Peugeot’s genre-bending, high-profile 408 has been put under the microscope, sporting the French brand’s new corporate look and receiving minor improvements throughout.
The 2026 Peugeot 408 has received a number of updates similar to those of the related 308 Hatch and SW, and it is the brand’s first model to sport an illuminated ‘PEUGEOT’ badge on the tailgate.
The new face, already seen on the 308, sees the LED daytime running light signature merge with the front grille and is reflected in the rear “three-claw” taillight signature of the revised taillights.
With Daily Sparkz you can save thousands on a new car. Click Here to get a great deal.
Also new is the hero color Flare Green, which is said to offer “spectacular color variations” in different light – “towards bright yellow in sunlight and deep green in shadow”.
Minor design revisions, including new bumpers and alloy wheels, round out the exterior changes, while the interior features revised graphics for the digital instrument cluster.
In the high-spec versions GT and GT Exclusive for the European market, the 10-inch digital cluster receives improved 3D graphics “for optimal readability and driving pleasure”.
Peugeot says it has also improved the interior ambience and perceived quality with “new sophisticated fabrics” for the seats and interior trim. Otherwise it is largely a case of procrastination.
The Peugeot 408 is still available with 48V hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric powertrains – Australia is currently receiving the pre-facelift “408 Hybrid”, having initially received the 408 Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) at launch.
In the former, a 107 kW 1.2-liter turbo petrol engine is combined with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with a small electric motor and a small battery pack.
According to Peugeot, the 408 Hybrid can achieve a combined fuel consumption of 5.0L/100km according to WLTP testing.
Additionally, the French brand claims that the 48V hybrid system “can operate in 100 percent zero-emission electric mode for up to 50 percent of driving time in urban conditions.”
The 408 Plug-in Hybrid is the most powerful of the three powertrain offerings, offering a system output of 177 kW with a 1.6-liter turbocharged gasoline engine producing 132 kW and a 92 kW electric motor.
Drive is transferred to the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and the 14.6 kWh lithium-ion battery enables an electric range of up to 85 km. Using a 7.2kW single-phase charger, the PHEV battery can be fully charged in a claimed 2 hours and 5 minutes.
Finally, the E-408 gets a front-mounted 157kW/343Nm electric motor connected to a 58.2kWh (usable) nickel-manganese-cobalt battery. Peugeot claims an efficiency of 14.7 kWh/100 km and a range of 456 km on the combined WLTP cycle.
The E-408 supports DC fast charging of up to 120 kW, which is enough to provide a 20-80 percent charge in “around 30 minutes.”
Daily Sparkz has reached out to Peugeot Australia to inquire about the local outlook and timeline for the updated 408 range and is awaiting a response.
Only 93 examples of the 408 were registered in Australia in 2025, a 14.8 percent increase over the 2024 figure, but still very low in the overall picture.
Nevertheless, the small cars of the 308 series (88 units) and the large SUV 5008 (60 units) were sold. Peugeot Australia only sells the 408 Hybrid in Australia, although the 408 Plug-in Hybrid was previously offered.
The all-electric E-408 was originally “part of our considerations for future products in the local market” but was never implemented.
Click on the images to go to the full gallery
MORE: Explore the Peugeot 408 showroom
