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By Jonathan Crouch

Peugeot's fashionable 408 looks a complete but pricey package in Hybrid form, thinks Jonathan Crouch

Ten Second Reviewword count: 43

We've seen the Stellantis Group's 1.6 Plug-in Hybrid powertrain feature on a growing number of models, but none have quite as much panache as this one, the Peugeot 408, which in PHEV form seems to offer an appealing combination style, power and parsimony.

Backgroundword count: 158

Many so-called industry 'experts' will tell you that Plug-in Hybrid models have quite a limited shelf life, stop-gap solutions until the market is completely swamped by a wave of new EVs. We think the PHEV area will last a lot longer than that. Indeed, with spiralling electricity prices and an increasingly under-funded approach to the necessary expansion of the public charging network, there's a good argument for suggesting that choosing one of the appealing new breed of Plug-in Hybrid models is the way to go right now. Here is arguably the most stylish one you could choose without completely breaking the bank, the PHEV version of Peugeot's 408. It ought to be badged '4008' because it's supposedly some sort of Crossover. It would also avoid the naming conflict with a completely different 408 model the brand sells in other markets. But anyway, the '408' badge is what's been chosen for this design. So what have we got here?

Driving Experienceword count: 239

Though it's now been around for a few years, you might still marvel at the technology on offer in this Hybrid 408 variant, which mates an 81kW electric motor with a 1.6-litre PureTech petrol engine that primarily contributes to total outputs of either 180 or 225hp driving through the front wheels. The 12.4kWh battery that powers the motor is supposed to deliver an EAER-rated range of up to 40 miles before the engine cuts in. Compared to the alternative three cylinder PureTech 130 conventional version of this model, you'll feel the weight of the extra battery package if you start trying to throw the car around. But it's a lot lighter than would be the full-electric e-408 model that will probably be offered at some point - you'll need to wait a little for that. Like the humbler 1.2-litre PureTech 130 petrol 408 variant, there's an 8-speed EAT8 auto transmission and if you're quick with its steering wheel paddleshifters, rest to 62mph in the 180hp version takes 8.1s en route to 140mph. There's an extremely nominal performance gain with the alternative 225hp version (which improves those figures to 7.8s and 145mph): and the gain will, in reality feel even less than that because the two powerplants share exactly the same torque figure of 250Nm. Semi-autonomous drive tech is offered via a 'Drive Assist Pack' that allows stop-and-go driving in lane and semi-automatic lane changes with the indicator toggle stalk.

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