Is it a bird? Is it a plane?

And no, before you ask, it’s not Superman either. Although, Clark Kent would have looked rather cool in this family-sized Pug, even though he might have struggled to figure out exactly what sort of car it is. Is it a coupé SUV or a fastback, or is it a new area of the car market which nobody has yet tapped into?

Anyway, in a nutshell, you decide for yourself based on the photos. It’s a bit saloon-ish, slightly coupé-ish in profile but actually a 5-door hatchback. And no, it’s not a rehash of a previous model, it’s brand-new from the ground up.

Modern Peugeots excel in design

It looks rather smart. Peugeot’s designers have certainly made some big forward strides in recent years. However, despite all of the changes, the 408 features some typical Peugeot DNA, meaning it’s comfortable, good to drive and well-equipped.

If you haven’t been in a Peugeot lately, you need to go on a refresher course because the interiors are ultra-smart with a definite premium look and feel. The fascia is hi-tech. Peugeot calls it the i-Cockpit. Opinions are split, but I like it.

Powertrain options and numbers

In terms of power options, you can choose from a full electric, self-charging hybrid or the one you see here which is the model I tried, the plug-in hybrid (PHEV). This starts at £41,500 for entry-level Allure trim or £44,820 for the GT model (Jan ’25). Every 408 variation comes with an auto ‘box linked to the front wheels.

The 408 PHEV is a really good driver’s car. Combining the 1.6-litre petrol engine with the helping hand the car gets from the hybrid electric motor, you’ll manage 0-60mph in 7.8 seconds, with your top speed coming in at 145mph.

If you use the hybrid technology to its full extent, you can travel for up to 34 miles on battery power alone and, if you drive carefully, achieve a staggering 232mpg. Okay, you’re not going to get that, but in the real world, if you go steadily and have a facility to charge the battery at either end of your journey, you could, theoretically, complete a daily 30 mile commute without using any fuel. Emissions in the 222bhp model are low (31g/km) which means the PHEV Peugeot 408 will be great for company drivers.

As for the other two models in the 408 range, there’s the fully electric version, which is priced at only £675 more than the PHEV, or you can go for the ordinary hybrid, a much cheaper option at £34,035 (Jan’25).

Driving modes

Out on the road, the 408 is fun to drive. You can choose from Hybrid, Sport or Electric driving modes. Most of you reading this will use Hybrid drive and let the wizardry take care of everything. The steering is lightly weighted which, when you factor in the small steering wheel, means you can really flick the 408 around on a country lane. The ride is a tad on the firm side for some folk at town speeds, but once you get moving on the quicker stuff, the car handles really well. It feels comfy and refined too.

Show-stopping interior

The interior is a show stopper. It’s uber smart. The first thing you notice is how small the steering wheel is. Think of a medium-sized pizza. This can be bit annoying because if you like a high seating position, the wheel doesn’t lift high enough so that you can see the dials through it. Conversely, if you lower it so that you can peer over the top, you end up with the rim of the wheel very close to your legs. You’re better off driving with a low seating position.

The i-Cockpit is also seriously cool and works well. There are two 10-inch screens, one for the driver and one for the infotainment gubbins.

The Peugeot 408 is roomy and, despite the swoopy roofline, there’s plenty of headroom in the rear. The boot is a decent size too. In other words, it’ll be an ideal car for a family who take a load of clobber with them on holiday.

Trim levels

There are two trim levels - Allure and GT. The equipment levels are good, with even the entry Allure trim housing a sat nav, a reversing camera, a colour touchscreen, LED headlights, a DAB radio, smart alloys and rear parking sensors. There’s not much else you need, although it would be handy if Peugeot provided a rear windscreen wiper. After 100 miles or so of driving on filthy motorways, it gathered a lot of grime.

Is a plug-in Hybrid the option for the long run?

If you are thinking about switching to a fully electric family car but aren’t quite sure whether it’ll suit your lifestyle, this Peugeot 408 Hybrid could be an ideal choice. Yes, it costs around seven grand more than the petrol hybrid version, but if you can make full use of the plug-in hybrid facility, you’ll recoup that eventually.

And you’ll have more fun driving it thanks to the extra power, especially if you regularly travel with a decent load. As family transport goes, it’s up with the best and, especially if you are a company car driver, it will make financial sense too. Now…which company did Clark Kent work for? I think it was the Daily Planet.

words: Graham Courtney
pictures: Peugeot