Peugeot 408 SUV 1.2 Hybrid 136 GT 5dr e-DSC6 Owner Review

I rented this car in Scotland for a week. I had pre-booked a Skoda Octavia, but was given a "similar" vehicle instead — the Peugeot 408 GT 2025 Hybrid Edition. At first glance, it looked like a great alternative, but unfortunately, I was wrong.

Let’s start with the good points:

1. High ground clearance, which is helpful on rough or uneven roads.

2. Plastic protection shields on the lower corners of the car, which help prevent damage from small debris.

3. Decent fuel economy — I managed to get nearly 65 mpg.

4. Useful features like automatic windscreen wipers, auto headlights, and cruise control.

Now, the downsides:

1. Size and handling: The car is very long, with a turning radius comparable to a Toyota Camry — despite the Camry being nearly 25 cm longer. This makes driving and parking on narrow city streets quite unpleasant.

2. Poor visibility: Sitting in the car feels like being inside a tank — the small window areas make it hard to see around you.

3. Terrible interior design: The dashboard and front panel layout are poorly thought out. For example:

The start button is awkwardly placed between the driver and passenger.

Cup holders also sit between driver and a passenger and block access to the phone charging port.

There are many oddly placed compartments that will collect dust and are difficult to clean.

4. Frustrating infotainment system:

If you're using the navigation and want to adjust the temperature, you have to first tap the climate control icon, then go through several steps to make a change.

This process is too time-consuming and unsafe to do while driving.

5. Windscreen wiper system: While okay overall, it’s sometimes slow to respond in automatic mode.

6. Cruise control quirks:

If you set it to 60 mph and slow down due to traffic, it will accelerate aggressively once the lane clears — with no smooth transition.

It can also start accelerating just as you’re approaching a curve, which feels unsafe.

7. Keyless entry issues:

The system locks the car when you walk a few steps away, and there’s no obvious way to disable this feature.

If the car is parked in your driveway and you’re walking nearby (e.g. mowing the lawn), it constantly locks/unlocks and folds/unfolds the mirrors.

8. Interior space: Despite its size, the interior feels cramped. The rear seats don’t fold flat, making the cargo area less useful compared to other vehicles.

Conclusion:
Even if this car were available for £20,000 brand new, I wouldn’t buy it for personal use. While it has some strong features, the design flaws, poor user experience, and impractical details outweigh the benefits.