Polestar 2 vs Peugeot 408

The Polestar 2 starts from $62,400 before on-road costs, while the Peugeot 408 opens at $57,990. That makes the Peugeot 408 the more affordable entry point by $4,410.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $68,640 and $63,789 respectively.

The Polestar 2 qualifies for FBT exemption as an electric vehicle, which can dramatically reduce the effective cost for novated lease buyers. The Peugeot 408, as a petrol model, does not qualify.

The Polestar 2 holds a 5-star ANCAP rating vs 4 stars for the Peugeot 408. Adult occupant protection scored 92% for the Polestar 2 and 79% for the Peugeot 408.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The Polestar 2 packs more ADAS features with 8 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 5 in the Peugeot 408.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 8 in the Polestar 2 and 6 in the Peugeot 408.

How long each takes to charge — from a household power point to ultra-rapid DC — estimated from battery size and max charge rates.

The Polestar 2 features a 11.2-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the Peugeot 408 gets a 10-inch display and 10-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Polestar 2 stands out with Apple CarPlay and ambient lighting that you will not find on the Peugeot 408. The Peugeot 408 counters with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, wireless charging, panoramic roof and Focal audio. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The Polestar 2 uses a Electric Motor producing 200kW and 490Nm of torque, sent through a single-speed fixed gear to a RWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 6.4 seconds.

The Peugeot 408 responds with a Hybrid making 107kW and 230Nm, paired to a automatic driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 9.4 seconds.

The Polestar 2 has the clear power advantage at 200kW vs 107kW. In the real-world sprint, the Polestar 2 is 3.0s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Polestar 2 measures 4,606mm long on a 2,735mm wheelbase, 84mm shorter than the Peugeot 408 at 4,690mm (2,790mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Peugeot 408 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 407L in the Polestar 2 and 508L in the Peugeot 408, giving the Peugeot 408 a 101L advantage.

For towing, the Polestar 2 leads with a 1,500kg braked capacity vs 1,300kg. That 200kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Running cost data is not yet available for both models. We will update when figures are confirmed.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (Polestar 2) vs 5 years / 200,000km (Peugeot 408). Both match on warranty length.