Peugeot 408 review: what the car critics say
Peugeot has come up with something different with this chic crossover SUV

Peugeot deserves praise for coming up with something different with this chic hatchback/coupé/crossover SUV, said Top Gear. The 408 is available as a 1.2l, 3-cylinder petrol version, or there are two hybrids giving a total of 178bhp or 222bhp. The 12.4kWh battery officially offers 40 miles of electric range, and all models have eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. An all-electric version is in the pipeline.
A stylish and capable family car, the 408 isn’t quite as sporty as its bold looks might suggest, said Auto Express. The steering is light and devoid of feedback. The petrol model has good road hold and an impressively smooth ride at cruising speeds, but the suspension isn’t great. The PHEV models are 300kg heavier, and thus bouncier at slower speeds, with more body roll. Overall, though, it’s a pleasant car to drive.
The 408 feels upmarket inside, with swathes of upholstery and ambient lighting, said The Daily Telegraph. It’s roomier than expected, and at 536 litres, the boot is generous. The main screen has smart graphics, but is still fiddly, with no separate panel for climate control. There are good shortcut buttons on a screen below though. With the i-Cockpit setup, drivers have to peer over the small steering wheel to see the digital instrument cluster. Price: from £31,075.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In pictures: Peugeot 408
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - March 23, 2025
Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - alphabet censorship, American de-education, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 unlawfully funny cartoons about the Executive vs the Judiciary
Cartoons Artists take on halting deportations, attacking judges, and more
By The Week US Published
-
What is the the Mar-a-Lago accord?
Talking Point A Maga economic blueprint proposes upending the global financial system. Could it fly?
By The Week UK Published
-
6 spacious homes in lofts
Feature Featuring a Landmarks Conservancy award-winning apartment in New York City and a helicopter-workshop-turned-home in Washington, D.C.
By The Week US Published
-
Properties of the week: little gems
The Week Recommends Featuring homes in Kent, Cornwall and Fife
By The Week UK Published
-
Opus: 'charismatic' Ayo Edebiri can't rescue 'empty' cult horror
Talking Point Celebrity satire follows a 'well trodden' plot and struggles to find its voice
By The Week UK Published
-
Turner: In Light and Shade – an 'enlightening' exhibition
The Week Recommends 'Superb' collection of the celebrated artist's works on paper are on display at the Whitworth
By The Week UK Published
-
Anne Sebba shares her favourite books about women in war
The Week Recommends The journalist picks works by Caroline Moorehead, Sarah Helm and Kristin Hannah
By The Week UK Published
-
Critics’ choice: Fine dining worth stepping up to
Feature Celebrity chefs share a kitchen, a ‘spa-like’ lounge, and more
By The Week US Published
-
The Age of Diagnosis: Suzanne O'Sullivan's 'immensely persuasive' read
The Week Recommends Rather than 'getting sicker', we may be 'atrributing more to sickness'
By The Week UK Published
-
Clueless: 'irresistible' musical is a lot of fun
The Week Recommends 'Charming' stage adaptation of the hit film features 'infuriatingly catchy' songs by KT Tunstall
By The Week UK Published