Verdict
At just RM2,945 more, the Tesla Model 3 brings a 279 hp, 420 Nm rear motor, 62.5 kWh battery and claimed 534 km range; its 6.2-second 0-100 km/h time is 2.6 seconds quicker than the Peugeot 408’s 8.8 seconds. It also has a larger 594-litre boot and lower-profile 1,441 mm body. The 408 counters with CKD assembly, RM90 annual road tax against RM280, plus a far longer seven-year/200,000 km manufacturer warranty. For Malaysian buyers able to charge, the Tesla is the more complete package; the Peugeot makes sense for petrol familiarity and warranty cover.
Pick the Peugeot 408 if you want petrol refuelling, RM190 lower annual road tax and a seven-year/200,000 km manufacturer warranty.
Pick the Tesla Model 3 if you can charge at home or work and want 534 km claimed range, 6.2-second acceleration and a 594-litre boot for RM2,945 more.
Key differences
- Price: Peugeot 408 RM146,055; Tesla Model 3 RM149,000.
- Performance: 408 has 215 hp/300 Nm and does 0-100 km/h in 8.8 seconds; Model 3 has 279 hp/420 Nm and takes 6.2 seconds.
- Running tax: 408 road tax is RM90 yearly; Model 3 road tax is RM280 yearly.
- Boot space: 408 carries 536 litres; Model 3 carries 594 litres.
- Warranty: 408 gets seven years/200,000 km; Model 3 gets four years/80,000 km manufacturer cover, plus eight years/160,000 km for its battery and drive unit.
- Safety and driver assistance: 408 has six airbags and passive cruise control; Model 3 has seven airbags and adaptive cruise control.
408
- RM190 lower annual road tax.
- Seven-year/200,000 km manufacturer warranty.
- CKD Malaysian assembly and a space-saver spare tyre.
- 8.8-second 0-100 km/h time trails the Model 3’s 6.2 seconds.
- 536-litre boot is 58 litres smaller than the Model 3’s.
- Six airbags and passive cruise control versus seven airbags and adaptive cruise control.
Model 3
- 279 hp/420 Nm motor and 6.2-second 0-100 km/h time.
- 62.5 kWh battery with 534 km claimed range, 11 kW AC and 170 kW DC charging.
- 594-litre boot, powered boot and V2L capability.
- RM280 annual road tax is RM190 more than the 408’s.
- Four-year/80,000 km manufacturer warranty is much shorter than the 408’s seven-year/200,000 km cover.
- No spare tyre is listed, while the 408 has a space-saver.
What the 408 has over the Model 3
What the Model 3 has over the 408
Based on the published spec sheets of the selected variants — a blank field on one side can also mean unlisted data.
The Model 3 is 230 mm wider — more shoulder room, but a tighter fit in parking bays. Boot space favours the Model 3: 594 litres against 536.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM146,055✓ | RM149,000 |
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Segment | C-Segment | Compact Executive |
| Assembly | CKD | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM90✓ | RM280 |
| Monthly instalment (est.) | RM1,490/mo✓ | RM1,520/mo |
| Insurance / year (est.) | RM4,077✓ | RM4,122 |
| Fuel or electricity / year (est.) | — | RM1,040 |
| Energy cost / 100 km (est.) | — | RM5.20 |
| 5-year running costs (est.) | — | RM27,209 |
| Charging (estimated) | ||
| AC charge 0–100% (est.) | — | 5.7 hours |
| DC charge 10–80% (est.) | — | 25 min |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-Valve DOHC direct injection with turbocharger, variable valve timing | 400V architecture |
| Capacity | 1,598 cc | — |
| Horsepower | 215 hp at 5,500 rpm | — |
| Torque | 300 Nm at 2,000 rpm | — |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 4 | — |
| Fuel | Petrol | Electric |
| Bore × Stroke | 77 mm × 85.8 mm | — |
| Compression Ratio | 10.5 | — |
| Number of Motors | — | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | — | 279 hp |
| Motor Torque | — | 420 Nm |
| Battery Capacity | — | 62.5 kWh |
| EV Range | — | 534 km |
| Charging Rate (AC) | — | 11 kW |
| Charging Rate (DC) | — | 170 kW |
| V2L | — | Yes |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Single Ratio Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 8-speed Automatic | Single-ratio Transmission |
| Gears | 8 | — |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Aisin | Tesla |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 8.8 seconds | 6.2 seconds✓ |
| Top Speed | — | 201 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,687 mm | 4,720 mm |
| Width | 1,859 mm | 2,089 mm |
| Height | 1,510 mm | 1,441 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,787 mm | — |
| Fuel Tank | 52 litres | — |
| Doors | 5 | 4 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 536 litres | 594 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 225/55R18 | 255/45R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 225/55R18 | 255/45R18 |
| Spare Tyre | Space Saver | — |
| Factory Tyres | Goodyear Efficient Grip Performance SUV | Bridgestone Turanza T005 EV |
| Wiper Blade (Driver) | — | 26 inch |
| Wiper Blade (Passenger) | — | 19 inch |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | China (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | Double Wishbones |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 18" Granite Grey Alloys | 18" Prismata Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 18" Granite Grey Alloys | 18" Prismata Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 6 (Driver and Front Passenger, Side and Curtain Airbags) | 7 (Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Driver's Knee) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Electronic for Rear Doors | — |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three Point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on Outer Two Rear Seats | Available on Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | — | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED | Adaptive LED Projectors with Auto High Beam |
| Taillamps | Full LED | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | — |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Driver Powered Seat, Manual Passenger Seat | Power Adjustable Front Seats |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding | 40:20:40 Split-Folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control with HEPA Air Filter |
| Rear Air-con | Rear AC Vents | Rear Vents |
| Sunroof | — | Panoramic Glass Roof |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 Front USB, 2 Rear USB | 1 Front, 4 Front USB-C |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Audio | 10" Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with 6 Speakers | 16" Touchscreen with Navigation, Bluetooth and 7 Speakers |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up & Down with Anti-pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless (Depress Brake to Start) |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | — |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Manual Operation | Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | 4 Sensors | — |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | — |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Convenience Notes | — | Dual Wireless Qi Chargers, Powershare V2L via Tesla Outlet Adapter (RM350, sold separately) on cars built from October 2026 |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 200,000 km✓ | 80,000 km |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 7 years✓ | 4 years |
| Warranty Notes | — | 8-year/160,000 km Battery and Drive Unit Warranty, No fixed service schedule (condition-based maintenance) |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration. Running-cost estimates assume 20,000 km/year. Fuel at RM1.99/litre (RON95, subsidised). Electricity at RM0.44/kWh (TNB domestic, home charging); public DC charging costs around RM1.30/kWh. Charging times estimated from battery capacity and peak charging rates. Insurance: comprehensive motor tariff, no NCD. Instalment: 10% down, 2.5% flat rate, 9 years. Prices checked November 2026.
Used 408 & Model 3 for sale
Our reviews & guides
Peugeot 408
Tesla Model 3
408 vs Model 3 FAQ
Is the Peugeot 408 or Tesla Model 3 better?
The Tesla Model 3 is the stronger choice if charging is available: it is quicker, has 534 km claimed range, a larger boot and more airbags. Choose the Peugeot 408 for petrol refuelling, lower road tax and substantially longer manufacturer warranty cover.
What is the price difference?
The Tesla Model 3 costs RM149,000, which is RM2,945 more than the Peugeot 408 at RM146,055. The small gap buys the Tesla’s electric powertrain, 62.5 kWh battery and 534 km claimed range.
Which has lower running tax and better warranty?
The Peugeot 408 has lower annual road tax at RM90 versus RM280 for the Tesla Model 3. It also has a seven-year/200,000 km manufacturer warranty, against four years/80,000 km for the Tesla; the Tesla battery and drive unit are covered for eight years/160,000 km.
How long does charging take?
The Model 3's 62.5 kWh battery takes about 5.7 hours for a full AC charge, and an estimated 25 minutes from 10% to 80% on a DC fast charger at its 170 kW peak.
Which one is locally assembled?
The 408 is assembled in Malaysia (CKD), while the Model 3 is fully imported (CBU) from China. Local assembly generally helps pricing and spare-parts supply, and CKD programmes usually signal a longer-term commitment to the model here.