It may not be the most popular segment in the car market, but having a decent saloon in your arsenal is definitely worthwhile. Ford has the Mondeo, Volkswagen has its Passat, BMW has its 3 Series, the list goes on.
Looking back to the beginning of the noughties, the 407 was flying Peugeot’s saloon flag – offering ‘something a bit different’ thanks to its distinctive style. The French brand’s successor to that is the 508, designed to emulate that same approach.
Released in 2011, the 508 is coming to the end of its generational cycle, with Peugeot managing to keep things interesting throughout its lifespan with a nip and tuck in 2013 and subsequent tweaks since – the most significant being the recent introduction of the sporty GT Line trim.
But how does the five-year old 508 stand-up to its younger rivals?
Performance
The 508 isn’t short of diesel options. There’s a few 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre units on offer with power ranging from 118bhp to 197bhp. We tested the 118bhp 1.6-litre BlueHDi mated to a six-speed automatic.
When it comes to choosing an engine in a saloon, your best bet is usually to go down the middle (which in the 508 is a 148bhp 2.0-litre). However, the 118bhp 1.6-litre diesel is brilliant, offering more than enough power for urban and motorway driving.
After feeling its 300Nm of torque – which comes in at 1,750rpm – you may question whether more power or torque is necessary, especially considering that going for something like the 148bhp 2.0-litre will cost you a wedge more.
The 1.6-litre goes together nicely with the six-speed automatic too. It’s no secret that Peugeot’s automatic gearboxes can be a bit hit and miss, but thankfully this is in the hit category, delivering smooth shifts through all six gears. The only time it lacks a bit of finesse is when you floor it from a standing start – but that could be said for most autos.
Ride and Handling
The steering is a little over assisted, becoming particularly heavy at a three-quarter turn, but this actually enhances engagement levels when cornering.
For such a big car, the 508 has surprisingly nimble road manners. Throw it into a bend at speed and it will stick, with plenty of grip and good body control. The steering is a little over assisted, becoming particularly heavy at a three-quarter turn, but this actually enhances engagement levels when cornering. It could do with a dash more feedback though, something like the BMW 3 Series certainly outshines it by a country mile when it comes to fun-factor. Combine its impressive body control with a comfortable suspension and ability to shut out road and wind noise, and you have a rather well-rounded saloon.
Interior and Equipment
As well as being available in the 508, the GT Line trim is also available in a range of other Peugeots, including the 208 supermini and 308 hatchback.
The 508’s cabin is a bit of a mixed bag. On one hand it is well-equipped and comes with the typical personality traits of a saloon – but there is also a whiff of outdatedness. Stepping in, you are greeted with chrome highlights and glossy plastics aplenty, with a large centre console that hems you into the driver’s seat. Standard kit includes DAB radio, sat-nav and Bluetooth – which are all housed within a seven-inch touchscreen – and it also comes with automatic dual-zone climate control and cruise control. Go for the GT Line we tested and you gain 18-inch alloy wheels, fancy red-stitched carpet mats, half-leather upholstery and full LED headlamps. Although it ticks a lot of important boxes here, the cabin is very cluttered, with a dashboard and steering wheel littered with buttons. There are also several features that seem counter intuitive and eventually become a recurring nuisance, like the sideways-opening arm rest, cup holders that block the infotainment screen, lack of useable cubby holes in the centre console and a strangely-situated stop/start activation button. It’s clear that the 508 needs Peugeot’s latest de-cluttered i-cockpit, something that will no doubt be added to the next-gen 508. Practicality isn’t an issue in the rear however. With loads of head and leg room, and a slightly reclined seating position, it is easy to see why the 508 is a favourite with taxi drivers. Rear passengers will also benefit from decent-sized door bins, a fold down arm rest with two cup holders and the freedom to move from one seat to the other with ease, due to the lack of a transmission hump in the middle. Come around to the boot, pressing the Bond-esque ‘0’ in the 508 badge to open it, and you have 473 litres of storage space. Fold these seats down and you get 1,052 litres. These figures are not class-leading, but you’ll easily fit in suitcases or large amounts of shopping.
Cost
With a mixture of urban and motorway driving we achieved around 60mpg – a fair bit off its claimed figure, but still impressive.
With the six-speed automatic, the 118bhp 1.6-litre diesel emits 102g/km. If you want to duck under that all important 100g/km mark, then you should go for the manual version, which emits 99g/km. On the combined cycle, the 1.6-litre claims 72mpg. With a mixture of urban and motorway driving we achieved around 60mpg – a fair bit off its claimed figure, but still impressive. Peugeot, however, might have just priced themselves out of the market. With entry-level models costing just over £23,000, and our test model reaching £27,000, the 508 bunny hops the VW Passat and Ford Mondeo for price and goes toe-to-toe with the BMW 3 Series.
Our Verdict
There are areas where the 508 is showing its age - its interior being the obvious one. However, the 508 is still a great car with plenty of style, practicality and luxury on offer. It also drives well and has a great range of diesel engines. Its pricing is a different story though. After choosing the engine and trim that’s right for you, you may realise that buying a BMW 3 Series makes more sense from a residual and gloating rights point of view. It will be interesting to see what Peugeot brings to the table with the next incarnation of the 508.