Peugeot E-408 review: What’s new pussycat?

With new looks but the same hardware, can the 2026 Peugeot E-408 make a case for itself in the crowded family EV market?

The Peugeot 408 launched all the way back in 2022, but it took until late 2024 for an all-electric version to join the range.

Whatever the reason for the delay, it means that the E-408 was around for barely a year before Peugeot announced it was being updated.

The 2026 Peugeot E-408 was revealed at the Brussels Motor Show, and is now with us, bringing new looks and a substantial price cut as the French brand looks to establish itself as a more serious player in the EV sphere.

Positioned as a saloon/fastback/crossover at the top end of the C-segment, it’s hard to pigeonhole the E-408 or identify obvious rivals, but priced from the mid-£30,000s, it’s in the same mix as everything from mid-spec VW ID.3s to base-spec Kia EV4s and entry-level Ford Capris.

Design, interior and technology

This midlife facelift for the E-408 really is all about the aesthetics.

For 2026 there’s a whole new front end which, while not a million miles from the original, does bring a sharper, more contemporary look.

New three-claw running light units sit just under the bonnet line and are connected by a new illuminated upper grille which in top-spec cars also includes a light-up Peugeot badge. To make space for the new running lights, the main headlight units have been relocated to the lower bumper where they’re almost invisible until lit.

At the rear there’s also a new lighting design incorporating a 3D-effect and illuminated Peugeot script across the centre of the fastback boot. Also new for 2026 is the bold Flare Green paint. Designed to “shift” with the light, it changes from almost yellow in some lights to a deep metallic green, and is definitely a Marmite choice. It’s also the standard colour, so if you don’t like it, you’ll need to pay for another shade.

As far as refreshes go, it’s all pretty standard and it’s still not massively different from the previous model but does bring a slightly fresher look to this unconventionally styled fastback.

The 4.7m-long 408 is marketed as somewhere between a saloon and an SUV and its taller ride height is slightly at odds with its sharp, sweeping bodywork. From some angles it’s a refreshingly different approach, from others it can look a bit bloated.

The interior changes are similarly low-key. There are new fabric finishes for lower-grade cars and the addition of lashings of Alcantara for top-spec GT Premium on seats and doors. There are also new graphics for the digital instruments which, in GT Premium, get a neat 3D effect that effectively places data on different layers in front of the driver.

Apart from that, it’s the same story as before, with a strikingly styled and well constructed cabin designed around the iCockpit concept’s twin 10-inch screens. The refreshed instrument panel sits in a slim envelope above the low-set and oddly compact steering wheel, with a larger 10-inch infotainment system angle towards the drive. The screen’s operating system sadly hasn’t been refreshed and remains a frustratingly designed and sluggish affair. A bank of customisable digital shortcut keys beneath help somewhat but there are still far more user-friendly systems out there.

Sitting just below the space the old 508 used to occupy, the E-408 offers impressive interior room. It’s easily spacious enough for the old trope of four six-footers, with good head room and knee room, plus space under the seats for your feet. The only ‘bump’ is a big transmission-style hump that limits its use as a five-seater. Boot space is a decent 468 litres, accessed via a wide-opening hatchback.

Battery, motor and driving

While there have been visual tweaks inside and out, under the surface the E-408’s powertrain remains unchanged.

It uses the same 211bhp/253lb ft front mounted motor as before, which delivers perfectly adequate, if unremarkable, progress. There’s reasonable shove from the motor and 0-62mph is dispatched in an acceptable 7.2 seconds, with enough mid-throttle torque to allow relatively easy motorway passing.

However, for a car near the top of the brand’s line-up it feels under-batteried compared to other models coming out of the Stellantis stable.

While cars like the E-3008 and Vauxhall Grandland are getting a massive 97kWh battery with more than 400 miles of range, the limitations of the E-408’s older CMP2 platform mean it’s stuck with a 58kWh battery.

Officially that’ll return 283 miles on a charge and 4.3m/kWh. On a pleasantly warm spring day, I saw 4m/kWh which is pretty good for such a large car and suggests Peugeot has done some work to improve this setup, which historically hasn’t been great for efficiency. However, with similarly priced cars offering ranges of well over 300 miles, it’s still falling behind the curve, especially with charging capped at 120kW.

More positively, the E-408 remains a pleasant thing to drive. It’s not the last word in dynamics but it is still fairly direct and agile for a car of its size, with just a touch of body roll belying its raised ride height. That’s perhaps due to fairly soft damping which allows for a well managed ride that smooths out all but the most aggressive potholes. Coupled with noteworthy noise insulation, it’s a relaxed and relaxing place in which to cover miles.

Price and specification

Along with the new front end, one of the biggest changes for the 2026 E-408 is around pricing.

When it first went on sale in early 2025, the E-408 cost more than £40,000 – pretty punchy for a car with such middling tech specs. Now, Peugeot has euphemistically “realigned” the car’s price point, bringing the EV’s starting price down to £34,195.

That’s before the Electric Car Grant, which shaves another £1,500 off and takes the on-the-road price down to £32,695 – just £700 more than the hybrid model.

That will get you the Allure spec with 19-inch alloy wheels, tinted rear glass, reversing sensors and camera, keyless entry/start and LED lights with high beam assist. Twin 10-inch screens, vehicle-to-load capability and adaptive cruise are also standard across the range.

Above that the GT trim is priced from £35,095 after the grant and adds adaptive headlights, the 3D tail lights, and a powered tailgate. It also brings part faux-leather upholstery, ambient lighting and front parking sensors along with more advanced connected features.

Top-spec GT Premium is an extra £2,500 and brings the 3D instruments, a 360-degree camera, a heat pump and rear cross traffic warning. There’s Alcantara upholstery, heated massage seats with a memory function and a Focal premium stereo.

Verdict

At its new price point, the E-408 is certainly a more attractive prospect than before.

For the money, it’s a spacious, refined and comfortable family option, with decent specification and sharp, if somewhat divisive looks.

Technically, though, it feels like it’s slipping behind. While its offering will be sufficient for many people, with rivals offering more power and range for similar money, it becomes a less convincing package.

Peugeot E-408 GT Premium

• Price: £39,095 (£37,595 as tested after ECG)
• Powertrain: Single-motor, front-wheel-drive
• Battery: 58.3kWh
• Power: 211bhp
• Torque: 253lb ft
• Top speed: 99mph
• 0-62mph: 7.2 seconds
• Range: 283 miles
• Consumption: 4.3m/kWh
• Charging: up to 120kW

Rivals

• Kia EV4: Another hugely capable EV from the Korean specialist. Offers fuss-free family motoring and 388 miles of range for a similar price, if not quite as spacious as the Peugeot. Comes with a weird Fastback option if you’re into quirky design
• Ford Capri: A similarly confused coupe-SUV with decent passenger space and similar specifications for the money. Does offer longer-range variants but with a significant price hike
• Tesla Model 3: On the plus side, basic models now start from under £38k and bring 330-mile range and great charging support. On the negative, the interior is like a coffin and the brand has a certain stigma that some will struggle with