The Peugeot 408 is best remembered in Malaysia as that awkward-looking sedan that sat below the beautiful 508 but the French Lion wants to put all that in the past. Instead, say hello to the all-new 2022 Peugeot 408 and it is yet another crossover.

But hang on a minute, this is one of those fastback crossovers that tries to dissuade naysayers from saying “merde” whenever a carmaker announces a new model that is lacking in enthusiasm. For the first time ever, the all-new 408 will be sold in Europe beginning from early-2023.

The European-spec crossover will be produced in Mulhouse, France, and will be followed by a launch in China where it will be built in Chengdu. The outgoing 408 sedan that is still being built in China (refreshed even!) will be sold alongside this new 408 and given a new nomenclature which in the world’s biggest automotive market isn’t confusing at all.

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Powering the 408 crossover is a choice of three engines – two rechargeable plug-in hybrid (PHEV) versions with 180 PS and 225 PS as well as a 130 PS petrol unit. No diesel variants are announced and all three are paired with an 8-speed automatic gearbox. An all-electric version will follow a few months later.

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This all-new 408 is described by the French Lion as a “new fastback silhouette at the top of the C-segment”. It measures 4,690 mm in length with a wheelbase of 2,790 mm which makes it longer than the Honda Civic.

The overall design is unmistakably Peugeot with hints of the handsome 308 in front and the signature three-claw LED lights in the rear.

Putting more funk on the 408's design are the wheels which on either the petrol or PHEV variants of the crossover that are unveiled looked absolutely smoking. We prefer the interesting mishmash design on the PHEV, but what say you?

Inside, the all-new 408 offers the latest generation of the Peugeot i-Cockpit with emphasis on quality and connectivity. The former is a very hard sell to buyers on this side of the planet.

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The 408’s driver assistance systems (ADAS) are powered by 6 cameras and 9 radars which include:

• Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go function
• Night Vision, which warns of animals, pedestrians, or cyclists ahead before they appear in the high beam
• Long-range blind-spot monitoring (up to 75 m)
• Rear Traffic Alert, which warns of potential hazards when reversing

It is too early to tell on whether the all-new 408 will make it into Malaysia or not but do you think this would be a worthy addition to Peugeot’s line-up here?

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