Peugeot E-408 review: wacky saloon-crossover goes fully electric

What am I looking at here?

The final piece in a very efficient jigsaw. By fully electrifying the 408, Peugeot has made its entire UK line-up electric. Or at least ‘available as’. The base car has been with us a good few years now, but its daring mix of saloon, hatchback and crossover styling cues continues to intrigue. To stand out long after the post-launch honeymoon period is a decent achievement.

And it’s lasted, too. Essentially spun from the same powertrains and platform as the equally daring Citroen C5 X, only one of them remains on sale. Citroen has wound down production of another of its attempts at a posh saloon (for shame) but Peugeot continues to plug away. Quite literally with this E-408…

Enough puns already.

Alright. It’s front-wheel drive and pairs 58kWh of useable battery with a 211bhp motor for 0-62mph in 7.6 seconds. Which might have previously seemed brisk for a premium, five-seat family car, but in the world of EVs, it’s pretty tame. Don’t let that put you off – like the (even slower) Peugeot E-308, it lends the big Pug a smoother, more laidback approach that’s thoroughly satisfying in day-to-day life. And it’ll still do instant, electrified torque for the brief moments you need to slip keenly into traffic.

A range of 280 miles is arguably pretty tame too. Especially paired to 120kW charging. But the modest battery size will fight back in that regard, making your slightly more frequent stops compared to rivals that little bit swifter. Charge at full capacity on the move and you’ll gain as much mileage as you realistically need once you’ve popped in, ordered your coffee and had your name hollered by the barista.

And how does it drive?

Like it looks, really – with much of the composure and alertness we like in a squat saloon car, but with a bit more roll and cushioning from its slightly higher stance. It’s impressive in the way it straddles numerous sectors but doesn’t feel conflicted, offering a neat balance that might just settle an ongoing family feud about whether the next car should be an SUV or not.

It’s no thriller, but this is a decent front-drive chassis and one that shows Peugeot still knows how to make a car corner even when sportiness is deliberately left off the agenda. The E-308 exhibits the same quality – and it all ultimately bodes well for the GTi comeback that’s now on the agenda. Ride, handling and a lovely balance of the two is still core to what Peugeot does. It feels lighter on its feet than its 1,879kg kerb weight might have you fear.

Nor do its 19in alloys hamper the ride too much. They occasionally thump around a bit over rougher urban roads, but it’s something you hear more than you feel and there’s decent sidewall to keep the cabin ambience calm.

What’s it like inside?

Very conventional. The E-408 is an ICE car at heart, and boy does it feel it. If you’re seeking an electric car for revolution and a brave leap into the future, you’ll be disappointed. If you’re tentatively stepping into the world of plug-ins, buoyed by the increase in public chargers or the assistance of the UK government Electric Car Grant (the E-408 benefits from the £1,500, Band 2 discount for a starting price of £36k), then this is a reassuring place to land.

It's a bit dark and cosy, mind, Peugeot’s pursuit of premium taking it down the same path as its German rivals when it comes to material and colour choices. There’s some vibrant green contrast stitching to slightly lift the mood, mind, plus the dinky wheel and digital cockpit combo that’s now well versed in the French firm’s cars. As ever, it's worth a test drive to ensure you’re not bent out of shape accommodating it – but my 5ft 9in frame fits fine, and the smaller rim does lend the car - whether real or placebo - an extra sense of agility in corners.

Is there tech?

The requisite amount. The middle touchscreen is oddly shaped but very neatly integrated, and complemented by customisable ‘iToggle’ switches that walk a curious line between a touchscreen and fixed switchgear but are broadly successful. There are limits to what you can stick in there – and turning on your heated seat is far too much of a chore on a freezing cold day – but overall there’s a nice blend of tradition and tech in here.

Our touchscreen proved pretty laggy at times, mind; Chinese rivals tend to have ultra-quick computing behind their screens, but they do often resemble oversized, tacked-on tablets beside the more discreet décor in here.

Space is good all round, and despite the tapered roofline, adults will fit just fine in the back. The boot lip is high, but the volume inside very useful. As an EV spun from a petrol car, there's no frunk.

And the range?

The WLTP claim is 280 miles, which is pretty modest by current standards, and about on par with the latest E-308 hatch and wagon. Peugeot claims 4.09 miles per kWh; in torrid conditions, with all the heating on and the car frequently three-up, we scored 2.9. In more summery weather you might get closer to the official claims, and with a wall box at home – something painless EV ownership realistically relies upon – it’ll all be much less of an issue.

And like we say, a modest-sized battery brings modest-length stops on a long motorway haul. Three levels of regen, adjustable via steering wheel paddles, eke out more efficiency as well as driver involvement. But there’s no one-pedal mode.

So what’s the verdict?

The Peugeot E-408 is a thoroughly likeable car, albeit one that stops short of perfect. On paper, a number of its rivals swipe it lazily away, but its unexpectedly successful blend of rebellious design and conformist useability is an arresting one. Petrol and hybrid 408s have sat in a curiously appealing corner of the market for several years now – the option of fully electric power might just charm a few more buyers out of a straight-up SUV.