Peugeot 508 review

With the current vogue for SUVs, Peugeot should be applauded for sticking with the stylish and sporty 508 Fastback. It’s not the roomiest car in its class by any means, but with its attractive looks and entertaining handling it should satisfy drivers who want a bit of fun from their family saloon.

There’s a good range of engines (including a plug-in hybrid unit) that offer decent performance with reasonable fuel economy and relatively low emissions ratings, too, which should make the 508 attractive to company car drivers. Combine this with a well thought out interior that not only looks good, but is also laden with plenty of hi-tech equipment, and the 508 makes for an interesting alternative as a capable, family car.

About the Peugeot 508

While the last car was nothing to write home about, the Peugeot 508 Fastback (as well as the handsome 508 SW estate version) offers a new-found sense of style that makes it one of the more appealing models for sale in the family car sector. Demand is falling for this type of car in favour of SUVs, but the rakish Peugeot still has the Volkswagen Arteon, Ford Mondeo and Skoda Superb to contend with, so the 508 certainly has its work cut out.

In its favour though is dramatic and sporting styling that really separates the 508 from its staid predecessor, and the Fastback model might almost be attractive enough to tempt buyers out of more premium rivals such as the BMW 3 Series or Audi A4. 

It’s not just a pretty face though, as the 508 has an attractive interior that gives off a sporting vibe, and even in entry-level specification has a wide range of equipment. The fit and finish is excellent and the quality of the interior materials is spot on, too. Perhaps the main Achilles’ heel for the 508 is that, despite its generous proportions, it’s not the roomiest machine in its class. That’s especially true in the rear, where that sloping roof tends to eat into headroom. Similarly, a 487-litre boot capacity is just average for the class, too.

However, where the 508 does score highly is in its driving experience, as it’s both entertaining and comfortable. Based on the same basic architecture as the 3008 SUV, you might expect the 508 to offer the same excellent ride quality as its sibling, but it’s actually rather firmer. That’s not to say it doesn’t ride well: there’s some low-speed fidgeting, but at motorway speeds, it’s really very comfortable and an excellent place to while away the miles.

The benefit of the tauter chassis can be clearly felt on more demanding roads, as the 508 corners with unexpected precision. The well-weighted steering and a small steering wheel enhance the sporting feel of the car. It has excellent body control, and while the 508’s driving experience isn’t quite as finely honed as a BMW 3 Series’, it’s more than capable of holding its own against rivals such as the Vauxhall Insignia.

The engine range range has been trimmed down to include a 128bhp 1.2-litre Puretech petrol unit, or a 1.5-litre BlueHDi diesel with the same power output, while a 222bhp plug-in hybrid model is also available. All use an eight-speed auto transmission.

Buyers have the choice of four trim-levels; entry Active Premium can't be specified with the PHEV setup, while the Allure Premium, GT and GT Premium can be paired with either the petrol, diesel or hybrid powertrains. There's also the standalone 508 Peugeot Sport Engineered performance model, which uses plug-in hybrid tech to deliver its 350bhp and comes with all-wheel-drive as standard.

A facelift in 2022 brought in a few cosmetic changes to the exterior, including black door mirrors across the range and a black-coloured grille for the GT model, while the Allure specification was dropped from the lineup.

The 508 remains well equipped, however, with Active Premium cars featuring 16-inch alloys, power folding mirrors, auto headlights and wipers, front and rear parking sensors and Peugeot's 12.3-inch i-Cockpit digital driver's display.

Engines, performance and drive

As befits its sporting looks, the 508 offers a surprisingly involving drive. Perhaps not to the extent that it’s going to trouble a BMW 3 Series, but it’s certainly at the more dynamic end of the spectrum when it comes to the way it drives. 

The 508 is based on the same platform as that of the 3008 SUV, and given that car’s impressive ride you might expect the same to be true of the 508. For the most part, it obliges, but it’s not quite so adept at soaking up lumps and bumps as the SUV.

Peugeot has set up the 508’s suspension to be somewhat firmer than the family-orientated SUV, and as a result, some imperfections are transmitted through to the cabin, especially on models fitted with the largest optional 19-inch alloy wheels. However, it’s by no means uncomfortable and while there’s some low-speed fidget, at motorway speeds the firmer ride comes into its own, soaking up undulations in a well-controlled manner. 

The flipside is that the firmer set up on the 508 gives far less body roll when cornering. It feels dialled-in to the tarmac, with impressive grip levels. Initially the small steering wheel feels a little odd, but it makes the steering very responsive and gives the 508 an agile nature when compared to the majority of its rivals. The steering is well weighted too and allows you to place the car with precision when driving on flowing back roads.

All the engines feel up to the job, although naturally enough the 1.5-litre diesel doesn’t feel quite as lively as we'd like. Previously, the 1.5-litre diesel could be specified with a manual gearbox, but now all models come with Peugeot’s EAT 8 automatic.

The automatic does work well, shifting between the ratios pretty seamlessly and when changing gears manually with the steering wheel-mounted paddles. The paddles themselves are slightly small, though – you can lose them when cornering enthusiastically – and the gearbox itself can be a little jerky when coming to a stop. 

0-62mph acceleration and top speed

When it comes to the engine line-up for the Peugeot 508, the company has most bases covered, from a frugal and efficient diesel, a petrol model and a plug-in hybrid setup - all using the same eight-speed automatic transmission. The PHEV model is available across all trim lines, with the exception of the entry Active Premium specification.

The 2.0-litre oil-burners, offering either 161bhp or 175bhp are no longer included on the price list, leaving the 128bhp 1.5 BlueHDi diesel - it manages the 0-62mph sprint in 10 seconds, with a 129mph maximum. The petrol 508 has the same 0-62mph time, with a 2mph top speed deficit compared to the diesel version.

Plug-in hybrid power brings together a 1.6-litre petrol engine, along with a 11.8kWh battery which supplies a 108bhp electric motor. Total output is 222bhp, with 0-62mph covered in 8.3 seconds. As you might expect, the Hybid 360 PSE model is the quickest 508 model, dispatching the 0-62mph benchmark in 5.2 seconds.

MPG, CO2 and running costs

Despite its sleek looks, the Peugeot 508 shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg to run, offering reasonable economy and CO2 levels.

It shouldn’t come as a great surprise that the 1.5 BlueHDI 130 model is a pretty efficient machine, managing up to 62mpg, with CO2 emissions from 121g/km. The (now discontinued) 2.0-litre BlueHDi 160 was able to return 52.9mpg, while the more powerful BlueHDi 180 had a best of 50.3mpg on the WLTP combined cycle. CO2 figures range from 145g/km to 163g/km.

Again, the Puretech 180 and 225 petrol models are no longer available, but if you do source a used example, you should still see average fuel economy over 40mpg, although CO2 emissions are a little high at 146g/km and 156g/km respectively. The 128bhp version will cost less to run, as it's capable of averaging 49.1mpg, with CO2 emissions from 131g/km.

The best economy figures in the 508 range come from the plug-in hybrid 225 model. The PHEV is able to travel between 33-39 miles solely on electric power, with claimed combined fuel consumption of 166-235mpg. Of course you'll need to ensure you charge the battery regularly to get anywhere near these figures in real-world driving. CO2 figures are 30-38g/km, ensuring low Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) company car tax.

Insurance

When it comes to insurance, it’s likely that the 508 will be broadly competitive with its class rivals. But some competitors do have lower groupings, especially for entry-level models. The 1.5-litre diesel will be the cheapest to insure, with groups ranging between 22 and 24. 

The more powerful 508s fall into groups 29 to 32 for the diesels and 28-34 for the petrols, while the plug-in hybrid falls into groups 31-33, depending on trim level.

Depreciation

The Peugeot 508 has average residuals of 42 per cent over three years and 36,000 miles, which isn’t bad when you consider that the family hatchback class is falling out of favour with new car buyers. The best performing model in the 508 range is the Sportswagon PHEV in GT trim, which holds onto around 47 per cent over the three year period.

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Interior, design and technology

If a car was purely judged on its exterior design, then the Peugeot 508 would certainly be amongst the class leaders with its eye-catching looks and considerable showroom appeal. It’s certainly far more stylish than its predecessor, moving away from the traditional three-box look for a more curvaceous and cohesive appearance.

Its bold new nose echoes the current sporty Peugeot look, and while the headlights aren’t the most distinctive, the blade-type LED daytime running lights certainly catch the eye. The 508 is equally stylish from the rear, with mildly extended rear wheel arches and a black panel running across the tail which incorporates the LED rear light clusters. It’ll certainly stand out in an office car park populated by more traditional designs.

Inside the sporting theme is continued, with a real coupe feel about the interior. It accentuates the difference between this car and an SUV, where you sometimes have the impression you’re sitting on it, rather than in it. The curving and swooping dash continues the stylish appearance in combination with the small steering wheel and Peugeot’s i-Cockpit electronic display.

And the quality look is backed up by material quality and a fit and finish that has a nigh-on premium feel to it It’s almost good enough to tempt buyers away from BMW’s 3 Series and Audi’s A4 perhaps.

There’s certainly enough in the way of standard equipment to keep most buyers happy too, and even the entry-level Active Premium trim level doesn’t feel poorly specified. You’ll need to upgrade to the Allure Premium model to get the larger (10-inch versus 8-inch) of the two centrally-mounted touchscreen systems offered, and it’s worth it for the greater functionality it brings.

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Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment

More than any other area, it’s the 508’s infotainment system that shows where Peugeot must improve if
it wants to bridge the gap to premium brands such as BMW. We’ve seen improved set-ups in the latest Peugeot 308 hatchback, but the system fitted here is a little slow, frustrating to use and occasionally glitchy. 

While the screen measures a reasonable 10 inches, a large portion to either side of the panel is occupied by climate controls that are always displayed. These rob space from functions such as the mapping screen, or apps including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 

The piano-style keys along the bottom are pleasing to use and look great, but the touchscreen sub-menus are a little contrived, and if you get lost, the ‘back’ button is tiny. The digital dials look great, though. Not only do they offer plenty of different views, but they also show images from the night-vision camera.

All models come with Bluetooth and a DAB radio, while Allure Premium trim adds a voice recognition function and USB inputs in place of a 12v output. GT premium models include a 360-degree colour camera system and an upgraded Focal stereo.

Practicality, comfort and boot space

In moving away from the traditional three-box saloon to a more fashionable fastback look for the 508, Peugeot has sacrificed something in the way of practicality. But while this does have a couple of downsides – mainly rear headroom – overall the 508 is a comfortable and roomy proposition.

The interior apes the car’s sporty fastback look, with a stylish cockpit that feels coupe-like yet is still comfortable. The dashboard design features swooping curves, and with a high centre console, you feel nicely cocooned and insulated when sitting in the front seats. All models have at least part-electric front seat adjustment, and from Allure models up there’s lumbar support and heated seats as standard.

One thing that’s worth noting is that the 508 has Peugeot’s i-cockpit set up, where you look over the steering wheel to see the instruments. While it works well for the most part, some drivers may feel they don’t have a clear view of the dash pod when the steering wheel and seat are adjusted to their liking.

The 508 offers a comfortable ride both around town and on the motorway, and while there is some low-speed fidgeting when fitted with the optional 19-inch alloys, this will be less of a concern for most buyers. If you opt for the top of the range GT model, then there’s also active suspension to keep the ride comfort at an optimum level.

Dimensions and size

Where most cars are becoming ever larger, the 508 bucks this trend by actually being slightly shorter than the outgoing model. At 4,750mm long the 508 Fastback is a little longer than premium rivals such as the new BMW 3 Series saloon. 

Leg room, head room and passenger space

Those up front will be more than comfortable with plenty of leg, elbow and headroom. But those in the rear will be slightly less fortunate, especially if they are six-feet tall or above. The sloping roofline really does make it tight for rear seat passengers in terms of headroom, and it’s likely their heads will be brushing the headlining. The 508 SW improves the issue slightly, but not by quite as much as you might have expected.

Legroom is adequate without setting new standards for the class, as it doesn’t offer the same amount of space as you’d find in the back of a Skoda Superb. However, Peugeot doesn’t see the 508 as a model which will primarily be bought by those intending to have the rear seats occupied by adults on a regular basis and the accommodation offered will be more than enough to keep the 508 as a practical family car.

Boot space

The 508 saloon’s boot has a 487-litre capacity when the rear seats are raised, which increases to 1,537 litres when they’re folded flat. While this is a decent size, it’s no more than average for the class, and trumped by models such as the Ford Mondeo (550 litres) and Volkswagen Passat (586 litres).

The 508 SW does offer a larger carrying capacity, but perhaps not by as much as you might think. The SW has a luggage area of 530 litres which rises to 1,780 litres when the seats are lowered – easily done via a button in the boot – although it falls some way short of the largest boot in the class, the Skoda Superb’s 660-litre load area

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Reliability and safety

Peugeot has a good reputation for safety these days, and this is borne out by the 508’s five-star Euro NCAP safety rating, earned in 2018. The car scored an impressive 96 per cent for adult occupant safety and 86 per cent for child occupant safety – virtually identical to the figures posted by the Volkswagen Arteon saloon, which Peugeot hopes the 508 will also attract buyers away from.

Standard safety kit is good, although Allure Premium models and above feature systems that the Active Premium cars do without. Entry versions still get Emergency Brake Assist, cruise control, a distance alert system and a Lane Keeping Assistance function, while tech such as smart cruise control, a driver attention alert, blind-spot detection and road sign recognition are found on models further up the price list.

The 508 didn't feature in our 2022 Driver Power survey, although the 208 supermini, 2008 crossover and the 3008 SUV all appeared on the list of the 75 best cars to own. Peugeot itself finished in 11th-place out of 29 manufacturers, in 2021, but managed an impressive climb to fourth place in the 2022 poll. Ride and handling were areas that received the highest praise, while exterior design and finish were also commended.

Warranty

Peugeot’s new car warranty is pretty average – three years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first. While this matches companies such as Volkswagen and Vauxhall, it falls short of some premium rivals from which Peugeot are hoping the 508 can steal sales – both BMW and Mercedes, for example, offer three-year unlimited mileage policies. And, of course, they’re all a long way short of the five-year and seven-year warranties offered by Hyundai and Kia, respectively.

Servicing

The 508 requires a yearly service every 12 months or 12,000 miles, while the manufacturer offers service plans for up to five years with various mileage options. Monthly plans for petrol and diesel models start from around £16 a month, although you'll pay nearer £21 every month for a PHEV version.