Summary
Based on the 308 hatchback and estate car, the Peugeot 408 is a five-door liftback which sits somewhere between a conventional car and a crossover/SUV vehicle.
Like an increasing number of new cars, it sits taller than a conventional saloon car but lower than a regular SUV. The 408 range includes traditional petrol and plug-in hybrid models, all paired with an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
The 408 line-up will also soon include the all-electric ‘e-408’, but that will receive its own Expert Rating when it becomes available to purchase – check back soon!
The 408 has been well-received by UK reviewers since its recent launch, mostly due to its stylish exterior looks that The Sun‘s Rob Lewis compares favourably to the much more expensive Lamborghini Urus SUV.
The Carbuyer team concludes that the crossover “has even more space and style than the 308 hatchback”, while Carwow is more impressed by the car’s interior refinement, commenting that “material quality is really good across the board.”
While Business Car‘s Martyn Collins agrees that the 408 is a sharp alternative to the increasingly overcrowded SUV market, he also questions whether Peugeot’s parent company Stellantis is cannibalising its own sales – “is it too close in execution to the Citroën C5 X?”
As of January 2025, the Peugeot 408 holds a New Car Expert Rating of A, with a score of 70%. It scores highly for having low average CO2 emissions (thanks to the plug-in hybrid model), as well as a good safety rating and low running costs. As yet, we don’t have reliability data to include in our analysis.
- Peugeot 308 (2021 onwards) – Expert Rating
- More Peugeot Expert Ratings, new car reviews, news and features
408 highlights
- Standout exterior looks
- Stylish interior
- Generous rear legroom
- PHEV models offer competitive battery range
408 lowlights
- No four-wheel drive
- Not much rear headroom
- Citroën C5 X is cheaper
- Boot space is fairly average
Key specifications
Body style: Medium five-door liftback
Engines: petrol, plug-in hybrid
Price: From £31,225 on-road
Launched: Winter 2022/23
Last updated: N/A
Replacement due: TBA
Image gallery
Media reviews
Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
The Car Expert
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7.2 / 10
“Straying from the trend of bulky SUVs, the 408 boldly represents a new body style that we didn’t know we needed until now.”
Author: Trinity Francis
Read review
Auto Express
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Peugeot 408 is a niche but appealing alternative to traditional family hatchbacks, taking the inoffensive ingredients of the smaller 308 and reinventing them in a more practical and stylish package.”
Author: Steve Walker
Read review
Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol automatic GT
Score: 8 / 10
“The unusual positioning of the 408 hatchback means it’s likely to remain something of a niche choice for most buyers, but those who take the plunge will find plenty to appreciate thanks to its comfortable ride, spacious rear quarters and a lovely cabin. If you’re a private buyer, the PureTech petrol model is the pick of the range.”
Author: Alex Ingram
Read review
Model reviewed: 1.6-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid GT
Score: 8 / 10
“The Peugeot 408 will suit those who don’t like the idea of an SUV, as well as Peugeot fans who fancy a 308 but find it a little too pokey inside. Either way, you’re getting a car which is comfortable, decent to drive and has a smart, premium-feeling cabin. The top trim levels and the PHEV are pricey, though.”
Author: Alex Ingram
Read review
Auto Trader
Model reviewed:
Score: 7 / 10
“Stylish, spacious and distinctive, the Peugeot 408 is a sleek alternative for those stepping away from SUVs and crossovers.”
Author: Erin Baker
Read review
Business Car
Model reviewed: Puretech 130
Score: 8 / 10
“This Peugeot remains a niche option in the D-segment, but on top of the sharp looks and practicality, if you can live without the hybrid kit, the Puretech 130 is the best driving 408 we’ve driven.”
Author: Martyn Collins
Read review
Model reviewed: 1.6-litre petrol/electric hybrid GT
Score: 8 / 10
“Should you go for a Peugeot 408 or 308? The 408 is a niche option in the C-segment, but on top of the sharp looks, it is still a practical alternative to an SUV, wrapped in sharp styling. But is it too close in execution to the Citroen C5 X?”
Author: Martyn Collins
Read review
Car
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The fundamental question is about the 408 Hybrid 225’s design: do you feel allure or allergic? If it’s the former, and you relish a comfortable ride, then this novel choice could prove a sophisticated way to travel – and get you well and truly noticed in the company car park.”
Author: Phil McNamara
Read review
Car Keys
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Bringing plenty in the way of style and quality, the Peugeot 408 is very practical and would make a great family car if you’re looking for something a little different to a typical SUV.”
Author: Ted Welford
Read review
Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.2 / 10
“The Peugeot 408 blurs the lines between SUVs, hatchbacks and even saloons, combining style with practicality in the process.”
Author: Andy Goodwin, Sam Naylor
Read review
Carwow
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The Peugeot 408 is an SUV pretending to be a saloon – though does a nice job of combing the two.”
Read review
Daily Mirror
Model reviewed: Range overview
“The Peugeot 408 is a great long-distance car, with a spacious interior, responsive driving dynamics, and excellent fuel economy.”
Author: Stephen Jones
Read review
Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The new Peugeot 408 is a segment-spanning family car with impressive practicality, stylish design and efficient electrified powertrains. We’re not entirely convinced buyers will be quick to trade in their versatile SUVs, but the Peugeot 408 certainly holds an element of left-field appeal.”
Author: Andy Brady
Read review
Honest John
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“Emphasis is placed on the quality of the interior space and on connectivity, with the latest technologies making the driving and travelling experience more intuitive and rewarding.”
Read review
Motoring Research
Model reviewed: 1.6-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid
“Despite inherent compromises, the Peugeot 408 feels aligned with the zeitgeist. You wouldn’t call it beautiful, but we have to applaud Peugeot’s sheer chutzpah; few £40,000 family cars will turn more heads. Besides, if you’re going to sacrifice space for a style, why not stand out from the crowd? Particularly when many of them are already driving a coupe SUV.”
Author: Tim Pitt
Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The fundamental question to ask yourself about the 408 is, do you love or hate the design? If it’s the former, and you relish a comfortable ride, then this novel choice will prove a sophisticated way to travel. If you don’t gel with the looks, there are better options out there.”
Read review
The Sun
Model reviewed: Range overview
“The steering is well-weighted and surprisingly direct which, combined with Peugeot’s continued penchant for a tiny steering wheels, makes for a pleasingly engaging drive. The ride resists being overly firm or soft, dealing with sub-par road surfaces rather well.”
Author: Rob Lewis
Read review
The Sunday Times
Model reviewed: 1.6-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid
Score: 6 / 10
“Like all plug-in hybrids, the 408 PHEV will only make sense to a specific sort of driver. While the styling isn’t to our tastes, many people we’ve spoken with think it looks good, and the interior quality is impressive. It’s a shame that tall people will find neither the driving position nor headroom in the rear acceptable, but performance, handling, refinement and ride quality are all aspects of the 408 Hybrid that drivers will appreciate.”
Author: Will Dron
Read review
The Telegraph
Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol automatic Premium
Score: 8 / 10
“You won’t love the way the Peugeot 408 drives, but perhaps that’s the price you pay. Because far from having an identity crisis, the 408 knows exactly what it is – and it’s really quite clever. It isn’t an SUV coupé, despite the appearance of one. Beneath the skin, it’s a fairly unobjectionable, sensible family car. Think of it as a more conventional 508 with cladding and a hatchback.”
Author: Alex Robbins
Read review
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“This striking large family hatchback is refreshingly different but lacks a certain je ne sais quoi when it comes to finesse.”
Author: Andrew English
Read review
Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The Peugeot 408 turns out to be a tempting concept. It also drives more engagingly than most crossovers.”
Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
Overall score: 4 stars
Date tested: December 2022
Read the full Euro NCAP review
Adult protection: 76%
Child protection: 84%
Vulnerable road users: 78%
Safety assist: 65%
In December 2022, the Peugeot 408 has received a four-star crash safety rating from Euro NCAP. The safety body says that it carried over many of the assessments made on the structurally similar 308 to give the 408 this set of scores.
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
As of January 2025, the Peugeot 408 has not been lab tested by Green NCAP.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
No reliability rating
As of January 2025, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Peugeot 408 to generate a reliability rating as it is still a new model.
The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the 408, we’ll publish the score here.
Running cost rating
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
CO₂ output | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
Petrol models | 138 g/km | B | – g/km | A – A |
Plug-in hybrid models | 26 g/km | A | 26 – 26 g/km | A – A |
Insurance group | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
All models | 26 | B | 19 – 31 | A – C |
Service and maintenance | Cost | Score |
Year 1 | £206 | B |
Year 2 | £543 | B |
Year 3 | £856 | B |
Year 4 | £1,056 | B |
Year 5 | £1,381 | A |
Overall | £4,042 | B |
The Peugeot 408 is a pretty affordable car to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.
The 408’s insurance premiums are lower than average for a car of this size, and the car’s service and maintenance costs are predicted to be cheaper than average over five years of ownership.
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Peugeot 408, you might also be interested in these alternatives.
Alfa Romeo Stelvio | Audi A5 Sportback | Audi Q5 Sportback | BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé | BMW X4 | Citroën C5 X | DS 7 | Genesis G70 | Genesis GV70 | Jaguar F-Pace | Lexus NX | Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupé | Polestar 2 | Peugeot 508 | Skoda Octavia | Volkswagen Arteon | Volvo V60 | Volvo XC60
More information
More news, reviews and information about the Peugeot 408 at The Car Expert
Buy a Peugeot 408
If you’re looking to buy a new or used Peugeot 408, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find the right car.
Find your next used car with Motors. Find out more
Find your next new or used car with Auto Trader. Find out more
Find your next new or used car with Carwow. Find out more
Lease a Peugeot 408
If you’re looking to lease a new Peugeot 408, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find a competitive deal.
Personal contract hire deals from Leasing.com. Find out more
Personal contract hire deals from Carparison Leasing. Find out more
Personal contract hire deals from Select Car Leasing. Find out more
Subscribe to a Peugeot 408
If you’re interested in a car subscription, The Car Expert’s partners can help. (PS: What’s a car subscription?)
Car subscriptions from DriveFuze.
Find out more
Car subscriptions from Wagonex.
Find out more
Car subscriptions from Cocoon.
Find out more