Watch out Volkswagen Passat and Ford Mondeo, the Peugeot 508 has arrived bristling with glorious French style, excellent turbo-diesel and petrol engines and boasting ultra-competitive prices.
In fact, starting at $36,990 (sedan) and $42,490 (wagon), the all-new Peugeot 508 is quite a buy as it comes with superb standard equipment, including leather seats across the range.
Accompanying the launch of the 508, Peugeot is making a concerted effort to increase its share of the fleet/leasing market. The French company rightly says its new mid/large sedan has all the required credentials to appeal to the “User-Chooser” fleet buyer looking for European style.
Peugeot 508 Overview
Does size matter? Good question because the all-new Peugeot 508 - like the rival Skoda Superb - is considered a ‘large car’ by Australia’s Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries. That’s a tad confusing because neither squares-up against the Holden Caprice.
But – like the Superb, Passat and Mondeo – the all-new Peugeot 508 is a ‘largish’ mid-sizer with family-friendly interior dimensions and impressive luggage capacity.
Peugeot 508 looks fantastic, another chapter in Peugeot’s styling resurgence, with interiors to match. Across the range, equipment levels are impressively high and leave some of the German rivals looking a tad austere.
Power comes from three turbocharged engines – 1.6-litre petrol plus 2.0-litre and 2.2-litre diesel. All drive through six-speed automatic transmissions.
The full range is:
Peugeot 508 Sedan
Active 1.6-litre petrol $36,990
Allure 1.6-litre petrol $39,490
Allure 2.0-litre HDi $42,990
GT 2.2-litre HDi $52,990
Peugeot 508 Touring
Allure 1.6-litre petrol $42,490
Allure 2.0-litre HDi $45,990
Peugeot 508 Engine
Peugeot 508 is being launched with a choice of turbocharged engines – 1.6-litre petrol, 2.0-litre and 2.2-litre diesels – all of which are Euro5 compliant for emissions. Down the track, the 508 will introduce Peugeot’s fuel-sipping 1.6-litre e-HDI diesel and remarkable Hybrid4 diesel-hybrid (diesel engine drives the front wheels and an electric motor drives the rears).
The 1.6-litre petrol engine employs stoichiometric direct fuel injection and a twin-scroll turbocharger for handy performance and optimum fuel consumption. Maximum power is 115kW at 5800rpm and peak torque of 240Nm arrives from 1400rpm.
Although marginally shy of Volkswagen Passat’s 118kW/250Nm 1.8-litre TSI engine, the Peugeot 508 edges ahead in fuel consumption (7.1l/100kms to 7.2l/100kms).
Peugeot’s 2.0-litre HDI turbo-diesel is already used in the 308, 3008 and RCZ. Maximum power is 120kW at 3750rpm and peak torque of 340Nm arrives at 2000rpm while fuel consumption is rated at 5.7l/100kms.
Those outputs are identical to Ford’s 2.0-litre TDCi as fitted to the Mondeo although again the Peugeot 508 is on top for fuel consumption with the Mondeo’s best 5.9l/100kms.
Peugeot’s 2.2-litre, four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine is from the same family as Ford’s V6 turbo-diesel now fitted to the Territory. In the Peugeot 508 this high-tech European turbo-diesel runs piezo-electric fuel injectors and a lightweight titanium turbocharger.
Maximum outputs for the engine which powers the alluring Peugeot 508 GT are 150kW at 3500rom and 450Nm at 2000rpm. Fuel consumption is rated at 5.7l/100kms.
Peugeot 508 The Interior
Open the door of the Peugeot 508 and welcome to a world of surprisingly high standards and luxury – in fact we’d say the 508 has delivered the new benchmark interior for this segment.
While Active, Allure and GT models offer different trims, the swooping dashboard style, high-grade five-gauge dashboard display and nice, modern leather-wrapped steering wheel (naturally adjustable for rake and reach) are shared. The colour screen with vehicle information is very well done.
Front seats deliver superb support (Active and GT with leather/cloth trim and Allure with full leather – GT has Nappa leather as an option). Rear seats too are nicely sculptured and supportive with legroom on a par with others in the segment.
Audio is an ARKAMYS 8-speaker CD system with Bluetooth and USB connectivity. Satellite navigation is optional.
Peugeot 508 Exterior & Styling
Looks count and the Peugeot 508 scores big-time – undoubtedly one of the style leaders in this league (particularly the wagon).
The front features a smaller grille than recent Peugeot designs, the hallmark bonnet-mounted ‘Lion’ emblem and piercing headlights (Halogen or directional b-Xenon).
Peugeot takes great price in the full-length recessed waistline which gives the 508 a muscular stance.
Both sedan and wagon versions of the Peugeot 508 are very elegant, the sedan finished with stylish three-row LED rear lights.
Peugeot 508 On The Road
To introduce the 508 to the motoring media, Peugeot sent us off in Allure grade wagons and sedans and some GT sedans (all diesel-powered) over a selection of roads from Melbourne Airport through Healesville, Marysville and the Yarra Valley. Typical of Melbourne in winter, the weather turned foul with persistent heavy rain and plummeting temperatures as low as –15 degrees in the nearby mountains.
Crank-up the four-zone climate control air-conditioning and standard seat warmers in our Peugeot 508s.
Over the best of the mountain roads to Marysville, Car Showroom was fortunately strapped into a Peugeot 508 GT. The combination of Peugeot’s world-renown 2.2-litre turbo-diesel, the GT’s unique double wishbone front suspension and grippy Michelin rubber was a competent all-round package even in those challenging conditions.
Chassis balance was excellent, feedback, even in the worst of the slippery stuff, was top-notch and we particularly liked the supportive drivers’ seat with large side bolsters.
We came down the mountain in a Peugeot 508 Allure wagon and while the MacPherson strut front is naturally not quite as engaging for performance drivers as the GT’s multi-link set-up, it’s nevertheless a slick combination. Performance of the 2.0-litre HDI engine was handy and comfort/refinement got high scores.
Same for our trip out of town in the Peugeot 508 Allure sedan.
If you’ve driven Volkswagen Passat and Ford Mondeo you will be impressed by the cohesive, European driving dynamics and feel of the Peugeot 508 – firmish suspension, rapid and quiet turbo-diesel and high standard interior comfort.
Peugeot 508 Challenges
Peugeot has fired into a crowded market segment with a fine product in the all-new Peugeot 508. However you consider it – styling, performance, features, value-for-money - the Peugoet 508 matches its rivals comfortably.
A shame the range doesn’t include a GT wagon model…now that would be our car!
Peugeot 508 Verdict
They’re a clever bunch at Peugeot and for many years mid-large sedans have been their forte – so surprise really pricing and specifications for the all-new Peugeot 508 are spot-on. And – given the recent history of style-setting Peugeots – well, it’s no surprise either the 508 is such a looker.
For buyers in this segment there’s an avalanche of great imported vehicles now competing with the local models so details are important. Compared to any of those credentialed rivals, the all-new Peugeot 508 has no blemishes.
Contemporary European style – yes. Sharp prices – yes. Luxury interior – yes. Competent driving dynamics – yes.
So if you’re shopping amongst mid/large sedans/wagons mark the stylish French Peugeot 508 as a ‘Must Test Drive’.
Peugeot 508 The Competition
From the Volkswagen brands, Passat and (Skoda Superb), Ford’s Mondeo and the Renault Latitude (sedan only) loom as the vehicles most consider as Peugeot 508 rivals. All bring excellent credentials in what has become a very desirable segment.
And with Peugeot’s ultra-sharp prices, even those thinking about the local Falcon, Camry/Aurion and Commodore sedans and wagons can afford some French style.
Pros:
A styling winner – especially the wagon; extensively equipped; nice drive; great value
Cons:
No GT wagon
