph taking 10.2sec. While that’s slower than the Audi A5 TFSI 150 (9.8sec), BMW 3 Series 320i (7.4sec) and Skoda Superb 1.5 TSI e-TEC (9.2sec) on paper, it doesn’t feel as slow as the time suggests in real-world driving.

The Plug-in Hybrid 240 pairs a 1.6-litre petrol engine with an electric motor for a combined 237bhp. It manages 0-62mph in 7.5sec. Again, that’s slower than the A5 e-Hybrid and 3 Series 330e (both 5.9sec), but it’s still suitably quick. All 408s have an automatic gearbox.

Is it agile and is the ride comfortable?

The 408 is reasonably agile for a big executive car. Despite its elevated ride height, it stays composed in corners with plenty of grip. Of the two variants, the PHEV exhibits a bit more body lean than the mild hybrid because of the added weight of its battery.

Peugeot’s distinctive small steering wheel adds a sporty character to the driving experience in the 408. The steering itself has a weighty feel to it, but it isn’t as direct as the setup in the 3 Series.

Ride comfort is generally strong. While the 408 isn’t quite as supple as the A5 or Superb – particularly in heavier PHEV form – it handles small road imperfections well enough. Larger bumps can cause a noticeable thud at low speeds, but the car settles down on faster roads. On the motorway, it feels especially comfortable and composed, with good body control over undulating roads.

Is it quiet and is it easy to drive smoothly?

The 408 is impressively quiet, with very little wind or road noise at motorway speeds. The PHEV produces a faint motor whine when running in electric mode around town, though.

At low speeds, the mild hybrid is easier to drive smoothly. By contrast, the PHEV’s accelerator can feel a little sensitive in electric mode, although it becomes more natural as speed builds. Its brake pedal is also slightly more abrupt, whereas the mild hybrid offers a more progressive feel.

The mild hybrid has a six-speed automatic gearbox, while the PHEV uses a seven-speed unit. Both are smooth and responsive, but there’s a noticeable delay for the engine and gearbox to wake up when accelerating hard out of electric mode in the PHEV.

What’s the range and efficiency like and how quickly can it charge?

The 408 Plug-in Hybrid 240 has a 14.6kWh (usable capacity) battery that delivers an official range of 50 miles. That’s fairly modest by today’s standards, especially when compared with rivals like the A5 e-Hybrid (67 miles) and 3 Series 330e (62 miles). While the Superb hatchback isn’t currently available as a PHEV, the Skoda Superb Estate iV stands out with an impressive official electric range of up to 85 miles.

The Plug-in Hybrid 240 has a maximum charging rate of 3.7kW, but as an option (or with the top-spec GT Premium trim), 7.4kW charging is available. With a 7kW wallbox home charger, the standard version can do a 0-100% charge in 4hr20min. The upgraded 7.4kW version cuts the time down to 2hr5min. 

“As someone who does a lot of motorway driving, I liked that the 408 felt planted at speed yet remained comfortable.” – Oliver Young, Reviewer

What does the interior look like and is it well made?

The Peugeot 408 has a similar interior set-up to other Peugeot car models, meaning it features a high-set digital driver's display that you’re supposed to look at over the small steering wheel, instead of through it. Depending on your driving position and stature, some people will find the wheel obstructs their view of the display. It's worth testing this out in person to find out if it suits you.

Interior quality is good in the 408. There’s a pleasing mix of materials on offer, with most plastics being pleasingly squidgy. It feels slightly more expensive than the Skoda Superb inside, but it can’t match the 3 Series or A5 for overall plushness and solidity.

Is the driving position comfortable and is it easy to see out?

The 408's driving position is higher than in most executive cars, including the Audi A5, BMW 3 Series and Superb. You can adjust the seat height to a degree, while manual lumbar support adjustment for the driver is standard with all trims.

Your view out of the 408's front window is decent, so you won’t struggle when pulling out at junctions, but rear visibility isn’t quite as good due to large rear pillars blocking the view over your shoulder. Fortunately, every 408 has rear parking sensors and a reversing camera, while GT trim adds front parking sensors. A 360-degree camera is standard on the range-topping GT Premium trim.

Is the dashboard and infotainment system easy to use?

The dashboard is a mixed bag for usability. While there’s a row of physical shortcut buttons below the touchscreen, most functions – including the climate controls – are operated via the infotainment system. That’s similar to the A5 and 3 Series, but the Superb has physical dials and buttons for the climate controls that are much easier to use on the move.

All 408s have a 10.0in touchscreen and a touch-sensitive panel below it offering customisable shortcut buttons to hop between menus. The infotainment system is a little clunky, with a rather confusing lay-out consisting of small icons that can be tricky to aim for. Fortunately, you get Android Auto and Apple CarPlay so you can bypass the built-in software, but the standard systems in the A5, 3 Series and Superb are faster and more intuitive overall. 

“Apart from having to position the steering wheel a little lower than I would usually, I get on well with the i-Cockpit lay-out in the 408 and other Peugeots.” – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

How much space does it have for people?

The Peugeot 408 has a good amount of space in the front, with plenty of head, leg and shoulder room. The seats move a long way back on their sliders, too.

In the back, six-footers will find head room a bit tight, but there's plenty of leg room on offer. It’s comparable with the Audi A5 and BMW 3 Series for space in the back, but the Skoda Superb is better for carrying tall passengers. 

How much room does it have for luggage?

There’s lots of storage space in the front of the 408, including a large central cubby, two cupholders and big door bins. In the back seats, there are two cupholders and a small tray in the fold-down centre armrest, along with storage nets on the back of the front seats. The door bins in the rear are big enough for a drinks bottle, too.

The boot size depends on the engine you choose. The Hybrid 145 has the biggest boot in the line-up, with 536 litres of space. That’s pretty good, being larger than the A5 (445 litres) and 3 Series (480 litres), but smaller than the Superb (645 litres).

The Plug-in Hybrid 240 has less room, with 471 litres of space, because of the hybrid battery under the boot floor. Even so, that’s better than the A5 e-Hybrid (331 litres) and 3 Series 330e (375 litres). As mentioned previously, the Superb hatchback is currently not available as a PHEV. 

The boot itself is reasonably practical, with hooks and elastic straps to hold a couple of items in place. The hatchback opening is large and wide, too, which makes loading easier than the saloon opening in the 3 Series. What’s more, both mid-spec GT and range-topping GT Premium come with a powered tailgate.

As for seat flexibility, the rear seats fold in a 60/40 split, while a useful ski hatch provides some extra practicality. That gives it a slight advantage over the Superb, which has a 60/40 split but no ski hatch. Both the A5 and 3 Series have a more versatile 40/20/40 folding arrangement, though. 

“While leg and head room are a bit imbalanced in the back of the 408, I didn’t feel cramped at all.” – Oliver Young, Reviewer

How much does it cost and what equipment do you get?

As a cash purchase, the Peugeot 408 is considerably cheaper to buy than the Skoda Superb, let alone premium rivals such as the Audi A5 and BMW 3 Series. It’s even cheaper than the smaller BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé, but it’s similar in price to the Audi A3 Saloon.

The 408 Hybrid 145 is our pick of the range for private buyers. It’s considerably cheaper than the Plug-In Hybrid 240, which is more expensive than the fully electric Peugeot e-408.

For company car drivers, we’d recommend looking at the e-408. It sits in a lower benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax bracket than both the Hybrid 145 and Plug-In Hybrid 240, making it the cheaper choice. If a PHEV company car is a must, look at cars with an official electric-only range of more than 70 miles (such as the Skoda Superb Estate), because these sit in a lower tax bracket than the Plug-In Hybrid 240.

The Hybrid 145 is impressively efficient on paper. It can officially average 56.5mpg, which is similar to the Superb e-TEC but much better than the A5 TFSI 150 and 3 Series 320i. Official figures say the Plug-in Hybrid 240 can manage up to 108.7mpg, but you’ll need to keep the battery fully charged if you want to get anywhere near that.

The 408 can be specified in three trim levels: Allure, GT and GT Premium. Entry-level Allure comes reasonably well equipped, offering 19in alloy wheels, keyless entry and start, dual-zone climate control, tinted rear windows, electrically folding door mirrors, rear parking sensors and a reversing camera. It’s our recommended trim because it makes the most of the 408’s keen pricing.

Mid-spec GT comes with some useful extras, including Matrix LED headlights (that automatically dip the full beam for oncoming cars) and a powered tailgate. It also adds an illuminated grille, a perforated leather steering wheel, aluminium pedals and various GT badges.

GT Premium is the range-topping trim. It adds 20in alloys, a wireless phone charger, a heated steering wheel and a 360-degree reversing camera, but it’s too expensive to recommend. 

Is it reliable and how long is the warranty?

Peugeot finished in joint 11th place with Dacia out of 30 brands in the 2025 What Car? Reliability Survey. That's below BMW (sixth) and Tesla (seventh), but above Audi (22nd), Skoda (16th) and Volkswagen (24th).

In the executive car category, the 408 finished in a middling 13th place out of 23 contenders, with a score of 91%. That places it above the Mercedes C-Class and 2015-2024 Skoda Superb petrol, but below the 3 Series, BMW 5 Series and 2015-2024 Superb diesel.

The 408 comes with a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty. That’s pretty standard for the class, being similar to the cover from Audi, Skoda and Volkswagen, but BMW and Mercedes offer three-year, unlimited mileage warranties. The battery pack in the PHEV is covered for up to eight years or 100,000 miles.

Is it safe and is it easy to steal?

Despite coming with lots of standard safety equipment, including automatic emergency braking (AEB) and lane-departure warning, the 408 achieved a four-star rating when it was crash-tested by safety experts Euro NCAP in 2022. Several family SUVs, including the BMW X1, Land Rover Discovery Sport and Lexus NX, achieved the full five stars in the same year.

“I found the legally-mandated driver attention monitoring system to be well calibrated in the 408. It didn’t intervene once on my test drive.” – George Hill, Used Cars Writer

Buy it if…

- You want a comfortable and quiet motorway cruiser

- You need a big boot

- You value a plush interior

Don’t buy it if…

- You need a car with good rear head room

- You like slick, modern in-car tech

- You’re after a PHEV with a long electric-only range

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