The 2023 Peugeot 408 fastback provides generous space with a CAT A friendly drivetrain, and is now powered by a 1.2 litre, 3 cylinder turbocharged engine paired with an 8 speed automatic gearbox. It produces a century sprint time of 11.5 seconds. The GT Line car is available with body coloured grille, Peugeot badging on the front fenders, as well as asymmetric design sports wheels. Inside the car, a full digital instrument panel and driver's display is paired with customisable i-toggle shortcut buttons on the centre console. Other features include matrix LED headlamps, adaptive cruise control, daytime running lights, and 536 litres of boot space.
Sharp & Distinct Styling
Take a first glance at the Peugeot 408, and instinctively, you know that you've seen something rather special. In an era where cars from different automakers sometimes have tendencies to look alike, there is nothing quite like the 408. Built with a fastback silhouette but sitting a little higher than usual like a crossover or cross country spec-car, the 408 has a lovely stance, and thanks to standout features like its claw-shaped daytime running lights, the 408 is instantly recognisable from afar. Around the back, things are slightly less dramatic, and I wouldn't go so far as to describe the rear end of the 408 as sexy, but its definitely modern looking, equipped with futuristically styled tail lamps and a rear profile that I feel is quite similar to the Polestar 2.
Inside, the GT line spec car is a treat. GT Line seats with sports stitching are immediately eye catching, and does a significant job at elevating the cabin feel of the car over its lower spec counterpart. The other area where the GT line excels over its lower spec counterpart would have to be the infotainment unit on the centre console, where the GT line car is equipped with these lovely customisable i-Toggle buttons that let you choose your preferred shortcuts - a feature that actually sets it apart from any other car brand at the moment and has real world usability. If you are a fan of the more gimmicky stuff, you'll be glad to know that Peugeots are also equipped with a holographic digital driver's display, which is super cool and trippy to look at. Not a deal breaker in our books, but definitely a good party piece.
CAT B Size with CAT A Economy
One of the draws about the 408 no doubt lies in its form. This CAT A fastback is equipped with a rather small engine, even by today's standards, but carries a full size package that facilitates generous rear legroom, and a large cargo space of 536 litres. The best part, the 408 doesn't struggle with its own size and still feels light on its feet. In fact, despite a 0-100km/h time of 11.5 seconds, the 408 feels much quicker off the line, with its turbocharger kicking in fairly early to provide the 408 with enough torque to breeze along the start-stop traffic situations in Singapore.
Up at higher speeds, the 408 does lose out to other 4 cylinders in the market in terms of its torque band, but this isn't noticeable unless you're travelling at speeds of above 120km/h, which is honestly a rarity in Singapore's context. What is interesting is that while most 3 cylinder options in the market are smaller vehicles that tend to feel a little out of place at higher speeds anyway, the 408 makes up for the lack of 1 cylinder with the stability of its chassis. As a fairly large car, the 408 carries speed well, and provides good front to rear balance when coursing over undulations in the road. A good long distance cruiser that is comfortable for the family - if you don't intend on going too fast.
Usable Performance & Technology
Overall, the 408 GT Line seems to have been specified extremely well for the Singapore market in the sense where its power output and drivetrain are perfectly suited for the city traffic and relatively slow highway speeds of Singapore, which means that buyers aren't paying for extra power that they don't need. The fact that the car sits comfortably within CAT A COE is also a bonus, as it allows the 408 to sit alongside other smaller continental CAT A makes, which in turn also allows the 408's size and practicality to shine through.
Elsewhere, features such as the i-Toggle shortcuts can seem insignificant, but by allocating the auto start/stop feature onto the shortcut bar, I saved myself 3-5 seconds per journey where I did not have to flip through menus to access this. That's not a feature that should be scoffed at. What's wonderful is that what you choose to put on the shortcut bar, is pretty much up to you as a driver, which should make it a real crowd pleaser.
Who will it Appeal to?
The Peugeot 408 is a car that is generous in size, big on practicality, and extremely stylish. For those reasons, I think the 408 will appeal to families who want to enjoy the comfort of a family sized car, but are willing to take things easy on the performance front. Buyers who are discerning when it comes to design will also no doubt enjoy the 408's sharp features and snazzy interior.
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