PEUGEOT 408

Genre-bending 408 is brought into line with its younger siblings...

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Arguably the car in the Peugeot range that best illustrates the French firm's 'feline' design ethos, the sleek 408 fastback has never failed to visually stand out. Four years after its initial launch, Peugeot has freshened things up, and it follows the 2008 and 5008 SUVs in receiving a new front end featuring an illuminated grille and a modified bumper. The brand's new badging and signature 'claw' daytime-running lights add a stronger presence, while the rear gains sharper lights and illuminated 'Peugeot' typography. The inside has also received a makeover, including a new digital instrument cluster and plusher seat fabric options. Some might be dismayed to learn that a new driver monitoring camera is now standard across the range but, as we will get into, it's nothing to worry about.

From launch, the facelifted 408 is available with three powertrains: hybrid, plugin hybrid and electric. Our main focus is the Hybrid 145, which is expected to be the most popular choice in the UK. As before, it combines a 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with a 48V integrated starter-generator and a 21bhp electric motor, which is housed within the six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.