RAY MASSEY gets behind the wheel of the new hybrid Peugeot 408 crossover - could this chic French family car be a hit in the UK?

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When France's President Macron attended the world premiere of Peugeot's sophisticated new hybrid 408 crossover at the Paris Motor Show, I was there.

So with first UK deliveries now under way, what better time to get behind the wheel myself?

It's a smooth operator: chic, comfortable, spacious and practical, with a smart cockpit, compact steering wheel, and clever 3D dashboard screen. 

As well as the fastback styling, the eye-catching Obsession Blue paintwork of the test car in my driveway drew admiring glances and comments from passing folk.

Fastback: The new hybrid Peugeot 408 crossover is now on sale in the UK 

The stylish new 408 range is priced from £31,050 for the frugal 1.2-litre three-cylinder 120 horsepower PureTech petrol version. 

There are two plug-in petrol-electric hybrid (PHEV) powertrains priced from £39,900 linking a 1.6-litre petrol engine to an electric motor. 

Drivers also have the choice of three trims: Allure, Allure Premium and GT. All 50 high-spec First Edition models allocated to the UK and priced from £43,250 have already sold out.

I drove the range-topping 408 GT 225 plug-in hybrid, which costs from £44,700.

The combination of the 1598cc turbocharged inline four-cylinder petrol and electric motor delivering 225hp (165kW) of combined hybrid power propelled my car from zero to 62mph in 7.8 seconds up to a top speed of 145 mph in spirited sport mode.

In quiet electric mode, it has a claimed range of 40 miles but will still manage up to 84mph before the petrol engine kicks in. In hybrid mode it drives and handles well, and has good pace as a practical grand tourer.

The stylish new 408 range is priced from £31,050 for the frugal 1.2-litre three-cylinder 120 horsepower PureTech petrol version

It's a smooth operator: chic, comfortable, spacious and practical, with a smart cockpit, compact steering wheel, and clever 3D dashboard screen

First Edition models allocated to the UK and priced from £43,250 have already sold out

In quiet electric mode, it has a claimed range of 40 miles but will still manage up to 84 mph before the petrol engine kicks in

Average fuel economy is a stated 211.3 mpg to 269.5 mpg, with low CO2 emissions of 26 g/km

There are two plug-in petrol-electric hybrid (PHEV) powertrains priced from £39,900 linking a 1.6-litre petrol engine to an electric motor

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Drivers also have the choice of three trims: Allure, Allure Premium and GT

Average fuel economy is a stated 211.3 mpg to 269.5 mpg, with low CO2 emissions of 26 g/km — that's provided you charge it up fully at a dedicated 7.4 kWh wall-box, which should take about 1 hr 40 min.

Peugeot says over the next two years there will be five new 100 per cent electric cars. 

By 2025 every model will offer at least one fully electric option. And by 2030 all Peugeot's European models will be 100 per cent electric.

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