Peugeot 408: are you the perfect middle ground between sedan and crossover? Video

Peugeot 408 is one of those cars which forces you to deal with a profoundly changed car market, regardless of personal tastes. And, philosophically, it is the car that forces us to admit that even our tastes or needs change over time.

I speak from personal experience: as a sports driving enthusiast, with karts that literally represented the lowest thing from the ground I’ve ever driven since the seat literally scratched the asphalt on some occasions, over time I’ve gone through the crossover phase, when The Juke served me well for tasks where I didn’t need all-wheel drive, but that ground clearance allowed me to tackle light off-roading without worrying.

Then, abandoning the Euro 5 diesel because Milan required it, I chose the electric one and it was the turn of a Model 3 with which I had more than one difficulty due to the long wheelbase and low ground clearance. It takes more than two hands to count the times I’ve scratched in my day-to-day life: pit ramps, uneven roads, you name it…

I do not hide, therefore, that the need for greater tranquility given by the height from the ground is still there, and that more than sometimes I could use a car that can make me face these obstacles in serenity without giving up a slightly more enjoyable sedan drive, and not an SUV. Peugeot 408 tries to do just that. Mind you, it’s not perfect, but it’s characteristic of the middle ground not to be; rather it succeeds well in finding an acceptable compromise that can give us satisfaction.

The aesthetic is aggressive, unusual, very daring: many like it on the streetloses points only in the plastic and very protruded rear bumper, but which is a nice advantage to be calm even when you make a mistake in maneuvering (if you succeed, it has sensors and a rear view camera as standard).

The ground clearance is 18.8 cmtherefore peace of mind assured on all occasions of daily life. Yet it is not an SUV because it is 1.48 meters tallagainst the 1.62 of a 3008. To be clear, a Peugeot 308 is 1.44 meters tall…

They call it Fastback, this is the definition of a coupe crossover that is not too exaggerated in height, and it is true that it can be considered that missing link that someone might be tempted to gorge on, especially because it doesn’t drive badly at all.

I started with many prejudices, especially because the C5X has the same platform and with its very soft set-up it wasn’t for me (although it has objective advantages in terms of comfort), from the very first moments on board this Peugeot 408 I feel at ease. I discover a raised driving position made “sporty” by that small steering wheel: it doesn’t matter if you’re running or trotting, that small and compact steering wheel makes you feel the car in a completely different wayand more and more customers confirm and appreciate it.

In the corners I feel it closer to my “retired kart driver” style thanks to a different shock absorber setup: in this it is the car that winks more at dynamic driving than its sister Citroen which is made for comfort absolutists. More rigid calibration, roll that is limited (a little remains anyway), video game flyer and an engine that pushes well. Really pleasant, even amusing at times, just a pity that the EAT 8 gearbox, an automatic transversal to the ex PSA range, is the weak link in the chain because objectively it does not have that immediacy that the double clutches of the competition offer in their segment C. And, even leaving aside the comparison with dual clutches and remaining in the world of torque converters, the premium brands manage to make them better, “faster” and sportier.

Here instead we find ourselves with a car that has the whole engine, my advice is focus on the 180 HP of the plug-in hybrid since you don’t necessarily need to choose the 225 HP top, but that it is not followed by the gearbox when you are looking for sportiness and fun, and which therefore forces us to a small lag between power request and its delivery. It can be solved by anticipating the need and going into manual mode with the paddles on the steering wheel.

In all other circumstances, however, the EAT 8 proves to be very pleasant because in 90% of driving, the boring one in traffic jams or on the motorway, its job is to shift, trying to keep fuel consumption to a minimum and doing so without letting us perceive the changes. In this he is promoted.

You can choose it at 130hp petrolthe automatic gearbox it’s always the eight-speed and it’s always standard, and in that case you’ll spend €34,650 (set on the road from €850 included). With this engine it is recommended for those looking for a C-segment for space reasons but are not a big traveler: for city and extra-urban the power is sufficient and it has (almost) the torque of a small diesel, 230 Nm at 1,750 rpm.

Those who want the most spacious car and are starting to have greater travel needs, or can take advantage of plug-in charging at home/work to reduce fuel consumption, should choose the 180 HP PHEV (or 225 HP): both still don’t have a monstrous torque, we are talking about 250 Nm at 1,750 rpm, but they do well thanks to the electric boost.

Allure is the entrance set-up and has everything you need, from ADAS (basic) to comfort, with the advantage of not forcing us to take expensive packages for the rear view camera, for example, included together with the rear sensors. On the Plug-in Allure it also adds adaptive cruise with stop & go function and the on-board charger in the basic 3.7 kW version… those who want it at 7.4 kW must pay extra.

Allure Pack makes it truly complete: more advanced ADAS also for the petrol version, laminated glass also for the side, front sensors and keyless, in short, everything we could wish for in terms of practicality and comfort for just under €36,500 if you choose petrol. GT is for the more demanding, it has many accessories but almost none of these are essential: iCockpit goes from 2D to 3D, but the basic one is already very nice.

Summing up, Peugeot 408 can really be the ideal solution for those who come from a sedan and want a position that remains “sporty” in its imprint but which allows them to approach that greater visibility of the crossover world, or for those who are tired of the SUV and want something that reminds them more of a more close to the lower wheel. It’s not the sportiest, it’s not the most exaggerated, it’s the right middle ground for those who know that compromise is a fundamental ingredient of life. Clearly it is not for everyone, design that is very daring makes it clear right away, but if you fall in love it will be able to give satisfaction.

Weaknesses? A gearbox calibrated for comfort rather than immediacy (therefore this disadvantage is relative) and infotainment that has improved a lot, is connected and customizable but still needs to take a small step forward in terms of fluidity to truly be the same as a smartphone. The rest? Perhaps the only obstacle to overcome is that of the iCockpit which is perfect for an average height but if you exceed one meter eighty you could first try it to understand if it becomes necessary to bring the steering wheel closer to your knees, but it depends a lot on your driving position.

Its advantages? Versatile, very comfortable, it has a wheelbase that makes even those sitting behind feel good and the boot has a good capacity and is well manageable, net of a step between the threshold and the bottom. It also has good, very complete standard equipment, and the technology is in step with the times, from connectivity to smartphone compatibility (Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), via comfortable infotainment with a row of customizable touch keys and the second row of physical keys for the main functions.

In the plug-in hybrid version, approximately 40 kilometers are covered with the 12.44 kWh battery in a guide without particular precautions, managing to reach 50 kilometers with a very light foot. Impossible to do more, despite the hybrid system here being calibrated more for reducing fuel consumption than for performance.