Peugeot’s huge mistake on the electric 408

Friday 04th October 2024 06:54 PM

Peugeot continues its ambition to dominate the European electric vehicle market with the launch of the e-408. A crossover which takes the basics of the 408 hybrid and which now includes a 100% electric engine, with a range of 453 km thanks to a 58.2 kWh battery.

Insufficient autonomy?

The new Peugeot e-408, produced in France, offers a 210 horsepower engine and 345 Nm of torque, allowing this model to compare favorably with some of its direct rivals. But its autonomy raises questions.

Thanks to its extended wheelbase, the e-408 accommodates a larger capacity NMC battery, offering 58.2 kWh of useful energy. This allows the model to achieve a range of just 453 km according to the WLTP cycle.. It is a little short for a family vehicle, designed to be the main vehicle in a household. In a market where autonomy is becoming a central criterion, this figure seems low compared to the Tesla Model 3 Propulsion, which claims 513 km. It would have been more judicious to use the battery from the e3008 (73 kWh), but the platform is not the same (eMP2 v3 instead of STA_MEDIUM for the E-3008). Peugeot may be confident in the face of the competition, but this gap could work very strongly to the disadvantage of the e-408.

Especially since with a charging capacity limited to 120 kW, the e-408 takes 30 minutes to go from 20 to 80% charge, a rather long time for a vehicle in this segment. In alternating current, it accepts up to 11 kW.

Complicated pricing positioning

The announced price for the e-408 is €43,900, which places it in the range of vehicles eligible for the ecological bonus. However, compared to a Tesla Model 3, whose price starts at €41,490 for greater autonomy, the e-408 could have difficulty convincing buyers. Peugeot is banking on advanced features, such as the integrated route planner, a warranty that can be extended up to eight years or 160,000 km, to tip the scales. Let’s see if it’s enough to make you fall for it.

An unchanged design

Externally, the Peugeot e-408 retains its distinctive profile of fastbackwith imposing 19-inch rims and Matrix LED technology lights. Inside, rear space and trunk volume of 471 liters remain identical to the hybrid versions, making it a good choice for families (despite the somewhat low autonomy that we mentioned above). Peugeot’s famous i-Cockpit now integrates ChatGPT artificial intelligence, to reinforce the connected and modern aspect of the vehicle.

We told you, the Peugeot e-408 is priced from €43,900 for the Allure finish, while the GT version is available at €45,900. The first deliveries to customers are planned for the end of 2024 / beginning of 2025. In the meantime, the electric sedan will be highlighted on the Peugeot stand during the Paris Motor Show, from October 14 to 20, 2024. On this occasion, Peugeot will offer special offers including discounts of up to 5,000 €.