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Is the Peugeot 408 a good car?
This is the Peugeot 408, and it’s a bit like one of those half and half pizzas where you can get a different topping on each side when you’re feeling indecisive. You see, while it sort of looks like a big, chunky saloon, at the rear in particular there’s more than a hint of SUV. It's a little bit of this and a little bit of that.
As a result, this is a tricky car to pigeonhole. It’s roomier than the similarly priced Honda Civic, but it’s hard to imagine these two being on the same shortlist. The Skoda Octavia is a bit more practical than the 408, but again, feels like a loose comparison. There are coupe-SUV options such as the Renault Arkana and Cupra Formentor that are perhaps closer, while the Citroen C5 X - with which this car shares much of its make-up - has a similar oddball shape.
It’s hard to judge the Peugeot 408’s aesthetics, too. There’s no denying that there are some cool details, such as the rear end’s integrated spoiler and 3D flashing lights, but the chunky lower bumper doesn’t look so slick. It starts on 17-inch alloy wheels but these would look lost in the arches; our test car’s 19-inch wheels work well, with 20s as big as they go.
Up front, the big grille looks great with its body-coloured inserts, and the headlights and signature fang-like running lights are also pretty stylish. But when you take the car in as a whole it’s not quite so cohesive, with lots of awkward angles fighting against each other.
Inside it’s another story. Peugeot makes some great cabins, but this might just be its best yet, with a smart dashboard design and high-quality, posh materials. It’s definitely better than you’d find in a Volkswagen or even similarly priced Audis.
The infotainment system is another highlight. The menu design is slick and easy to use, with buttons beneath the main screen that can be personalised to the functions you use the most. You also get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. Despite all this good, it’s still annoying that you have to press a button to access the on-screen climate controls instead of just having physical buttons and dials.
" The Peugeot 408’s cabin is fantastic, and more than a match for what you get from more premium brands "
It’s easy to get comfortable in the certified back-friendly seats, but you should definitely try before you buy. Peugeot has cool digital dials with a 3D-effect, but they’re designed to be viewed over the steering wheel instead of through it. Some driving positions mean the top of the rim obscures them.
There’s plenty of space for stuff and things up front thanks to an armrest cubby hole, large cup holders and felt-lined door bins. In the rear there’s loads of legroom and headroom should be fine for all but the tallest passengers. The 408 is quite narrow, though, so fitting three in the back is a squeeze.
Two plug-in hybrid options offer 180hp or 225hp and will appeal to company car drivers because of the low benefit-in-kind rate. Fuel economy will be great if you can keep them charged and drive short distances, but the non-hybrid 1.2-litre petrol is considerably cheaper to buy. We saw 51mpg in mixed driving in the more powerful hybrid, and 36mpg in the petrol.
The 408 looks like it should be a comfortable cruiser, but the suspension is stiffer than you might expect. Around town it handles big bumps and potholes well, but rough roads transmit a rumble through the wheel. It’s smoother at motorway speeds, but road noise is pretty intrusive, which is a shame. We found the petrol to be much more comfortable than the hybrid.
Read More www.carwow.co.uk/peugeot/408#...