Peugeot 408. Conqueror of boundless spaces
The Peugeot 408 sedan was designed by the Franco-Chinese consortium Dongfeng Peugeot- Citroën. Initially, the car was exclusively available in China and South America, later it also appeared in Russia, so it was built for large countries with bad road conditions, which allows us to call it the conqueror of boundless spaces. At the same time, the 408 is not a successor to the 407, but a version of the Peugeot 308 hatchback with a longer wheelbase, well known to the Israelis. The car has been produced since 2010 in two generations. Such cars as the Kia Optima, Hyundai Elantra, Skoda Octavia, and Toyota Corolla are its major competitors.
The nameplate "408" stands for: 4 - size (length), 0 - Lion's Marque (Peugeot Marque), 8 - the eighth generation of this car.
The Peugeot 408 features rather big front and rear overhangs as compared to the hatchback. Moreover, the car has enough ground clearance for off-road adventures. Moreover, the manufacturer has strengthened the car’s suspension and installed metal crankcase protection. On a sandy quarry, the front-wheel drive French sedan feels much more confident than the all-wheel drive Subaru Impreza sedan due to better geometric cross-country ability. One of the obvious strengths is the incredible interior roominess and a large roomy trunk.
The first generation
The first generation Peugeot 408 was unveiled in 2010 and was produced until 2014. The car was 4,680 mm long, 1,815 mm wide and 1,525 mm high, and had a wheelbase of 2,710 mm. It was positioned as a moderately luxurious family sedan, neither too simple, nor chic. The car had the elegant exterior and interior design. The passenger compartment featured a large folding 7-inch screen, a CD player on the dashboard compatible with MP3 and WMA, Bluetooth-enabled devices with USB connectivity. The model was equipped with a 1.6- or 2-liter gasoline engine with an output of 110 and 147 hp, respectively. Both engines worked with a 5-speed manual gearbox. These were the characteristics of the standard version, which was closest to the original model. However, depending on which country or for which country the car was produced, the equipment and parameters could be different.
The second generation
The second generation Peugeot 408 has been produced from 2014 to the present (as of 2022). It should be noted that for all markets except the Russian one, this is the second generation. At the same time, the Russian market received the first generation after the restyling in 2017. The modern Peugeot 408 looks different from the authentic French models. It is less elegant, but still attractive, harmonious and well balanced. It is sporty and confident, with a wide air intake and narrow teardrop-shaped headlights.
The entry-level version of the new Peugeot 408 has a practical interior with spacious rear seats, wide rear door openings, with many niches and compartments for items. The trunk has an impressive volume of 0.5 cubic meters. The options and features for each market vary greatly. Some models have a very limited set of options, whereas others feature a full range of modern devices. The list of standard equipment includes a small touch screen of a modest control system, climate control, and the Start-Stop option.
In the Asian market, the sedan is available with 1.6 and 2.0-liter gasoline 4-cylinder engines with an output of 106 and 147 hp, which are combined with a 4-speed automatic or 5-speed manual transmission. In South America, there are 1.6-liter diesel, 2.0-liter gasoline and 1.6-liter THP gasoline (Sport) engines, all coupled with a 6-speed automatic transmission.
In the Russian market, the 2021 Peugeot 408 is offered with three gasoline engines with a volume of 1.6 liters, which produce 110, 120 or 150 hp, including one diesel engine with an output of 112 hp. The 110 hp gasoline and diesel modifications can be paired only with a 5-speed manual transmission, whereas the 120 hp version comes with an upgraded 4-speed automatic transmission.
