This costs the Peugeot 408: 308 alternative is ‘more original’ but also more expensive | Car

For those 41,390 euros you can knock on the door of the Peugeot dealer for the lightest motorized 408. It has the well-known 1.2 Puretech petrol engine in its nose, which, with the help of a turbo, delivers a power of 130 horsepower (96 kilowatts) and is always linked to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The French brand also supplies the same powertrain in many other models, including the 308 SW. Anyone who orders the station wagon of the 308 in the same equipment as the basic 408, currently pays at least 38,150 euros.

The 1.2 Puretech is the only 408 without an electric drive. The other two options in the price list are both a hybrid with a plug: thanks to a battery pack of 12.4 kilowatt hours, you can drive up to 60 kilometers electrically, according to Peugeot. The cheapest 408 Plug-in Hybrid has a total power of 180 hp (133 kW) and costs at least 46,160 euros, while the stronger variant delivers 225 hp (165 kW) and costs at least 49,669 euros.

For the quick decision makers, the Dutch Peugeot importer has put together a special First Edition. No more than fifty of this version are produced. These all have the strongest engine version with 225 hp and are equipped as GT, the most luxurious trim level. For 51,260 you get the special gray-blue paint (Blue Obsession, Peugeot calls it) that you see in the first photos, in addition to impressively designed 20-inch light-alloy wheels and a special combination of artificial leather, textile and Alcantara upholstery in the interior.

With the 408 Peugeot offers a car that is a separate mix of different body shapes. The brand calls this a car for people who seek more originality than traditional models offer. The 408 certainly adds something in that respect: although the car shares many of its parts with the more compact 308, its design is a lot more idiosyncratic. Thanks to larger wheels (minimum 17-inch) and protective edges around the wheel arches and side sills, it looks more like an SUV, but its roof is much lower than that of, for example, a 3008.

Despite the rapidly sloping roofline, Peugeot promises a lot of space in the back. Because there is more distance between the front and rear wheels than with a 308, you have indeed less to complain about the legroom. However, on our first acquaintance it appears that the entry for the rear passengers is a bit tight: taller people in particular really have to retract their head when getting in and out. This is a direct result of the coupe-like appearance of the 4.68-meter long 408.

This trendy body shape also has an effect on the luggage compartment, which is certainly not small with a minimum capacity of 536 liters. With the rear seats down, the volume rises to more than 1,600 liters, according to Peugeot. That’s neat, but the sloping tailgate leaves you less room for higher items, while dog owners (and their four-legged friends themselves) are better off with the straighter tailgates of a 308 SW or 3008.

Those interested in the new 408 can choose from three trim levels at Peugeot: the Allure, the Allure Pack and the GT. The Allure comes standard with two height-adjustable front seats, a two-zone climate control with an air quality system in the interior, a two-part folding rear seat backrest, Apple Carplay and Android Auto. Remarkably enough, the Hybrid versions get an adaptive cruise control and an autonomous emergency braking system, which are not standard on the version with only a petrol engine.

The Allure Pack, in turn, gets larger alloy wheels (19 inches instead of seventeen), laminated front side windows for a quieter cabin, a lane change system, parking sensors in the front bumper and a system that warns of crossing traffic when reversing. Finally, the GT – the top version – can be recognized by a grille in the color of the body, tougher 19-inch wheels (20-inch is optional), dark interior trim and a digital instrument panel with 3D effect. Electrically adjustable front seats with heating and massage function are standard on the First Edition, for that luxury you normally have to pay extra.