2019 Peugeot 508
Peugeot is a brand that’s really rediscovered its design mojo of late and proof of this can be found in the 2019 Peugeot 508. When you first look at this car few would disagree that it’s absolutely gorgeous. However, looks certainly aren’t everything and in this short article were going to find out if the car itself is actually any good.
Combined with a lineage of the highly regarded Peugeot 405 and Peugeot 406 it means that the expectations for this car are sky high. In reality however cars like this, of which we mean big saloons and hatchbacks from mainstream manufacturers, don’t really register with UK buyers nowadays. There’s a couple of reason for this. Firstly, there are executive cars on the market such as the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4 that have become increasingly affordable. Secondly, there’s the unstoppable rise of the more fashionable SUV which in fairness Peugeot do quite a nice line of themselves. Together these reasons have now sucked the life out of the once thriving D-segment of the car market where the big Peugeots once did battle with the Ford Mondeo, Vauxhall Insignia, Honda Accord and plenty more aside.
Due to declining sales some manufacturers have abandoned the D-segment market completely but Peugeot have persevered and the 508 is a great way to do it. Not only does the 508 fastback look fantastic on the outside but it looks great inside too. In fact, when you step inside the 508 there’s almost an air of ‘concept car’ about the cabin and whether or not you love or loath the cockpit design you have to applaud Peugeot had the gall to put it through to production. Sitting inside this car really does seem like an event in itself thanks to features such as the piano key buttons and configurable 12.3 inch digital display for the dials. It feels very roomy in here and there’s a decent amount of storage too. However, what really stands out is the quality and sheer number of different materials that are used throughout. Peugeot has long talked about its ambitions to move into the premium segment and with the 508 it feels as though it might just be on the cusp of achieving it.
So, what’s the Peugeot 508 like to drive? Well, when you first set off in this car it’s impossible to ignore the small steering wheel setup which is fair to say has been fairly controversial since Peugeot first introduced it on the Peugeot 208. On the plus side the wheel itself is very light and it’s quick to turn which makes this car easy to manoeuvre even though visibility at the rear isn’t particularly great. Another advantage is that you can easily see the dials over the top of the wheel which wasn’t always the case with the 208. The downside is the lack of feel or feedback through the wheel. This lack of connection really does remove some of the potential satisfaction that could be derived from driving the 508. This is particularly evident when compared to the likes of the BMW 3 Series or Jaguar XE. One thing the small wheel does do is make the 508 distinctive and therefore not trying to be like anything else, it’s a car that’s really carving out its own path. So, if you do get on with the small wheel then you’ll find that the rest of the car is actually very well set up. This is a car that feels both tort and controlled. Perhaps one of the biggest drawbacks is the amount of tyre noise you hear through the cabin. However, it should be pointed out at this stage that the car we’re testing for this article is the GT riding on 19 inch alloys. Under the bonnet of this particular car is Peugeot’s 1.6 litre turbo petrol engine pushing out 225 break horse power (bhp). Alternatively, there’s the less powerful version of the same engine or a couple of diesels. The car we’re testing also has Peugeot’s 8-speed automatic gearbox which in general suits the car well. It certainly helps make this car feel grown up, sophisticated and dare we even say a tad luxurious.
Performance-wise you can’t really say that the 508 is a quick car but nor is it a slow one. 0 to 62 miles per hour (mph) takes 7.3 seconds and while the 508 is no lightweight it still pulls well when you put your foot down. For a petrol engine it’s also impressively economical managing around 44 miles per gallon (mpg) on a motorway run. The diesel units all top 50 mpg in official tests. There’s also a wide range of driver assistance systems including adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist and even a night vision camera. As for the overall interface it’s certainly not as slick as the ones found in a BMW or Audi but once you’re used to it and it’s set up to your liking then most of the main functions are simple to access.
If you’re swayed by all the 508’s style then you’ll be pleased to know that it delivers well on space too. The boot isn’t quite as big as the one found in a Volkswagen Arteon or Skoda Superb but it certainly can’t be described as small. The hatchback shape makes it easy to access and you can fold the rear seats down to make the space even bigger. Speaking of the rear seats, when they’re up in their original position you’ll find that there’s not as much space at the back as you’d find in the Skoda Superb and the headroom is a little tight. However, this is probably the price you have to pay for style.
As good as this car is it’s not about to outsell the BMW 3 Series any time soon. However, it’s none the less a very welcome addition to Peugeot’s range. If you like the idea of owning the 508 then head down to DesperateSeller.co.uk where we’ve got a multitude of used Peugeot 508 cars for sale.
