New Peugeot 408: range and prices for Spain

Antonio Roncero @roncero_antonio 20 October 2022 5 min.

Sales of the new Peugeot 408 begin in the Spanish market: a saloon with a sharp silhouette and a certain crossover look that can be a great alternative to SUVs.

Placing the new Peugeot 408 in a market segment can be relatively easy… or really difficult, depending on the criteria chosen. If there were a standard for classifying a crossover, which there isn’t, we would place it here. Its dimensions, or rather its proportions, suggest as much, with a length of 4.75 metres, a width of 1.85 metres and a height of 1.48 metres, which put it right between a 308 and a 3008. But it has a ground clearance of 19 centimetres (barely a centimetre less than the 3008), and then there are those side protections and wheel arch cladding…

But the least important thing is trying to pigeonhole the Peugeot 408 into one segment or another. What matters is that we are looking at a different proposal, one that by design, build quality, technology and equipment tries to carve out a place at the upper end of the C segment. And it offers great versatility and flexibility of use thanks to a well-used cabin. One thing I’ll tell you: don’t fail to visit the dealership to see it up close, it will surprise you. Especially if you’re looking for something different and don’t need a tall car or an elevated driving position (that is, here, an SUV).

What makes the new Peugeot 408 different?

The answer to this question is in the image gallery that accompanies the article. It is a proposal that differs from the classic or usual bodystyles in this segment, where the classic three-box saloon, three-door cars and even MPVs have practically disappeared under the onslaught of SUVs. Its sharp fastback bodywork has a very pronounced roof drop at the rear -for much less than this, some people boast of “coupé saloons” or “SUV coupés”- and this is what truly sets the Peugeot 408 apart: its design.

So much so that, seen from the outside, it’s hard to believe the platform is the same as the Peugeot 308’s, since it looks much more like a bigger car. In fact, the 408 even has a longer wheelbase than the 308 SW, reaching 2.69 metres, which allows rear seats with particularly good legroom for passengers, without the headroom being a problem here, as happens in some “coupé saloons”.

And we verified this during a first static hands-on with the Peugeot 408, getting in and occupying these seats to confirm that adults up to 1.85 metres tall will travel here much more comfortably than in a Peugeot 308, although getting in and out is somewhat less easy due to the aforementioned descending roofline. Furthermore, boot capacity is another of its strong points: 536 litres for the petrol version, and 471 in the plug-in hybrid variants, which places the 408 in a very good position against its rivals.

And if we talk about the Peugeot 408’s rivals, which cars are we referring to? One very clear alternative is the Citroën C5 X, its “cousin” with which it shares platform and engines, although it is slightly larger. But we would also include here the Renault Arkana or the CUPRA Formentor, which also depart from the traditional canons of classic SUVs.

Otherwise, there is little to add about the interior of the Peugeot 408: unlike the bodywork, the driving position, the dashboard design, the materials and the equipment options are identical to those of the Peugeot 308. In fact, this interior was originally designed for the 408, although its market launch came later.

The same sense of high quality, sophistication and technology is repeated, with the original touch provided by the i-Cockpit of Peugeot, although there are always those who may prefer, or feel more comfortable with, a conventional steering wheel and instrumentation layout.

Range and prices of the Peugeot 408

As a first reference, keep this in mind: a Peugeot 408 costs about 2,800 euros more (on average, some versions are a bit less, or a bit more) than a 308 five-door with the same engine and equipment. And it is about 2,500 euros cheaper than a Peugeot 3008.

The entry range includes the 130 hp PureTech petrol engine with automatic gearbox and no hybridisation at all (C label), and two plug-in hybrid versions, with 180 and 224 hp, both with a ZERO label and an electric-mode range exceeding 60 km. By mid-2023 the e-408, the electric version, is expected, which will share its propulsion system with the Peugeot e-308. Prices depending on the equipment level offered with each engine, including the 1,500 euro discount offered by the brand, are as follows:

408 Allure 130 hp: €33,350
408 Allure Pack 130 hp: €35,000
408 GT 130 hp: €37,800
408 Allure PHEV 180: €41,350
408 Allure Pack PHEV 180: €46,200
408 Allure Pack PHEV 225: €44,100
408 GT PHEV 180: €45,400
408 GT PHEV 225: €46,900

With the current discount, these prices place the 408 at a midpoint among its possible alternatives. Now that the 30 units of the 408 First Edition have sold out, the vehicle can be configured on the brand’s website, and even purchased entirely online, choosing financing or even home delivery of the car. As the most interesting version, in principle, the 180 hp 408 PHEV offers the best balance between price, performance and consumption, and the Allure version already comes with a very complete standard equipment list.

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