Peugeot 508 2020 review
Test Drive

Peugeot 508 2020 review

Peugeot is gaining momentum in Europe thanks to a branding and design renaissance.

The brand now offers a competitive range of SUVs, as well as a new generation of vehicles focused on technology and design.

In Australia, you'll be forgiven for not knowing any of this, as French cars are still well and truly in the niche basket. And with Australian consumers increasingly eschewing cars like the 508 in favor of SUVs, the liftback/wagon combo stands a good chance against it.

So, if you're not yet a beefy French car (they still are), should you step out of your comfort zone and jump into Peugeot's latest and greatest offering? Read on to find out.

Peugeot 508 2020: GT
Safety Rating
engine's type1.6 L turbo
fuel typePremium unleaded gasoline
Fuel efficiency6.3l / 100km
Landing5 Places
Price from$38,700

Is there anything interesting about its design? 9/10


Let's take the strongest suit of this pug. Whether you opt for a liftback or station wagon, you will get a truly amazing vehicle. There are many elements that make up the front and back panels, but somehow it doesn't get too busy.

The sloping bonnet and angular rear end with a subtle liftback winglet give this car a curvy yet muscular aesthetic, and there's more than enough "wow" elements like DRLs that swoop down the front. headlights and taillights that hark back to this car's cool 407 ancestor.

Meanwhile, the more you look at the station wagon, especially from behind, the more elements begin to stand out. Both cars have a sleek silhouette when viewed from the side.

There is no doubt that it has a rich visual presence that fits in with Peugeot's new ambition to be a more premium offering in Australia. It's also easy to draw comparisons to recent design leaders like the Volvo S60 and V60 twins, as well as the new Mazda 3 and 6.

Inside, everything is just as bold, with Peugeot's iCockpit interior theme offering a fresh take on the weary formula.

The theme consists of a steering wheel that "floats" low and flat on the dashboard, while the instrument cluster sits at the top. There's also a raised console and an ultra-wide 10-inch touchscreen that graces the center of the minimalist interior.

Annoyingly, the dual-zone climate control is operated via a touchscreen, which is clunky and annoying when you have to look at the road. Give us an old fashioned dial set next time, it's much easier.

The design consists mainly of fine leather trim, glossy black panels and soft-touch plastics. The photos somehow don't do it justice, although I personally think there would be a bit less chrome.

Maybe we really should thank SUVs for resurrecting great passenger cars for every niche.

Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 7/10


Peugeot has made the subject of price easy. The 508 comes to Australia in only one trim level, the GT, which carries an MSRP of either $53,990 for the Sportback or $55,990 for the Sportwagon.

Impressive specs are all standard, including a 10-inch multimedia touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, built-in navigation and DAB+ digital radio, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, modest-sized 18-inch alloy wheels, a full LED front fascia. and rear lighting, adaptive dampers that respond to the car's five driving modes, and a thorough active safety suite that includes adaptive cruise control.

It comes with 18" alloy wheels.

Black all-leather interior trim is included, along with heated and power front seats.

The only two items on the options list are a sunroof ($2500) and premium paint ($590 metallic or $1050 pearlescent).

Inside, everything is just as bold, with Peugeot's iCockpit interior theme offering a fresh take on the weary formula.

Non-Peugeots will have the choice between the 508 and the Volkswagen Arteon (206 TSI - $67,490), Skoda Octavia (Rs. 245 - $48,490) or maybe Mazda6 (Atenza - $49,990).

While all of these options, including the 508, are not budget purchases, Peugeot makes no apology for the fact that it's not going to go after market volumes. The company hopes the 508 will become the brand's "coveted flagship".

The impressive specification is completely standard, including a 10-inch multimedia touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

How practical is the interior space? 8/10


No matter which body style you choose, the 508 is a practical vehicle, though there are a few areas where design takes precedence.

Let's start with the luggage compartment, where both cars are at their best. The Sportback offers 487 liters of storage space, which is on par with the largest hatchbacks and most midsize SUVs, while the station wagon offers nearly 50 extra liters (530 L), more than most people really need.

Second-row seating is decent, with an inch or two of airspace for my knees behind my own (182 cm tall) driving position. There is room above my head when I get in, despite the sloping roofline, but getting in and out is tricky because the C-pillar protrudes down where the door joins the body.

You can seat three adults with a little compression, and the two outer seats have ISOFIX child seat attachment points.

You can seat three adults with a little compression, and the two outer seats have ISOFIX child seat attachment points.

The rear seats also have access to air vents, two USB outlets, and a mesh on the backs of the front seats. There are cup holders in the doors, but they are so tight that only an espresso cup will fit in them.

The front has the same problem with the door - it won't fit a 500ml bottle due to complicated door cards - but there are two large cupholders in the center.

Stowage space for front passengers is much better than in this car's 308 hatchback sibling, with a chic raised center console also offering a long chute for phones and wallets, as well as a deep center console drawer and storage underneath that also houses front USBs. -connectors. On the passenger side there is a decent sized glove compartment.

The Sportback offers 487 liters of storage space, which is in line with the largest hatchbacks and most midsize SUVs.

There is plenty of room for front passengers too, as the seats are low in the body, but knee room is limited due to the wide console and overly thick door cards.

The design of the iCockpit is perfect for someone my size, but if you're particularly small you won't be able to see over the dashboard elements, and if you're especially tall, you'll quickly become uncomfortable with wheel-blocking elements or simply sitting too low. Seriously, just ask our giraffe resident Richard Berry.

What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 8/10


Peugeot has simplified this department as well. There is only one transmission.

It's a 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine that beats its weight on the power front with 165kW/300Nm. Come to think of it, there were a lot of V6 engines that wouldn't have produced that much power even a few years ago.

The engine drives only the front wheels through an also new eight-speed torque converter automatic transmission. As part of Peugeot's "simplify and conquer" strategy, there is no all-wheel drive or diesel.




How much fuel does it consume? 7/10


The 508 is rated for an impressive 6.3L/100km on the combined cycle, although I got 308L/8.5km in my recent test of a 100 GT hatchback with the same transmission.

While our countryside at the 508 launch event would be an unfair representation of this car's real fuel consumption, I would be surprised if most people got less than 8.0L/100km given this car's extra curb weight compared to 308 and nature. your entertainment drive.

We have to pause for a moment and appreciate that this engine is the first to be sold in Australia with a petrol particulate filter (PPF).

While other manufacturers (such as Land Rover and Volkswagen) have openly stated that they cannot bring PPF into Australia due to poor fuel quality (high sulfur content), Peugeot's 'totally passive' system allows higher PPF content. sulfur, so 508 owners can rest assured that they are driving with a fairly low level of CO2 emissions in the exhaust gases - 142 g / km.

As a result, however, the 508 requires you to fill its 62-liter tank with mid-range unleaded gasoline with a minimum octane rating of 95.

What is it like to drive? 8/10


The 508 lives up to its badass looks, being a lot of fun, yet surprisingly refined behind the wheel.

The turbocharged 1.6-liter engine isn't overly powerful for something this size, but it grumbles easily, and peak torque easily ignites the front wheels from a stop. It's also quiet, and the eight-speed gearbox runs smoothly in most driving modes.

Speaking of them, special attention should be paid to driving modes. Many cars have a "sport" button, which nine times out of 10 is practically useless. But not here in the 508, where each of the five different driving modes changes everything from engine response, transmission layout and steering weight to adaptive damping mode.

The 508 lives up to its badass looks, being a lot of fun, yet surprisingly refined behind the wheel.

Comfort is best suited for city or traffic jams, with smooth engine and transmission response to inputs and light steering that makes getting around easy.

However, the main B-roads we drove through Canberra's rural periphery called for a full sport mode that makes the steering heavy and snappy and the engine much more aggressive. This will let you ride in every gear all the way to the redline, and shifting to manual gives you impressively quick responses thanks to paddle shifters mounted on the steering wheel.

I was stunned to find that no matter which mode I chose, the suspension was excellent. It was softer in comfort, but even in sport it wasn't as brutal as the 308 GT hatchback, swallowing big bumps without shaking passengers. This is partly down to the reasonably sized 508-inch 18-inch alloy wheels.

The turbocharged 1.6-liter engine isn't overly powerful for something this size, but it grumbles easily, and peak torque easily ignites the front wheels from a stop.

The wheel itself fits perfectly in your hands, thanks to its small radius and slightly square shape, which is easy to control. My main complaint is with the multimedia touchscreen, which sits so deep in the dash that it takes you to look too far away from the road to adjust anything, including the climate control.

Without all-wheel drive and modest power, the 508 is hardly a true sports car, but it still strikes a great balance of sophistication and fun where it counts.

Warranty and safety rating

Basic Warranty

5 years / unlimited mileage


guarantee

ANCAP Safety Rating

What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 8/10


The 508 comes standard with an impressive range of active safety features, including Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB - works from 0 to 140 km/h), Lane Keeping Assist (LKAS) with Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Monitoring blind zones. (BSM), Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR) and Active Cruise Control, which also allows you to set your exact position within the lane.

With the AEB 508 also detecting pedestrians and cyclists, it already has the highest five-star ANCAP safety rating.

The expected feature set includes six airbags, three top cable attachment points and two ISOFIX child seat attachment points, as well as an electronic stability and brake control system.

How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 7/10


Peugeot currently offers a competitive five-year unlimited mileage warranty that includes five years of roadside assistance.

The 508 only needs to be serviced every 12 months or 20,000 km, which is good, but that's where the good news ends. Prices for services are higher than budget brands: the fixed price program costs between $600 and $853 per visit. During the warranty period, this will cost you a total of $3507 or an average of $701.40 per year.

It's almost twice as expensive as some competitors, but Peugeot promises that service visits include consumables like fluids, filters, etc.

Peugeot hopes the single variant of the 508 will spark a resurgence of the prestigious brand in Australia.

Verdict

The 508 has a stunning design, but inside is a well-equipped and practical vehicle.

While it may not be destined to become popular in Australia, it's still an attractive semi-premium option that should make you wonder, "Do I really need an SUV?"

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