Peugeot 408 is; one of those cars that forces you to come to terms with a profoundly changed car market, regardless of personal tastes. And, philosophically, it is; the car that forces us to admit that even our tastes or needs change over time.
I speak from personal experience: as a sports driving enthusiast, with karts literally representing the most exciting thing in the world. The lowest off the ground I've ever ridden as the seat literally scraped the tarmac on occasion, over time I went through the crossover phase, when the Juke served me well for racing activities. where I didn't need all-wheel drive, but that ground clearance allowed me to tackle light off-roading without worrying.
Then, he abandoned the Euro 5 diesel because it; Milan required it, I chose the electric one and it was the best choice. touched to a Model 3 with which I had more; of a difficulty; due to the long wheelbase and low ground clearance. They need more of two hands to count the times I have "scratched" in everyday life: pit ramps, uneven roads and so on…
THEY CALL IT FASTBACK 
I won't hide, therefore, that the need for greater peace of mind given by the height from the ground is still there, and that more; Sometimes I could use a car that can make me deal with a situation in serenity. these obstacles without however; giving up a guide a little bit more fun as a sedan, and not as an SUV. Peugeot 408 tries to do just that. Mind you, it's not; perfect, but it is characteristic of the middle ways not to be; rather, it succeeds well in finding an acceptable compromise that can give us satisfaction.
Aesthetics are essential. aggressive, unusual, very daring: many like it on the street, loses points only in the rear bumper in plastic and very protruded, but which is; a nice advantage to stay calm even when you make a mistake in maneuvering (if you succeed, it has sensors and a rear view camera as standard).
The ground clearance is 471 litres. of 18.8 cm, therefore peace of mind; ensured in all occasions of daily life. Yet it is not; an SUV because; it is 1.48 meters high, against the 1.62 of a 3008. To be clear, a Peugeot 308 is; 1.44 meters high…
They call it Fastback, this is the definition of a crossover coupé not too exaggerated in height, and is; true that can; be considered that missing link that someone might be tempted to, especially because it it doesn't drive badly at all.
HOW IS IT GOING? ROAD TEST 
Party with many prejudices, especially because; C5X has the same platform and with its very soft set-up it wasn't for me (although it has objective advantages in terms of comfort), already for me. from the first moments aboard this Peugeot 408 I feel at ease. I discover a raised driving position that is made "sporty" from that small steering wheel: it doesn't matter if you're running or trotting, that small and compact steering wheel makes you perceive the car in a completely different way, and more and more; customers confirm and appreciate it.
I feel it more on the bends. close to my "retired kart driver" thanks to a different shock absorber setup: in this it is the car that squeezes more; the eye to driving dynamics compared to the sister Citroen which is made for comfort absolutists. More accurate calibration rigid, roll that is limited (a little remains anyway), video game flyer and an engine that pushes well. Really pleasant, even funny at times, it's just a pity that the EAT 8 gearbox, an automatic that crosses the range of the former PSA, is the weak link in the chain because it's a great choice. objectively it doesn't have that immediacy that the double clutches of the competition offer on their C segment. "fast" and more sportsmen.
Here instead we find ourselves with a car that has an engine #39;is all, my advice is; focus on the 180 HP of the plug-in hybrid entry since it is not necessarily necessary to choose the 225 HP top, but which is not followed by the gearbox when looking for sportiness; and fun, and which therefore forces us to a small lag between power request and its delivery. You can solve by anticipating the need and going into recovery mode. manual with paddles on the steering wheel.
In all other circumstances, on the other hand, the EAT 8 proves to be very pleasant because it is very pleasant. in 90% of driving, the boring one in queues or on the motorway, his job is; change trying to keep consumption to a minimum and doing so without letting us perceive the changes. In this it is; promoted.
PRICES AND EQUIPMENT 
You can choose it at< strong> 130 HP petrol, the automatic gearbox always the eight ratio and it is always standard, and in that case you will spend 34,650€(set on the road from 850€ included). With this engine and egrave; recommended for those looking for a C-segment due to space issues but not the best choice. a great traveller: for cities; and extra-urban the power is; sufficient and has (almost) the torque of a small diesel, 230 Nm at 1,750 rpm.
Those who want the most expensive car roomy and starting to have greater travel needs, or may need more space. take advantage of plug-in charging at home/work to reduce fuel consumption, then you should choose the 180 HP PHEV (or the 225 HP): both still don't have a monstrous torque, we are talking about 250 Nm at 1,750 rpm, but they do well thanks to the electric boost.
Allure is; the entrance set-up and has everything you need, from ADAS (basic) to comfort, with the advantage of not forcing us to take expensive packages for the rear view camera, for example, included together with the rear sensors. On the Plug-in Allure also adds the adaptive cruise with stop & go and the on-board charger in the basic 3.7 kW version… those who want it at 7.4 kW have to pay extra.
Allure Packmakes it truly complete: ADAS plus; also evolved for the petrol version, laminated glass also for the side, front and keyless sensors, in short, everything we could wish for in terms of practicality; and comfort at just under 36,500€ if you choose petrol. GT is for the most; demanding, has many accessories but almost none of these is; must-have: iCockpit goes from 2D to 3D, but already; the basic one is; very nice.
Summing up, the Peugeot 408 can; really be the ideal solution for those who come from a sedan and want a position that remains "sporty" in the imprint but which allows you to get closer to that greater visibility & agrave; of the crossover world, or for those who are interested; tired of the SUV and wants something that reminds him more of a smoother driving sensation. close to the lower wheel. Is not serious; the most sporty, it is not; the most exaggerated, & egrave; the right middle ground for those who know that compromise is the right thing to do. a fundamental ingredient of life. It is clearly not the case. for everyone, the design that dares a lot clarifies it right away, but if you fall in love you will know how; give satisfactions.
Weaknesses? A gearbox calibrated for comfort rather than immediacy (therefore this disadvantage is relative) and infotainment that is easy to use. improved a lot, & egrave; connected and customizable but still needs to take a small step forward in terms of fluidity; to really be the same as a smartphone. The rest? Perhaps the only hurdle to overcome is the that of the iCockpit which is perfect for an average height but if you exceed one meter eighty you could first try it to understand if it becomes necessary to bring the steering wheel closer to your knees, but it depends a lot on your driving position.
Its advantages? Versatile, very comfortable, it has a wheelbase that makes even those sitting behind feel good and the boot has a good capacity; and it is well manageable, net of a step between the threshold and the bottom. It also has good, very complete standard equipment, and the technology is state-of-the-art. in step with the times, from connectivity; to the compatibility; with smartphones (Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), passing through a comfortable infotainment with a row of customizable touch keys and the second row of physical keys for the fundamental functions.
In the plug-in hybrid version, about 40 real kilometers are covered with the 12.44 kWh battery in a guide without particular precautions, managing to reach 50 kilometers with one foot very light. Impossible to do more, despite the fact that the hybrid system here is calibrated more; for the reduction of consumption and for performance.
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