Peugeot e-408 review: the ‘non-SUV SUV’ that quietly gets everything right
The all-new Peugeot e-408
|
PEUGEOT E-408 |
|
|---|---|
|
|
★★★★☆ |
|
|
Range starts from €37,995, while the e-408 GT costs €44,250 |
|
|
an electric unit with 208bhp |
|
|
a decent 400km range |
|
The Spec |
Very thorough in the GT model tested |
|
|
An incredibly smooth companion and very practical |
Peugeot – and subsequently Citroen – upended the car market in many ways when it introduced the 408 range (Citroen’s version is called the C5-X) which is a crossover, hatchback and a fastback all rolled into one.
When it appeared first, we called it ‘a non-SUV SUV’ because of its unique size and shape and declared that Peugeot had actually come up with a new market segment, whether or not that was by accident or design.
You can bet your bottom dollar that it will be a design route quickly followed by other manufacturers if it is even halfway successful and the early indicators are that both the Citroen and the Peugeot are hitting the right note with the buying public.
We liked the style and poise of both cars; the fact that they were large, saloon-esque cars, but high enough off the ground to provide both excellent all-round visibility and easy access/egress. We also liked that they were hugely roomy and comfortable but still drove with the sort of elan that is sometimes lacking in actual SUVs.
Sure, they both have the sort of bulky rear three-quarters that is so favoured by designers at this point in time, but are, nevertheless, imposing to look at without blocking out the sun. Both too have a market-pleasing choice of power sources – ICE, hybrid, PHEV and, now, EV.
Recently we tried the e-408 from Peugeot and, once more, it impressed us with its varying pleasing characteristics – as outlined above – but were particularly struck by the smoothness of this particular variant of the model.
Even in an era where the Irish road network is notable mostly for the crudity of its surfaces and the dire variety of the roads we have to navigate once you’re away from the motorway network, this car stood out for its ability to cushion the worst of what’s out there.
Technically, it sits between the 308 SW and the 508 in the Peugeot model line-up and is, the company claim, aimed particularly at ‘active couples’ who need plenty of space to hawk around their climbing gear or surfing gear – maybe just the golf clubs for the less adventurous.
They seem to have missed the fact that many couples are very active raising children rather than base-jumping, but the 408 range offers plenty for the family-oriented buyer, simply through its size and practicality.
The dimensions of the car point to where Peugeot has seen a gap in the market; this one rides higher than most conventional saloon or estates, but not much less than established SUV coupes. That said, the roofline is much lower than the latter, but higher than the former.
Design-wise the car is closer to a traditional saloon or fastback than an SUV, but it is very much untypical and that’s why we’ve labelled it as we have. This is because, we believe, it is capable of satisfying the needs of both sets of drivers.
But, in electric format, it fits the current zeitgeist for ultra-clean motoring and this is a package that not only deserves to sell well, but will do exactly that.
It is equipped with a 52-kWh battery pack and an electric motor which outputs some 208bhp via the front wheels while offering a range of just over 450km which, as ever is backed by excessive manufacturer optimism, but in reality offers around the 400km mark in mixed driving.
We tried it in GT trim which adds some neat specification touches – 19” alloys, faux leather upholstery, 180-degree rear camera with a wash system, ambient lighting and so forth – and an enhanced exterior look, making it altogether a good thing to operate and drive/be driven in.
Although Peugeot has largely adopted the dashboard layout from the 308 line-up – to save money on design capacity and overall budget – that doesn’t mean potential owners are being shortchanged because it is an excellent layout.
The company’s ‘i-cockpit’ concept is to the fore once again and once you get used to the tiny steering wheel and the way you have to juggle the seat and steering wheel height/reach settings to allow you see the instrumentation, you’ll be fine. It won’t be liked by some, but it certainly stands the car out as for as interior design is concerned.
The 10” digital driver’s display is enhanced with a 3D effect on the GT model, while the second 10” infotainment touchscreen has the added benefit of six digital shortcut keys sited underneath which allow you access your most-used functions.
Stuff like the heating controls are also largely accessible by button and not some curious miasma of impenetrable on-screen settings; so too the kill buttons for the ever-annoying lane changing and excess speed warnings.
As might be expected from the French, the seating is exceptionally comfortable; there’s also loads of knee room for the rear passengers, although the sloping roofline does make things a little tight for the leggier passenger.
The boot is voluminous – no problem getting the kite-surfing gear in there – so much so you might have thought they’d consider a seven-seat option, but, as far as I know, that’s not on the cards.
But, whatever about the car’s kit and practicality, it is the way this one performs on the road that struck me as being its single best attribute. It is as smooth as a dodgy politician and, as noted earlier, nearly shames the Irish road network into submission.
The way it flattens out humps and hollows and irons out rippled surfaces is most impressive; so much so you’d be inclined to think there’s not much wrong with those roads. Rather, it is the capability of the suspension that is the star and not the pitted surfaces it’s driving on.
This thing truly glides along and this, when matched with decently impressive handling, it makes itself a very acceptable companion. Sure, the range could be a bit better, but as things stand in the EV affordability stakes, it is capable enough for the bobs.
One slightly annoying thing I found was that the angularity of some of the shapes on the side profile of the e-408 catches the eye to the point where you think someone has graunched the wheelarches. It’s a trick of the eye, of course, but it did cause a few curses to be uttered before realisation struck.
The 408 as a whole might be said to have a challenging design, but that’s largely an argument put forward by conservative thinkers who hate new ideas. In reality it is a modern and very progressive design and one, which we allude to earlier, will undoubtedly be copied by a raft of others.
I liked this car and to be honest it was not far from getting a five-star rating but didn’t quite make that grade.
Undoubtedly though it’s a very positive machine and one for which Peugeot can claim justifiable pride.
