The Peugeot XP400 is a crossover maxi scooter that combines scooter technology and enduro looks.
- Impeccable engine
- Low consumption
- High-quality workmanship
Two-wheeler manufacturer Peugeot is launching the XP400, the first European crossover model in the scooter segment. With their first large scooter in a long time, the French are combining the technical basis of a mid-range scooter with the look of an off-road two-wheeler. Apart from the drive, which comes from the Metropolis three-wheeler, the XP400 Allure and its beefed-up brother with the additional name GT are a completely new design with countless specially designed components and detailed solutions.
Polarizing design
It is a question of personal taste whether you like the extremely angular plastic parts and the very airy silhouette with the curved rear. The front with the suggested enduro beak under the curved headlight section, above which a short, smoke-grey tinted windshield stretches, is also likely to be polarizing. The daytime running lights resemble the typical Peugeot car style, and the rear also shows the three distinctive Peugeot claws. The scooter manufacturer no longer has much to do with the automobile brand: After the Indian mobility giant Mahindra recently held the majority of Peugeot Motocycles, the company has been in German hands since February 2023 and belongs to the investment specialist Mutares.
In the test: 36-hp engine
As is now common in the upper middle class, the XP has a central control button for the steering lock and ignition, and the fuel cap and seat lock have their own buttons for electrical opening. A push of the starter brings the power source to life; with 36 hp and 38 Newton meters of torque , the short-stroke, 399 cc four-valve single-cylinder is nominally one of the most powerful mid-range engines. However, the starting performance is sobering – new homologation regulations have forced the developers to rein in the engine more in the first quarter of the engine speed. After the less than lively start, the French car picks up power and speed with great force. Impeccable engine manners such as the precise implementation of throttle commands and the absence of load changes or vibrations ennoble it as a refined engine. The 3.8 litres per 100 kilometres average determined in the WMTC cycle are completely acceptable.
Very stable driving dynamics
A real innovation in the scooter sector gives the XP a special driving dynamic: At the front there is a large seventeen-inch wheel, as is common in the motorcycle sector. At the rear there is a wide 160 tire, both of which are mounted on stylish cross-spoke wheels on the XP400 GT – real eye-catchers with the coarse-tread Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR. At the front, a powerful upside-down fork with golden stanchions (GT variant) takes over the wheel guidance, while at the rear a really complex construction is used: the two-arm drive swing arm is connected via a U-shaped rod to a cross strut that acts on the spring strut hidden behind the right side panel. This design gives the scooter exceptional stability when driving straight ahead and in curves, without making the vehicle particularly stubborn. Although the XP weighs 231 kilos and is significantly lighter than the Metropolis, turning requires a firm hand and alternating curves require some physical effort. The 400 then races around corners neutrally and with great precision, even when driving dynamically.
Good brakes, low driving comfort
Sports enthusiasts also enjoy the fantastic stopping pleasure with the highest efficiency and excellent control that the radially mounted four-piston calipers on the two 295 mm brake discs at the front have to offer. The Frenchman, on the other hand, writes the ride comfort down quite low, because the fork is very tightly tuned and the rear shock absorber relentlessly transfers shocks to the spine. At least the small disc, together with the standard hand protectors, provides pleasant wind protection. The cockpit features a networked 5-inch TFT color screen that enables turn-by-turn navigation, and a USB port allows you to connect or charge your smartphone. Under the split seat there are two separate storage compartments , the front of which can accommodate a demi-jet helmet.
Technical data Peugeot XP400
We get all technical info directly from Peugeot’s official websites to keep it accurate and reliable.
| Manufacturer’s Components | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Motor | Liquid-cooled single-cylinder, 399 cc displacement, 26.5 kW/36 hp at 8150 rpm, 38.1 Nm at 5400 rpm; four valves/cylinder, ohc, injection, CVT automatic, centrifugal dry clutch, belt secondary drive |
| performance and consumption | Top speed 137 km/h, 3.8 l/100 km |
| chassis | Steel tube frame; 38 mm USD telescopic fork at the front (not adjustable), 140 mm travel; drive-set double-sided swing arm at the rear, one spring strut (preload adjustable), 140 mm travel; cross-spoke wheels; tires 110/70-17 (front) and 160/60-15 (rear). 295 mm dual-disc brake at the front, 240 mm single-disc brake at the rear |
| assistance systems | ABS, traction control |
| dimensions and weights | Wheelbase 1545 mm, seat height 815 mm, weight ready to drive 231 kg, payload 179 kg; tank capacity 13.5 l |
| Price | 7985 euros plus NK, GT variant: 8385 euros plus. NK |
Conclusion: Expensive and unusual
So many unusual solutions and the very well-mannered workmanship come at a price, which at 7985 euros for the Allure entry-level version demands a sporting spirit combined with a penchant for individuality. The GT version even costs almost 8400 euros .