Peugeot has made some great looking cars over the years, but the latest Peugeot 508 really stands out, giving it a strong identity in a market that today is mostly dominated not by mainstream brands, but by models from premium brands such as Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz.
It’s one of the most stylish saloons on the road - though technically, it’s a fastback, with a hatchback opening rather than a traditional boot. Despite this, it does loose some practicality compared to less rakish shapes, but Peugeot does offer an SW estate version and indeed several crossovers and SUVs if utility is your only concern. With an interior that’s just as stylish as the exterior though, and good road manners, there are plenty of reasons to buy one.
Several mainstream rivals have switched conventional large family cars like the 508 for SUVs in recent years, but you can still buy a Mazda 6 or Skoda Octavia (or Superb), and choice on the used market is wider still, with alternatives including the Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall Insignia - though few are quite as stylish as the Peugeot.
Buying a Peugeot 508 means actively choosing not to buy some of the upmarket German saloons available for similar money, and that’s definitely not a choice that everyone will be comfortable with. There’s no doubt that Peugeot doesn’t quite have the image enjoyed by Audi or BMW.
Look past that though and the 508 makes a strong case for itself. In fact, the car’s bold styling inside and out kind of justifies itself: if you’re deliberately not buying a car that’ll blend into the background, you’ll probably want one that stands out. The 508’s shark-like front end and sweeping roofline are definitely a departure from the usual three-box designs in this class, and the interior is far from conventional too.
The cabin uses Peugeot’s ‘i-Cockpit’ layout, which puts the driver’s instrument cluster higher up and further away, and puts a small-diameter steering wheel below it. It isn’t for everyone, but again that kind of suits the car - and if you like it on first acquaintance, you’ll probably grow to love it. The fast roofline does cut down on space and boot volume compared to some alternatives but if you don’t regularly ferry tall folks around, it’s not too problematic - and Peugeot does sell a 508 SW estate, should you need more space.
The 508 is more conventional to drive than it is to look at, but feels pleasingly agile and has a good ride quality that really comes into its own on motorways. The 508’s petrol and diesel engines are smooth and responsive and the hybrids are pretty quick - especially the Peugeot Sport Engineered or ‘PSE’. Expensive new, the PSE makes much more sense used, thanks to relatively steep depreciation.
Mainstream rivals for the 508 include the Skoda Octavia and Superb, Ford Mondeo, Vauxhall Insignia, and the rakish Mazda 6, but the 508 treads on the toes of more upmarket models like the Alfa Romeo Giulia, BMW 3 Series, and Jaguar XE too. That’s some tough competition, but the 508 is a likeable alternative.
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As a used buyer you may have different needs from the kind of company buyer who might pick a new 508, but luckily the choice of engines and trim levels means there’s still plenty of choice in the used market. If you plan on covering high mileages, then the diesel is worth a look, while the Hybrid makes a strong case for itself as an all-rounder, thanks to an electric range that should handle most day-to-day tasks, and strong performance everywhere else.
Other than wheel size, there’s not much visual difference between the different 508 trim lines (high-performance PSE aside), but that’s a good thing because it means more affordable models are nearly as stylish as the high-spec cars. Even so, the improved interior materials and features of the GT and GT Premium (older models may be badged GT Line) make these the most tempting.
Peugeot 508 1.2 PureTech 130: This 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine is used widely across the Peugeot, Citroen, DS, and Vauxhall brands. It makes 131PS in this form and is only available with an 8-speed automatic gearbox. Peugeot claims 0-62mph in 10.0 seconds and up to 49.1mpg combined.
Peugeot 508 1.5 BlueHDi 130: The 1.5-litre diesel makes the same 131PS output as the 1.2 petrol but does develop more torque, again through a standard 8-speed auto. It matches the 1.2 for 0-62mph, but claimed economy rises to 62.0mpg.
Peugeot 508 Hybrid 225: The combined efforts of a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine and an electric motor give the 508 Hybrid 225PS, and an 8.3-second 0-62mph time. A 33-39 mile electric range helps it to high official fuel economy figures, of up to 235.4mpg.
Peugeot 508 Hybrid4 360: The range-topping 508 PSE gets the most powerful engine, still using a 1.6-litre petrol at its core but now making 355PS combined, and driving all four wheels. 0-62mph takes only 5.2 seconds, Peugeot claims an EV range of 26 miles, and combined economy of 138.9mpg.
There are more trim levels than engines with the Peugeot 508, but rest assured that all 508s are well equipped, with Peugeot’s i-Cockpit instrument layout (with a 12.3-inch driver display and 8-inch touchscreen) standard as a minimum, as well as electric folding and heated mirrors, 8-speaker audio, and LED daytime running lights. On top of that, Peugeot offers Active Premium, Allure Premium, GT and GT Premium, and the performance-focused Peugeot Sport Engineered or PSE models.
The Peugeot 508 Active Premium builds on the basic 508 equipment with a standard safety pack including automatic emergency braking and lane keep assist, as well as dual-zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors with a 180-degree reversing camera, a leather steering wheel, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, automatic lights and wipers, and 16-inch alloy wheels.
The Peugeot 508 Allure Premium gets even more safety features, plus a larger 10-inch infotainment screen, LED headlights and indicators, 17-inch wheels, electric lumbar adjustment for the front seats (with part leather-effect and fabric trim), and built-in TomTom navigation.
The Peugeot 508 GT is mostly differentiated by interior features, with nicer trim for the dashboard and door cards, a black roof lining, and ambient lighting.
The Peugeot 508 GT Premium upgrades to 19-inch alloy wheels (though hybrid models get 18-inch wheels), active suspension on the petrol and hybrid, a 360-degree parking camera, more electric adjustment for the now Alcantara-trimmed seats, and a Focal premium audio system.
The Peugeot 508 PSE looks and feels significantly different from the other 508 trim lines. As well as getting the most potent engine, it’s also marked out by 20-inch alloy wheels and an exterior styling kit with different bumpers and side skirts, with bright green highlighting. Other kit includes active suspension, a night vision system, the same audio and infotainment setup as the GT Premium, leather and Alcantara trim, and different ambient lighting, displays, and sounds.
The Peugeot 508’s dimensions are:
Length: 4750mm
Width: 1859mm (without mirrors), 2079mm (with mirrors)
Height: 1403mm
The Peugeot 508’s boot size is:
487 litres
1537 litres with the rear seats folded
The two plug-in hybrid models are the ones to go for brand new when it comes to reducing both VED (‘road tax’) and company car tax, but for used buyers things are a little simpler, with the petrol and diesel models costing a flat rate of £180 per year, and the Hybrid 225 coming in £10 cheaper due to being an ‘alternative fuel vehicle’. The exception is the similarly hybridised PSE, whose high list price means it attracts the VED surcharge in the second to sixth years of registration, for a £560 yearly bill.
With a relatively wide range of engines and trim levels the Peugeot 508’s insurance costs will vary from model to model, but the range starts off in group 21 with a 1.2-litre PureTech in Active Premium trim, and rises to group 34 for the Hybrid 225 in GT Premium trim. The high-performance PSE model is in group 41, which will result in insurance costs more like those you’d expect from fairly sporty BMWs and Audis.
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What is the average mileage for Peugeot 508 ?
36400