Peugeot 408 GT Review: The Perfect All-Rounder For

Despite not fitting into any segment, the Peugeot 408 GT is a good choice for almost anyone

Stellantis recently lent me a Peugeot 408 GT for a week to enjoy and when I first found out, I was really excited. However, I very quickly got anxious, and that is because I had no idea how to approach this car. Is it an SUV? No, too low, well what about a sedan then? You get the idea. Then I drove it and immediately forgot all that.

I will say that I, personally, have not driven very many cars when compared to my media friends, however, I have actually driven a fair bit more cars compared to the average Malaysian, especially for someone in my age group. Despite this, the Peugeot 408 GT made me fall in love with it instantly despite how… French it is. I’ll explain that a bit later.

Design

I think it is naturally only fair to start the review here. After all, this car has turned more heads while I was driving it compared to even some high end sports coupes and I think many people can agree. Some of my media friends even remarked that they turned more heads in a Peugeot 408 GT than in Aston Martins and even a GR86, so the design is definitely immaculate.

Personally, I knew of the Peugeot 408 GT for a while, since before it even launched but that is kind of how my job works, the average Malaysian, even in SS15 where I stay, did not however really know what this car was. One of my good friends here even asked me “is that a Proton,” no doubt a guess based on the logo.

Moreover, the Peugeot 408 GT is the first model from the brand in Malaysia to sport the brand’s new logo so I don’t blame anyone for the confusion. Still, despite believing the car was a “Proton,” my friend also stated “I didn’t know Proton does luxury sports cars now.” Which tickled me a bit but I explained it was actually a French lion instead.

He wasn’t the only one either as every single one of my friends, from Seremban to Subang and everywhere in between (yes, I did do a whole trip from Subang to Seremban then from there to Klang then to Bukit Jelutong and Nilai and back to Subang in the end so do stay tuned for the driving part later) said it was perhaps the most good looking car they have ever laid eyes on.

Personally, I was never a big fan of Peugeot design back in the day, the French design philosophy is often a desired taste to most people I know anyway, but I think the 408 GT is the first Peugeot car that everyone simply loves. From the balanced proportions to the lines and the distinctive blue colour exterior paint, everything just works so damn well on this machine.

On top of that, the Peugeot 408 GT is classified as a C-segment car but once again, I can’t really call it an SU or a sedan proper so instead I will keep referring to it as a car for the rest of my review. In fact, the reason I love this car is the reason I never really used to like the brand, it is different. I have never really thought being different is bad but I never liked it this much before.

See, my gripe with automakers trying to “be different” is when they do it just for the sake of it. In those cases, everything just seems forced. The design doesn’t look cohesive, the interior is a mess and cluttered and don’t get me started on the difficulty in learning its electronics. However, Peugeot got the formula right with the 408 GT.

The Peugeot 408 GT is indeed different but it is different in a good way because everything makes sense when one considers the whole package. The futuristic design and elements all work together in perfect harmony and everything compliments everything else in the car. The lin fang DRL design works well with the turn signal and lock, unlock function, for example.

Peugeot never tried to force anything with the 408 GT and it shows. The exterior features sharp Matrix LED headlights with the aforementioned lion fang DRL and the rear lights look like they were carved using the claws of the mighty king of the Savannah himself. The fastback roofline and rear bumper add a touch of sportiness to the otherwise very refined design too.

What’s more, the side of the car manages to look muscular and well proportioned, like a crouching lioness about to pounce on a gazelle while the new Peugeot logo present on the front doors add to the charm of the car and it does not look long or chubby despite being very wide, even for a C-segment car.It all just look fantastic.

Inside, the Peugeot 408 GT welcomes you with a futuristic but somewhat familiar dashboard and nappa leather seats with a massage function for the driver and front passenger as well. Naturally being a Peugeot, one will have to get used to looking at the stunning 3D digital river display over the steering wheel and not through like with other cars but you get used to it very quickly.

The rear seats are wide and spacious and can even comfortably fit 3 average sized adults abreast which many cars (typically in the B-segment or below, but there are fringe cases in the C-Segment too) tend to struggle to do. The rear air con vents and centre armrest do make it very comfortable back there even on longer trips as well.

Performance And Handling

Okay, I think I have yapped about how beautiful the Peugeot 408 GT is and how many people kept staring at it everywhere I drove so let’s talk performance. Anyone who has read my previous reviews knows that there is nothing I hate more than being stuck behind slow drivers. My friends can attest that I hate it almost as much as being behind a slow walker.

Life moves fast, at least for me it does, so I truly appreciate an engine that can push me forward without any hesitation and the Peugeot 408 GT did not disappoint. Naturally, the car is supposed to be a family car, but the 1.6-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine under the hood has all the power one would expect and then some.

On the highway, one could comfortably keep up with BMWs in the right lane and even cruise comfortably on the left lane when one wants to as well. The comfort mode is perfect for the latter and with the massage seats any drive becomes a luxurious experience. Then in sport mode, the car can make the right lane rush seem slow somehow.

Moreover, the Peugeot 408 GT has spectacular handling. The steering wheel movement is smooth and you really feel like it does exactly what you tell it to do when you tell it to so there is never any hesitation when behind the wheel. It inspires unwavering confidence but never the kind that one gets in certain cars that make one recklessly confident.

I have driven certain cars, which I will not name here, that have made me feel nigh invincible. I believe a quote from the Ford V Ferrari movie starring Matt damon captured the feeling best, you know the quote, the one he says right before Christian Bale’s Ken Miles crashes and becomes past tense.

Now I admit, I have been very reckless in the past and nearly paid the ultimate price for it before, luckily for me, those were in my very young years and I learnt very quickly after that to never push myself or my car beyond my own mortal limits, still, certain cars make me forget the fact that I am but a meat suit piloting a tissue brain inside a bone helmet and can be snuffed out so easily.

This is why I am glad that the Peugeot 408 GT is not one of those cars. DOn’t get me wrong, it is blisteringly fast and can accelerate very quickly, but you never get the sense that the car want to fly because even though I could blaze through the right lane at full speed, the car always made me want to sit and enjoy the drive a bit longer so I always found myself cruising instead.

The car could smoothly and reliably switch very seamlessly between lanes and took turns that I thought would lurch the rear occupants sideways so well that they stayed firmly in place at all times. The 20-inch tyres are a bit thin for my liking though but they absorbed bumps so well that I barely felt any, even when they were quite high like the ones in Bukit Jelutong.

All in all, I will say that the Peugeot 408 GT is more than capable of putting more sport oriented cars on the highway to shame, even those with higher displacement engines, but never really feels the need to fully bare its claws and so, in true regal fashion, just wafts along quietly and only uses its fangs when the need arises.

Tech And Features

Naturally, when one pays RM196,055 for a car (before insurance and road tax), they would expect it to come with a whole host of tech, safety and connectivity features on top of a mile long list of comfort to boot. Well, the Peugeot 408 GT delivers on all fronts and trust me when I say that Peugeot did not cheap out anywhere when building this car.

Kicking off the long list is the availability of wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay which works so seamlessly and quickly every single time. One will never ever have to wait for the navigation or music they want in this car as the entire connection process is smooth and quick. This is a major plus point as many cars still lag behind (quite literally) in this department.

The 3D digital driver display compliments the central infotainment screen so well and you can even overlay your maps onto the driver display like in certain German luxury cars to make driving on unfamiliar roads that much more easier. The display also holds all other information like media details as well and one can pick and choose what they see on the display themselves.

The only real bone I have to pick in this segment is the fact that the design of the i-cockpit and steering wheel mean that one has to look at the display over the steering wheel instead of through like with all other cars. This is, however, a Peugeot thing and perhaps the only thing I didn’t like but then again, I got used to it very fast so perhaps it isn’t really that bad.

The car also comes with cruise control and a fully customisable digital suite of buttons right below the central infotainment screen which makes it easy for you to access whatever functions YOU want to access at any time. Perfect use of digital buttons by Peugeot here as it does not force the driver to get used to the shortcuts of the 408 GT instead.

Of course, you also have your physical switches right below the customisable row of buttons for things like climate control and a physical knob for volume control as well which means that even while driving, one’s focus will never be compromised staring at the screen and the 536-litre boot also ensures you can carry anything you want without worry.

Oh and of course, no European car is complete without a sunroof, which the Peugeot 408 GT delivers in excellent fashion. It is actually a pretty well sized one too, being perfectly wide enough for a slightly bigger (wider not taller) adult such as myself to go through without getting stuck in which I felt was just great. Although I would have preferred no sunroof, I didn’t mind it.

Safety

Okay folks, homestretch, so let’s go all out for this one. The Peugeot 408 GT comes equipped with a comprehensive and very impressive suite of ADAS safety features including front collision warning, ABS, Brake Assist, EBD, 6 airbags, door ajar warning, seat belt warning, parking sensors, a 360 degree Camera, blind spot monitor, rear cross traffic alert and more.

Of course, we Malaysians prioritise safety when choosing a vehicle. This is the way to go, no doubt, because we always want our families and loved ones to be safe when we drive, this is normal, and Peugeot has thought of this, which is why the 408 GT offers such a comprehensive list of safety features so we never have to worry while driving.

Like I said before, the Peugeot 408 GT is by no means a cheap car, but for the amount of tech and safety you get coupled with the stunning design and superb ride and handling, it is worth every penny. In fact, despite costing almost RM200,000, if one can afford it, I believe that this car is one of the best in the price range for almost anyone and any need.

Of course, if one would require a workhorse type or off-road vehicle, a pickup truck would suit them better, but for the majority of Malaysians looking for a sub 200k vehicle and like me prefer sedans over SUVs but crave the practicality they offer, there really isn’t anything in our market right now that offers as much versatility and style.

In short, the Peugeot 408 GT is extremely safe, very stunning, insanely practical and an absolute blast to drive on any road and in any situation and regardless of how one likes to drive, the Peugeot 408 GT can please almost everyone. Whether you prefer sitting high or low, driving fast or slow, whatever, this car can truly do it all.

The Holes In My Cheese

Okay, so now that I have spent the better part of THREE freaking hours singing praises for the Peugeot 408 GT, it is finally time for me to nitpick a little. Well to be honest I only really have 2 real issues to point out. Firstly, for a car that costs almost RM200k, one would assume Peugeot would have been able to afford better cameras for the car.

Yes, the Peugeot 408 GT has a 360 degree camera but the quality is subpar at best and at night, it is even worse. I know I said that Peugeot did not cheap out on anything in this car and I genuinely feel they did not, but this is exactly what I meant by the car is very French. The 360 camera looks so good at first but look a little deeper and the holes start to appear.

Moreover, rear visibility is okay most times but when it rains, the rear window fogs up and water sticks to it a bit too much so even after the rain there is still a sheet of water blocking your view. The worst part is, there is no rear wiper either. This is a serious safety hazard to me and I hope Peugeot looks into this moving forward.

My Conclusion

Okay, I got my complaints out of the way so yes, when I say the Peugeot 408 GT is very French, I mean it looks so tantalising at first but you don’t see the holes in it until later and look very closely. Luckily, these are small issues and don’t make the car any less alluring, see what I did there? So, have you been eyeing the French lion lately? Go ahead and test drive it then, I reckon you’ll love it just as much as I did.