Peugeot 408 2026

In a sea of SUV’s, Peugeot & a few others are still making cars that are actually exciting to look at & no more so than the Peugeot 408. It’s a car we’ve always liked & mid-life refresh & improved PHEV & EV versions now offer company car drivers even more reasons to consider one. We drove the range in sunny Marseille & here’s how we got on.

Exterior tweaks such as a new front grille, 3D Claw light signature, illuminated Peugeot logo, 19” diamond cut alloys, 3D claw lights & illuminated red PEUGEOT lettering across the rear light connector strip all subtly enhance the cars Fastback profile.

Inside, the 408 has been updated with a new digital instrument display & seat fabrics on Allure & GT & now offers Alcantara upholstery on GT Premium, with the introduction of a driver vigilance camera as standard across the range. It’s all tastefully implemented.

Whilst we did hit the road in the Hybrid model, it’s the updated PHEV & EV models that offer company car driver the most attractive proposition.

The latest version utilises a 1.6L petrol engine combined with a 92kW electric motor offering a 240hp combined power output. A 7-speed auto electrified gearbox (e-DSC7) features with a 16.2kWh battery enabling 50 miles of zero emission driving, up from 40 miles on the previous model.

This version is powered by a usable 58kWh battery offering 210hp & 343 Nm of torque & achieves up to 283 miles of electric range. In addition, three levels of regenerative braking are available via the steering wheel mounted paddles.

Entry level Allure includes plenty of goodies. Keyless entry, adaptive cruise control, rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, dual zone climate control, Peugeot I-Connect, wireless Mirror Screen, DAB, 4 USB’s & on the plug-in model, a 3.7kW on board charger with the EV coming with an 11kW on board charger & V2L connectivity.

GT adds matrix LED headlights, an illuminated front grille & PEUGEOT emblem, sequential scrolling front indicators, laminated front windows, Connected SatNav, a grained leather steering wheel, aluminium door sills, an electric tailgate, front parking sensors, Lane Position Assist, Smart Multi-drive & a colour themed Driver Sport Pack.

GT-Line increases this with 20” alloys, Alcantara upholstery, 3-stage heated front seats, 8-programme multi point massage front seats, multi electrically adjustable front seats, a smart electric tailgate, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, a heated steering wheel & on the PHEV a 7.4kW on board charger & on the EV a heat pump.

Hybrid £31,995

PHEV £39,495

Electric £34,195 ( £32,695 after ECG of £1500 )

Peugeot are m=now veery good at making their interiors more premium & the 408 continues that trend. The dashboard top, front & the door panels are all nicely finished with some good soft touch plastics used. The seats are a mix of leather effect with tri-material Alcantara & come in our test car GT spec with plenty of adjustment.

Infotainment & 

Again, Peugeot are getting this right too. There’s a 10″ infotainment display as standard across the range & it comes with crisp, clear graphics with programmable buttons beneath it, which let you create shortcuts to your most-used screens. Apple Car Play & Android Auto can be accessed via your Smartphone & there’s a wireless charger that will take even the largest sized iPhone. The i-Connect function means that you can utilise voice control as a short-cut to functions simply by saying ‘OK PEUGEOT’ followed by your command. We also like to virtual i-Toggles allowing short-cuts as well.

The front seats are comfortable as well as multi-adjustable. Storage comes in the form of a bin under the armrest with a split top, so the driver can acres the storage without disturbing the passengers arm, a small cubby with the twin USB & 12v socket within, a wireless charger & twin cup holders. Front door pockets are generous & the glove box is slim. The only issue in the front is the Peugeot iCockpit steering wheel. Small it maybe which we like, but it can block the drivers eyeline from reading the speedo, especially an issue for taller drivers.

In the rear, legroom is excellent, but the sloping roof may challenge taller passengers. The 408 is also quite narrow so elbow to elbow seating is likely with three in the rear. You also get roomy door bins, a central armrest with two cup holders & a load-through chute for longer items. There’s also 4 USB’s on board, two up front & two in the rear.

This version arguably hits the sweet spot for company car drivers coming with CO2 emissions of between 52-69g/km & a combined economy of 93-123mpg. Top speed is 145mph & it comes with a 0-62mph time of 7.5 seconds. The Electric model has lower top peed speed of 99mph & a 0-62mph time of 7.6 seconds. Driving range is 283 miles.

We drove all three versions but our findings are based on the PHEV & Electric models as these are both company car friendly. A cross-country route through Provence & up & around Aix then back to Marseille illustrated just how nice both are to drive.

Pull away in Electric mode & the 408 is quiet as a mouse. When the Hybrid mode kicks in there’s just a quiet rumble as the system switches across. When you’re in Hybrid, you can drive in Normal or Sport modes & can utilise the ‘B’ regeneration mode too, which increases regenerative braking. This slows you down without the need to use your brakes in certain situations, although coming to a full stop does require the brake pedal. As with other Stellantis PHEV’s the 408 Plug-In Hybrid has an ‘e-Save’ function allowing for 6 miles, 12 miles or maximum save model a useful function.

The sleek profile of the 408 does mean that rear visibility isn’t great & you’ll be taking advantage of the cars built in rear view camera. If you’re up for little fun, you can select Sport mode & the engine stays on for longer between the gear changes, making the 408 feel more responsive & driver friendly.

Better tarmac such as when on the motorway really highlights just how smooth & comfortable the electric version is. Peugeot’s built in Adaptive Cruise Control, part of the Driver Assist Pack, works extremely well & takes the headache out motorway trips, with the simple Apple CarPlay connectivity & easily accessible wireless phone charger. On some quieter roads we tried out the brake regeneration & all three levels add just a bit more pull to the feel of the car but the highest setting is not one-pedal.

We’d say that with it’s smaller battery & lower profile, it’s a nicer electric car to drive than Peugeots e-3008 & e-5008, but of course falls as much as 150 miles shy of both’s largest battery ranges, which is the e-408’s only real issue.

What’s most attractive about the EV though is it’s price. In the revised 408 model range, the EV is only £1500 more than the mild-hybrid petrol & is £4500 cheaper than the plug-in hybrid.

Updates have made the 408 sleeker & even better to look at. A higher plug-in electric range of 50 miles is also good news. The EV is incredibly generously priced. On of the best looking cars you can get.

The Electrics driving range may not be high enough for some. The plug-in is expensive. Smaller boot in PHEV & EV too.

The 408 is still an extremely attractive looking car & is one that offers something just that little bit different to a boxy SUV. With just 8% BIK the plug-in ticks the company car box & has a combine driving range of almost 500 miles.

But, don’t sleep on the Electric 408. Despite a relatively average driving range of 283 miles, it’s 58kWh battery is small enough to make this Peugeot far more enjoyable to drive than Peugeot’s electric SUV’s as well as those from China & Korea. It’s also gorgeous to look at especially in Flare Green metallic. If you don’t need a heavy, long-range EV, the lighter, sprightlier 408 electric is well worth your time.