Peugeot 408 vs Volkswagen Passat

Peugeot 408

Peugeot’s sharp-lined fastback crossover.

Volkswagen Passat

Volkswagen’s large family car.

First car

Second car

Pick this one if…

Peugeot 408

Pick the 408 for a striking fastback crossover with a modern interior and an electric option.

Best engine: The 1.2 Hybrid (136/145) or the e-408 for full electric.

Read the full guide

Pick this one if…

Volkswagen Passat

Pick the Passat for a roomy, refined family car with a huge boot and strong diesels for long distances.

Best engine: The 2.0 TDI (150 hp) or 1.5 TSI (150 hp).

Read the full guide

Performance

1.2 PureTech 130 · Petrol vs 2.0 TDI 150 · Diesel

	Peugeot 408	Volkswagen Passat
Power	130 hp	150 hp Winner
Torque	230 Nm	340 Nm Winner
0–100 km/h	10,5 s	8,7 s Winner
Top speed	200 km/h	220 km/h Winner
Power-to-weight	92,9 hp/t	98,0 hp/t Winner
CO₂ emissions (WLTP)	120 g/km	109 g/km Winner
Consumption (WLTP)	5,5 L/100km	4,2 L/100km Winner

Dimensions & space

	Peugeot 408	Volkswagen Passat
Boot	536 L	586 L Winner
Boot (seats folded)	1.611 L Winner	1.152 L
Wheelbase	2,79 m	2,79 m Winner
Length	4,69 m	4,77 m
Width	1,85 m	1,83 m
Height	1,48 m	1,46 m
Seats	5	5

Powertrain & tech

	Peugeot 408	Volkswagen Passat
Platform	EMP2 (modular)	MQB (transverse, shared with the Superb/A4)
Drive	Front-wheel drive	Front-wheel drive · All-wheel drive
Engine family	1.2 PureTech · 1.2 Hybrid (48V) · 1.6 PHEV · e-408	EA211/EA211 Evo petrol · EA888 Gen 3 petrol · EA288 diesel · GTE PHEV
Fuel	Petrol · Plug-in hybrid · Electric	Petrol · Diesel · Plug-in hybrid
Transmission	6-speed manual · e-DSC6 · EAT8 · single-speed	6-speed manual · 7-speed DSG
Euro standard	Euro 6/6d · N/A (e-408)	Euro 6
LEZ access	Euro 6/6d petrol and the e-408 allowed in the LEZ	Euro 6 petrol/diesel allowed in the LEZ (Brussels/Antwerp/Ghent)

Reliability & watch-outs

Known issues

Peugeot 408

1.2 PureTech (early): wet timing belt
PHEV/EV: check battery and charger condition
Infotainment software needs updates

Volkswagen Passat

DQ200 DSG (dry clutch) on smaller engines
Water pump/thermostat module
AdBlue/DPF on 2.0 TDI (short trips)

Pros

Peugeot 408

Striking fastback design
Modern i-Cockpit interior
Electric e-408 available

Volkswagen Passat

Huge cabin and boot (Variant: 650–1,780 l)
Refined comfort and high-speed stability
Strong towing (up to 2,000+ kg braked)

Cons

Peugeot 408

No diesel offered
Boot smaller than classic saloons

Volkswagen Passat

Pre-facelift infotainment dated
1.4/1.5 TSI less torquey than the 2.0 TDI

Driving experience

Peugeot 408

The P54 is a liftback with a crossover stance, and it drives with an easy, planted feel. Built on the EMP2 bones shared with the 308 III, it stays light for its size, so the front axle turns in cleanly and the raised body adds visibility without making the ride busy. The small i-Cockpit wheel and raised dials need a short acclimatisation, then the steering feels accurate and the car settles into an easy rhythm. The 1.2 Hybrid is eager, the e-408 delivers instant, near-silent torque, and the EAT8 automatic shifts smoothly. It is a comfortable, easy crossover-liftback, not a sporty one.

Volkswagen Passat

Comfortable, spacious and easy to cover ground in. The Passat steers accurately with light, consistent weighting, rides well, and stays quiet at speed, with the Variant estate adding real practicality. Front-drive is the base; 4Motion adds traction in poor conditions. The 1.5 TSI is smooth and economical, the 2.0 TDI is the long-distance workhorse, and the GTE plug-in covers short trips on electric power. The DSG is smooth. It is a refined, tech-heavy family car that does everything well and has long been the default fleet choice.