Peugeot 408 GT, the lion for the brave – Test Drive
A bitter fact that we must digest at present is that everyone now wants a car with flood-resistant specifications.
SUV. Crossover. Or whatever three-letter acronym introduced by every manufacturer to distinguish their products from others.
As a result, we can now see various types of crossover SUV models in the local market, and the victims, of course, are the sedan models.
The latest Peugeot 408 available in the Malaysian market is no exception to falling victim to the SUV frenzy.
Is it a model worth buying? Feel free to read our brief review until the end.
Exterior design
If the two previous generations featured sedan body shapes, the new generation Peugeot 408 is now a modern mishmash car built for those who dare to drive it on the road.
Fundamentally, the 408 still retains the sedan body shape, but with a liftback rear design before being embellished with crossover elements around the body.
This is not a new thing, as several other manufacturers also use the same design format, such as Citroen with the C3X, and Toyota through the Crown Crossover model.
Not everyone likes this format, but it could be a suitable model for those seeking something different.
On the road, the Peugeot 408 GT looks aggressive with its lion fang-shaped main headlights, rear lights with claw graphics, and 20-inch black Monolithe rims with a slightly… peculiar design.
With slightly higher dimensions compared to sedans in its segment, along with a ground clearance of 189 mm, it’s difficult to classify this Peugeot 408 as a crossover SUV. The writer prefers to call it a crossover sedan.
As emphasized, the design delivered by this Peugeot 408 is not for everyone, only for the brave.
Modern cabin, but…
The Peugeot 408 GT brings the Peugeot i-Cockpit 3D, which is far more modern than the previous 408.
It features a flat top and bottom steering wheel, a 10-inch digital cluster screen with a three-dimensional display, a 10-inch infotainment screen, and i-Toggles screen where the driver can set up to five different shortcut functions according to personal needs.
In standard, the Peugeot 408 GT variant we test-drove also comes with Nappa leather-wrapped seats that have been recognized by the Aktion Gesunder Rücken (AGR) independent body, which promotes back health.
There is also a built-in massage function with several modes inspired by animals such as cats and snakes available for the driver and front passenger.
With these mentioned modern features, comfort is indeed not a major issue.
Despite the presence of customizable shortcut function buttons, the writer still believes that frequently used functions such as climate control don’t need to be integrated into the main screen.
The infotainment screen from the factory offers a fairly clear and sharp graphic display, but could be improved with faster and smoother graphic movements.
It can be quite annoying when one wants to quickly lower the cabin temperature, but have to wait a few moments for the ‘loading’ graphic to finish playing.
Fortunately, the Peugeot 408 comes standard with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, so most of the time, the driver’s eyes only need to focus on the navigation map display and the appropriate music selection played by the Focal Audio system with its 10 speakers.
Powerful Engine
For the Malaysian market, the Peugeot 408 is only offered with one engine option, which is the 1.6-liter turbo PureTech inline-4.
It is capable of churning out a high power of 218 hp @ 5,750 rpm and a torque of 300 Nm @ 2,000 rpm, delivered to the front wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission.
Accelerating at traffic lights is not a weakness for this crossover sedan; in fact, on highways, the Peugeot 408 can outperform any naturally aspirated sedan.
For a full tank, the writer successfully recorded a mileage of 510 km.
Driving Experience
From the driver’s seat, one actually needs time to get used to the layout of the Peugeot 408 GT’s 3D i-Cockpit. This is because compared to other cars, you need to read the digital cluster screen from above the steering wheel. If set too high, you may struggle to see the meter panel.
Just like the infotainment screen, this digital cluster screen also displays graphics movements somewhat slowly for a modern car. It still offers an analog-style meter display but with a more concise interface.
Despite the asymmetrical steering wheel design, the Peugeot 408 still offers adequate handling responses, not overly sporty but still enjoyable, particularly when maneuvering around corners.
The Peugeot 408’s suspension components, consisting of MacPherson struts at the front and a multilink setup at the rear, are adequate when driving on well-paved surfaces where body roll is at an acceptable level. However, the high body style of the car is its main downside.
The main enemy of the Peugeot 408 is uneven road surfaces, especially when encountering potholes or road debris.
It’s even more frustrating when you’re enjoying a corner, and there are potholes or road debris scattered on the road where this sedan is quick to jump and ‘veer off course’ set by the driver.
Not all negative aspects are felt in the Peugeot 408. The most appreciated aspect is the cabin’s NVH (Noise, Vibration, Harshness) level, where any roughness and engine noise are effectively filtered to ensure the driver’s and passengers’ comfort throughout the journey.
Practicality
The Peugeot 408 GT still offers a practical cabin space for the whole family, even with its bold crossover sedan body style.
For instance, on the center console, there is a special slot for wireless smart device charging, followed by space below for other smart devices and a dedicated hole for placing your SmartTag device.
The cute transmission tunnel also contributes to a more spacious cabin. There is also storage space below the central armrest with separate openings, while for rear passenger comfort, second-row air conditioning vents are provided.
Although it may seem narrow from the outside, the Peugeot 408’s cabin actually provides sufficient headroom and legroom for adult passengers. However, the relatively small rear mirror structure makes it difficult for any old-school driver to look back when parking the car.
Fortunately, the Peugeot 408 comes with a clear 360-degree surround-view camera that allows us to observe the presence of obstacles in the surroundings.
Moreover, the Peugeot 408 offers a cargo space capacity of 536 liters, expandable to up to 1,538 liters when the second-row seats are folded down.
Price… a bit expensive
Behind the bold exterior and the aforementioned modern features, one thing that makes the Peugeot 408 not as appealing is the price tag.
For the Malaysian market, you can get the basic Allure version of the Peugeot 408 with pricing starting from RM146,055. Sounds reasonable, right?
However, for the GT variant equipped with additional premium features, the starting selling price is from RM196,055. Wise buyers may suggest adding a bit more money and buying a much larger and more comfortable D-segment sedan.
Therefore, the writer likes to reiterate the argument mentioned at the beginning of the article, “Peugeot 408: A ‘French Lion’ for the Brave.”
Peugeot 408 GT Specifications
Engine: 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-four
Power: 218 hp @ 5,750 rpm, 300 Nm @ 2,000 rpm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Drive: Front-wheel drive
Suspension: MacPherson Strut (Front)/Multilink (Rear)
Tire Size: 245/40 R20
Price: RM196,555 OTR
