New electric Peugeot E-408 only costs £675 more than the hybrid

• New fully-electric powertrain option
• 58kWh battery and 281-mile range
• Prices start from £42,175

The new Peugeot E-408 has just gone on sale in the UK, falling into place as the final piece of Peugeot’s all-electric puzzle. The French brand now offers an electric version of all of its models, from the E-208 supermini to the E-Rifter MPV and this, the four-door fastback E-408. 

Prices for the E-408 start from £42,175, making it the most expensive 408 model – but only just. That’s only £675 more than the plug-in hybrid 408, which could be a small enough gap to convince buyers to spring for the fully-electric model. That price tag puts the E-408 in a similar ballpark to several other electric coupe SUVs, including the Skoda Enyaq Coupe, Cupra Tavascan and the Ford Capri. 

What’s new for the Peugeot E-408?

Peugeot may have only added one extra letter to the Peugeot 408’s name, but that ‘E’ represents a big change under the skin. In line with the French marque’s naming strategy, the E-408 is fully electric, utilising the tried-and-tested technology found in other EVs from parent-brand Stellantis.

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In place of the regular 408’s petrol-hybrid engine, you’ll find a 207bhp electric motor driving the front wheels. Power is supplied by a 58kWh battery – bigger than the 54kWh unit found in the E-308, but considerably smaller than the 98kWh battery available in the E-3008 Long Range. As a result, the E-408’s 281-mile range sits between the two – the E-308 tops out at 257 miles, while the E-3008 can manage up to a mighty 435 miles. Still, that should be enough for most family car drivers who only cover an average of 28 miles a day, according to Peugeot.

When you do run low on charge, you’ll be able to top up using a rapid charger at speeds of up to 120kW, allowing for a 20-80% top up in just over 30 minutes. Home charging is handled by an 11kW on-board AC charger, plus all E-408s get a heat pump fitted as standard, helping to preserve range in the colder months. There’s regenerative braking, too, to help recover energy that would otherwise be lost when slowing down, which can be adjusted via the steering-wheel mounted paddles. 

The E-408 is heavier than both the mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid 408s, but the punchy nature of the electric motor means that it delivers the nippiest performance. The 0-62mph acceleration benchmark takes 7.6 seconds in the EV, compared to 7.8 and 10.1 seconds for the plug-in and mild hybrids, respectively.

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What Peugeot hasn’t changed is the styling, which, depending on your view of the regular 408, may not be a bad thing. The standard 408 was already a handsome machine, with a chiselled front end and an unusual half-coupe, half-SUV profile. The E-408 gets the same claw-like daytime-running lights, a body-coloured grille, and a practical hatchback boot opening. Peugeot’s designers haven’t fiddled with the interior either – it still features the i-Cockpit dashboard layout with an optional 3D display and a mixture of fabric, mesh and Alcantara upholstery.

How much does the Peugeot E-408 cost and when can I buy one?

The Peugeot E-408 costs from £42,175 before options. That gets you into the base ‘Allure’ model, but upgrading to the more lavishly-equipped E-408 ‘GT’ will set you back £44,945.

Sure, that’s quite a lot more than the entry-level mild hybrid 408 – which costs from £33,410 – but the price difference between the EV and the plug-in hybrid is much narrower. The E-408 Allure is just £675 more than the plug-in hybrid, while the GT is only £125 pricier than its plug-in hybrid equivalent. Peugeot is also offering the E-408 on a 0% APR PCP finance deal currently, making it more affordable than the plug-in hybrid if purchased this way.

Customers in the UK can place an order now, and Peugeot expects the first deliveries to begin in summer 2025.
You can find out more about our favourite electric family cars here…