You have been to Europe, but could not spot a single Peugeot 408 on the road. The 408 is actually designed for the emerging market, first launched in China, followed by Malaysia. It is based on the 308 chassis, but in the sedan outfit. It has nothing in similar to the previous 407 generation, though share the same series number.
For the 408, it is available in 2 model, one with the popular 1.6-litre turbo Prince engine, producing 163HP/240Nm power, mated to the same 6-speed torque converter transmission used in the 308. This turbo model is the high end unit, providing all the safety features, with 6-airbag, anti-skid regulation, electronic stability program and some luxurious items such as leather seat and auto dimming rear view mirror. As for the 2.0-litre unit, it uses the old 145hp/200Nm engine, mated to the old AL4 4-speed gearbox, and with a lot less features, and almost RM20k cheaper at RM109,888. The turbo unit is asking for RM128,888, competing directly with other C-segment cars. at this price, a lot will still go for Japanese made Honda and Toyota.
The interior is a direct inheritance from the 308, with no surprise and dated. The 408 has just been launched for less than 2 years. Looking at the rear, its style fit right into the C-segment space, no extravagant design and not sexy, just simple yet functional.
Walking around the car, one could feel the fitting is not as good as other European-designed Peugeot. It is noticeable at the C-pillar window chrome trim, which does not snap well and could be a finger cutting hazard. But if you want a fully loaded C-segment car, the 408 is still a good choice, though with no NCAP rating, it could not be worse than its competitor. However, skip the 2.0-litre unit, the technology is for the previous decade!
