Skip advert
Advertisement

Peugeot 508 1.6 THP

Petrol turbo expands family car’s appeal

Overall Auto Express rating

4.0

How we review cars
Find your Peugeot 508
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

According to Peugeot, only one in 10 of the 508s sold in Europe will be ordered with a petrol engine – largely due to the high volume of fleet sales. That’s a shame, as the turbo driven here is a peach: it revs smoothly and quietly, and has plenty of torque and ample power for motorway overtaking. Crucially in this class, refinement and comfort are great, too, while the modern and high-quality interior is a fine place in which to spend time. The 508 is a return to form for the brand.

Advertisement - Article continues below

It’s Peugeot’s great hope: a striking family car that seeks to bring real luxury to the Ford Mondeo class and boost the marque’s sales as a result. 

In Issue 1,149, we drove the new 508 in top-spec 2.2-litre HDi diesel GT trim. It impressed with its refinement and handling, if not its near-£30,000 price. So, does the 1.6-litre petrol turbo, 

at £22,220, make more sense?

Video: watch CarBuyer's video review of the Peugeot 508

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"content_narrow","fid":"68660","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image"}}]]

Push the starter button and the four-cylinder unit, also used in the RCZ coupé, fires up and immediately settles to a virtually silent idle – a sign of things to come. Whether you’re on the motorway or cruising in town, it remains beautifully smooth and responsive. There’s enough power in reserve to make for easy overtaking, while the exhaust lets out a gentle growl as the revs rise.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

508

2020 Peugeot

508

56,516 milesAutomaticDiesel2.0L

Cash £14,199
View 508
508

2020 Peugeot

508

69,457 milesAutomaticDiesel1.5L

Cash £11,600
View 508
508

2020 Peugeot

508

48,378 milesAutomaticPetrol1.2L

Cash £13,399
View 508
508

2020 Peugeot

508

29,118 milesAutomaticPetrol1.2L

Cash £14,899
View 508

This engine is far quieter than the 1.6, 2.0 or 2.2-litre HDi diesels, and is the perfect complement to the 508’s refined demeanour. The cabin is hushed, even at motorway speeds, and it really is on a par with anything in the class above. Although top-spec GT models – available only with the 204bhp 2.2 HDi – get a more sophisticated dual-wishbone front suspension set-up, the rest of the range, including our car, sticks with a MacPherson strut arrangement.

Advertisement - Article continues below

In corners, this makes the front end marginally harder to place accurately on the road. It has no effect on the cushioned ride – overall, the 508’s driving experience puts the emphasis more on comfort than cornering ability, but it strikes an excellent balance between the two.

Practicality is impressive as well. The handsome SW estate can swallow 1,865 litres of luggage, but the saloon isn’t as far behind as you might think. Fold the rear seats flat and a total of 1,581 litres become available.

The 508 replaces the 407 and 607 in one, and offers more rear legroom than the larger model, even though it’s only 10cm longer than the former.

Another significant step for Peugeot is the standard of the interior. The crisp, modern design is a world away from the more cluttered cabins in the 3008 and RCZ, and creates a more premium atmosphere. Soft-touch materials mean the quality hikes aren’t only visual, but tangible, too. 

Explore the equipment list and this 508 compares favourably to equivalent versions of its rivals, with options including a colour head-up display, heated massage seats and even a built-in Wi-Fi hub. 

Starting at £18,150, the car is slightly cheaper than Renault’s most basic Laguna and £725 less than the entry-level version of VW’s latest Passat.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Peugeot 508

Peugeot 508

RRP £27,680Used from £8,999
Toyota Yaris Cross

Toyota Yaris Cross

RRP £26,495Avg. savings £2,306 off RRP*Used from £15,851
Renault Clio

Renault Clio

RRP £16,160Avg. savings £3,343 off RRP*Used from £9,595
Volkswagen Polo

Volkswagen Polo

RRP £14,480Avg. savings £1,864 off RRP*Used from £7,850
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New 2027 Vauxhall Corsa aiming to set the supermini standard
New 2027 Vauxhall Corsa exclusive image

New 2027 Vauxhall Corsa aiming to set the supermini standard

We’ve got all the gossip on Vauxhall’s all-new Corsa coming in 2027, and it might finally shake off its conservative image
News
22 Aug 2025
The future of Skoda: CEO talks new cars and how it beat BMW
The future of Skoda

The future of Skoda: CEO talks new cars and how it beat BMW

We’re not at peak Skoda yet – a flagship electric SUV and a small hatch will soon boost the line-up explains CEO Klaus Zellmer, in a long chat with Au…
News
23 Aug 2025
We're past the peak! New cars are growing far too complex, frustrating and expensive
Frustrating modern cars - Opinion, Dean Gibson

We're past the peak! New cars are growing far too complex, frustrating and expensive

Senior test editor Dean Gibson thinks that modern cars are becoming too complex and frustrating, signalling the end of ‘peak car’
Opinion
20 Aug 2025