Peugeot E-408 Review & Prices

The Peugeot E-408 is an electric car that has posh car looks without the posh car price tag. It’s a comfortable and refined way to get around, but it’s not hugely practical and alternatives can go further on a charge.

Alternatives include such cars as the Kia EV6, Skoda Elroq and Tesla Model 3 – three different takes on the electric family car formula, but each more conventionally constructed than the Peugeot’s sorta-hatchback-sorta-SUV body style.

It’s a bit like going out in a skirt – the appeal is in the aesthetic, even if you know the truth is a pair of jeans will be much more practical.

And it’s the aesthetic where the Peugeot E-408 really appeals, its quirky design – like someone grafted a coupe rear end on a saloon then dressed it up like a chunky off-roader – works really well and gives it a premium appearance.

Peugeot E-408: electric range, battery and charging data

Range: 281 Miles
Efficiency: 3.5-4.5 miles per kWh
Battery size: 58kWh
Max charge speed: 100kW
Charge time AC: 5hrs20mins, 0-100%, 11kWh
Charge time DC: 35mins, 20-80%, 100kWh
Charge port location: Left Side Rear
Power outputs: 210hp

That continues inside, where the plethora of sharp angles on the dashboard could easily be mistaken for being from something more expensive, even if the materials don’t quite live up to the hype. Neither does the infotainment system, actually, being slow and clunky to use.

It’s relatively practical, with lots of small cubby holes rather than a few big ones, though the door bins are spacious enough for a large bottle. Rear seat space is merely fine, too, though headroom is better than you might expect given the sloping roof. Bulky child seats can be a bit a squeeze, too.

Furthermore, boot space is down on alternatives. At 471 litres it’s on par with the Skoda Elroq, but a bit less than what you get in the Kia EV6 and a lot less than the Tesla Model 3. The space itself is usefully square though, so you can maximise the room you do have.

There’s only one battery option, which gives you a range of 281 miles between charges, though we saw respectable efficiency during our testing, which would equate to about 220 miles in the real world. That official range is better than entry-level versions of alternatives, but you can go comfortably more than 300 miles to a battery in the Skoda Enyaq and Tesla Model 3 for the price of a top-spec Peugeot. Fast-charging speeds aren’t amazing, either.

It’s a shame it doesn’t go further on a charge, because the E-408 is a really comfortable and refined way to get around. There’s minimal wind and road noise at high speeds, making it excellent for motorway miles. It’s comfortable around town but the rear visibility lets the side down somewhat.

If you like the look of this stylish family EV, check out the latest Peugeot E-408 deals on Carwow, as well as E-408 lease deals. Don’t fancy going electric? Browse Peugeot 408 deals for the petrol-powered version, or other used Peugeots from our network of trusted dealers. You can also sell your car through Carwow.

The Peugeot E-408 is pretty good value, starting at £36,000 in entry-level Allure trim and rising to over £41,000 for the GT Premium model, each promising about 280 miles of range.

Go for a basic Kia EV6, which starts from about £40,000, and range is lower than the Peugeot – you have to spend a lot more for the big battery version that goes further on a charge. The Skoda Elroq is closer in price and practicality to the Peugeot, but can go over 350 miles for E-408 money, while the Renault Scenic can go about 380 miles.

Standard equipment includes the twin-screen infotainment and driver display setup, LED headlights and a rear parking camera. GT models get upgraded Pixel LED headlights, heated steering wheel and new 19-inch alloy wheels, while top-spec GT Premium adds a wireless smartphone charger, 3D instrument display and adaptive cruise control. A heat pump is a paid extra unless you go for the top model.

The Peugeot E-408 is comfortable and refined, but visibility out of the back means it’s not ideal around town

In town

The smooth electric motors and comfortable suspension make the Peugeot E-408 easy to drive around town, though it doesn’t have particularly punchy acceleration, so you can’t dart into gaps in traffic with quite the same enthusiasm as other EVs. That said, it’s not as lethargic as mechanically similar electric Peugeots and Vauxhalls released recently.

Visibility out the back isn’t great, with a small rear window and chunky rear pillars meaning you don’t have a great view over your shoulder. Visibility forward is better, fortunately, though it’s a shame you only get 360-degree cameras on top-spec models. The spongy brakes take some getting used to, meaning it’s not the easiest car to bring to a steady stop.

On the motorway

The Peugeot E-408 is comfortable and refined at high speeds, with little in the way of wind and road noise getting into the cabin. It means it’s a lovely car to cruise along the motorway in, which means it’s a bit of a shame you can’t get a version with a bigger battery – extended stints at motorway speeds will quickly see you searching out the nearest public charger.

It’s also a bit of a shame you have to get the top-spec trim to get adaptive cruise control, which can maintain your speed and distance to the car in front, though you do at least get regular cruise control as standard.

On a twisty road

The Peugeot E-408 has enough gusto on the go to encourage some spirited driving on a country road, particularly if you pop the car into Sport mode to unlock all of its performance. The small steering wheel takes some getting used to but makes the car feel eager to respond to your inputs, though this is about as sporty as it ever feels. Consider something like the Cupra Born if you want an electric car that rewards you on a twisty road.

Rear seat space is pretty good, but interior storage and boot capacity are adequate rather than excellent

The driving position takes some getting used to, because you sit fairly low in the car so you need to crank the seat up for a more SUV-like view. Peugeot’s driver display is supposed to be viewed over the wheel, but depending on your driving position the top of the steering wheel can block it, which is annoying. At least you get a head-up display as standard to mitigate this.

Storage is fine, with a small space beneath the armrest, two coverable cup holders and a useful glovebox. There’s a neat slot for your phone but it’s quite hidden away so easy to forget. Instead of a few large storage spaces you get a few smaller ones instead.

Space in the back seats

There’s good space in the back with lots of kneeroom and acceptable headroom, particularly given the way the roof slopes towards the rear. However, we found it tricky to fit a bulky rear-facing child seat in place. Peugeot’s typical zip-covered ISOFIX mounting points are as fiddly to access as ever.

Boot space

Boot space is pretty good at 471 litres, putting it on par with the Skoda Elroq, but if you go for a more conventional SUV in the shape of the Renault Scenic you get 545 litres. If your budget stretches to top-spec Peugeot E-408s, you could also consider the roomier Kia EV6 (490 litres) and Skoda Enyaq (585 litres).

For everyday family use the Peugeot’s boot should be fine, though. There’s quite a big lip to lift items over, which can be tricky if they’re heavy, but otherwise the space is nice and square so it's easy to fit a big shop in there. The coupe-like roofline means taller items might not fit, though.

A posh design and solid fit and finish, but the materials on high-spec trims feel a bit cheap

The Peugeot E-408 has a lovely interior design that looks much posher than most alternatives at this price. It has a classy, sophisticated design and even the fabric inserts on the entry-level model work well.

You get comfy fabric and leather seat upholstery, while Nappa leather is standard on the top-spec models or an optional extra elsewhere.

While this adds more sophistication, there are plenty of scratchy plastics close to hand, which are more acceptable on entry-level models but start to feel a bit cheap on higher-spec cars. At least everything feels really solid and like it’s built to last, which is good news for young families.

The infotainment system isn’t particularly good to use, with its confusing menus and slow loading menus. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay come as standard, which is good news, while the menu shortcut panel introduced on the GT and GT Premium trims makes navigating a bit quicker, even if figuring out where everything is is anything but intuitive.

The driver display is sharp and gets you all the information you need, it’s just annoying that, depending on your driving position, the steering wheel blocks your view of it.

There’s just the one battery and motor option on the Peugeot E-408. It has a 58kWh capacity and it’s paired to a 210hp electric motor. As a result you get a 281-mile range, which isn’t terrible; most alternatives won’t go as far in their basic trims, but they do have big battery options to go further between charges if you want, so it’s a shame the Peugeot doesn’t offer the same choice.

For example, you can get a 265-mile version of the Skoda Elroq for a bit less cash than the E-408, but for similar money there’s also a 355-mile version. The Kia EV6 goes 261 miles for Peugeot money, but if you can stretch your budget there’s a 361-mile version too. The Renault Scenic wins here, though, because even the basic model has a 381-mile range.

Fast charging is okay in the Peugeot, with a maximum speed of 120kW equating to a 20-80% charge time of just over 30 minutes. That’s similar to the Renault and not quite as good as the Skoda, but the EV6 and Tesla Model 3 make the others look positively pedestrian.

The regular Peugeot 408 scored four stars out of five when it was tested in 2022, and this score applies to the E-408 too. Although it missed out on top marks, the 84% rating for child occupant safety should be reassuring for families.

Standard safety kit includes post-collision emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance and radar-assisted emergency braking. Step up to the GT trim and you get Peugeot SOS and assistance as well as lane-positioning assist. Top-spec cars get adaptive cruise control, blind spot detection and a 360-degree camera.

Peugeot came an impressive seventh out of 32 car makers in the latest Driver Power owner satisfaction survey, with the only poor mark being value for money. You get a three-year warranty that’s unlimited in the first two years but limited to 60,000 miles for the third year. You also get an eight-year battery warranty.