Used Peugeot 408 Buying Guide
The 408 (2023 on) is Peugeot’s swoopy fastback-crossover — part saloon, part SUV, all style. It sells on design and a genuinely lounge-like cabin, and as early cars come off finance it’s turning into an intriguing used pick for buyers who want something different from the default SUV shape.
Engines and trims
The range launched with the PureTech 130 petrol and Hybrid 180/225 plug-ins, later joined by mild-hybrid petrol and the full-electric e-408. The plug-ins dominate early used stock thanks to company-car economics; the PureTech 130 is the simpler private-buyer choice. Trims run Allure, Allure Premium and GT — GT brings the full light-bar theatre and nicer cabin materials that suit the car’s concept. Boot space is generous, though the rakish roofline trims rear headroom: sit tall passengers in the back before committing.
What to check before buying
Young cars mean the checklist is habits, software and the familiar engine caveat. The 1.2 PureTech petrol’s wet timing belt is the defining issue: the belt runs in engine oil and can degrade, shedding debris that blocks the oil pickup — listen for rattles, check for warning lights, and treat documented belt replacement (or the later chain-driven update on newer engines) as gold. Insist on evidence of on-schedule oil changes with the correct specification oil. On plug-in hybrids, verify real-world electric range, cable presence and charging behaviour on both AC and (where available) faster units. Confirm the i-Connect Advanced infotainment is on current software and every camera and sensor works — the 408 carries plenty of tech. Check big-wheel GT versions for kerb damage and tyre wear; the ride is best on the smaller wheels. Even at nearly-new age, run a full car check for outstanding finance and accident evidence, and expect a complete service history with no excuses at this age. Our Peugeot problems overview rounds out the homework.
Running costs
Charged nightly, a Hybrid 225 can be exceptionally cheap to run; unplugged it’s merely ordinary. The PureTech returns mid-40s mpg. Insurance sits at family-crossover levels, and depreciation from strong list prices is the used buyer’s friend here.
Verdict
A 408 GT Hybrid with charging evidence and belt/oil paperwork is a distinctive, comfortable way to stand out from the SUV crowd — bought used at a healthy discount, it makes far more sense than it did at list price.
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