- Peugeot has created a fully-electric version of its 408 crossover, the E-408.
- The sole EV powertrain option is a single 207 hp motor mounted over the nose, though hybrid versions of the 408 are also available.
- A relatively small 58.2 kWh battery limits the WLTP range to 282 miles and a 120 kW charge rate means top-ups will be frequent and slow.
Peugeot has unveiled a fully electric version of its 408 crossover, adding the E-408 to a lineup that already gives buyers the choice between ICE, hybrid and PHEV powertrains.
Unlike some EVs, which give buyers the choice of a couple of different power levels, the E-408 is only available with one powertrain, at least at launch. It consists of a single 207 hp (210 PS / 155 kW) electric motor driving the front wheels, making the E-408 punchier than its E-308 little brother, which makes do with 154 hp (156 PS / 115 kW). But the newest 408 is fractionally less muscular than the existing 222 hp (225 PS / 166 kW) 408 PHEV.
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The E-408 also gets a slightly bigger battery than the E-308, though it’s still small when compared to the power packs fitted to most compact-sized EVs. Peugeot slides a 54 kWh battery under the floor of the E-308, which gives both the hatch and wagon versions a WLTP range of around 248 miles (400 km). The E-408 gets a 58.2 kWh unit that helps stretch the range to 282 miles (453 km), which is better, but still looks weak in an era when we expect EVs that aren’t just built for city use to last more than 300 miles (482 km) on a charge.
Peugeot reasons that most compact/C-segment buyers typically travel less than 28 miles (45 km) daily, but it’s not just the range that looks off-the-pace, but the charge speeds. A 120 kW max charge rate is slow by modern standards and many EVs will give you more miles of range in 10 minutes on a DC charger than the 62 (100 km) the E-408 delivers.
A 20-80 percent top-up takes 30 minutes, but Kia’s EV6 can fill its much bigger 84 kWh battery from 10-80 percent in 18 minutes. The EV6 also offers a more impressive 381 miles (613 km) of range from a full battery. Peugeot has at least given the E-408 an 11 kW onboard charger for AC hookups, matching the Kia’s equipment.
Buyers can spec their E-408 in Allure or flashier GT trim, the GT justifying its premium with LED matrix headlights, a hands-free electric tailgate, ambient lighting and Level 2 driver-assist tech. But both versions come with kit like wireless Apple CarPlay dual-zone climate and a heat pump, plus a trip planner built into the navigation system and smartphone charge app to help make the most of the diddy battery.
