Peugeot 408 electric version now available: Limited operating range is the downside

Unlike some electric car models, the Peugeot E-408 only comes with a single powertrain option, at least at the time of its launch. It features a 207-horsepower electric motor installed on the front axle, more powerful than its sibling the E-308 with 154 horsepower, but weaker than the PHEV (plug-in hybrid) version of the 408 with 222 horsepower.

The all-electric version completes the Peugeot 408 product range (Photo: Peugeot).

The E-408 model is equipped with a slightly larger battery pack compared to the E-308, but still smaller than most electric cars of similar size. Peugeot uses a 54kWh battery pack for the E-308 model, providing a range of about 400km according to WLTP standards.

The E-408 model uses a 58.2kWh battery pack, which offers a slightly longer range - 453km, but is still considered low compared to consumer expectations of electric cars having a range of over 480km per charge. Peugeot explains that customers in the C-segment crossover usually travel less than 45km per day.

However, the range is not the only drawback of the Peugeot E-408. The maximum charging speed of 120kW is relatively low by modern standards, with many electric car models capable of traveling over 100km more after a 10-minute fast charge compared to the E-408.

It takes 30 minutes to charge the battery from 20% to 80%. This figure is quite modest compared to the Kia EV6 model of the same size but with a larger battery pack - 84kWh, taking 18 minutes to charge from 10% to 80%. The EV6 also offers a much more impressive range - 613km per charge.

Nevertheless, Peugeot at least equips the E-408 with a 11kW AC slow charging system, similar to the Kia EV6.

There are two versions to choose from - Allure and GT for customers purchasing the E-408. The GT version is equipped with LED matrix headlights, hands-free power tailgate, ambient interior lighting, and Level 2 driving assistance technology.

Both versions share features such as dual-zone automatic air conditioning, wireless Apple CarPlay connectivity, heated seats, integrated trip planning feature, and a charging app on a smartphone.

Some images of the Peugeot E-408 model:

(Photos: Peugeot)