Modern estate cars don’t come much better looking than the Peugeot 508 SW. That’s just as well, as in terms of pure space the Peugeot lags behind several of its rivals, but given not everyone needs maximum space all the time, it could be a compromise worth making.
The 508 SW stands out for its interior design too, and a range that since its introduction in 2020 has included several petrol, diesel, and plug-in hybrid options. There’s a little less choice among nearly-new models but until a 2024 facelift, Peugeot wisely didn’t play around with the 508’s styling too much.
You don’t have to look too hard to find estates that are more practical than the 508 SW, but few look quite as dramatic. More down-to-earth options include the Volkswagen Passat Estate, Skoda Superb Estate, Ford Mondeo Estate and Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer. The Mazda 6 Tourer is another stylish option.
With 530 litres of boot space it’d be inaccurate to call the 508 SW impractical, but that figure is smaller than some rivals by more than 100 litres, and it’s smaller even than the more compact Peugeot 308 SW. But the 508 SW is more stylish than almost all the alternatives in this segment, and even the smaller Peugeot can’t match the larger car’s sleek proportions.
The 508 SW also has more rear-seat space than the 308 SW, so if you were considering the smaller car but were put off by its cramped rear quarters, the 508 SW might suit you instead. The bigger car definitely has a grander feel, with a stylish interior and, in higher trim levels, material choices that genuinely rival premium alternatives.
The driving position might not be to all tastes (it’s the usual Peugeot combination of a small steering wheel and high-set dials) but the way it behaves on the road is easier to like. It’s firmer than some alternatives, but settles down on the motorway and it’s far from uncomfortable, and has a sporty feel.
There’s plenty of tech too, especially in higher trim levels, with some cars including active cruise control with stop and go, and active dampers. The wide choice of engines meanwhile includes punchy petrol and diesels, and a pair of plug-in hybrids - including the expensive but desirable Peugeot Sport Engineered, with 355PS and all-wheel drive.
If you do need to maximise boot space then we’d recommend a Skoda Superb Estate or Volkswagen Passat Estate instead, each of which has nearer 650 litres of room behind the seats. For style, an Audi A4 Avant or Mazda 6 Tourer probably get closer than most to the 508’s dynamic look.
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If you’re looking at a 508 SW from the first couple of years of production then our pick is the BlueHDi 160 in GT Line trim. Its performance is barely behind that of the more powerful diesel, while GT trim looks great and comes with plenty of equipment. Later cars dropped the two 1.6-litre petrol and 2-litre diesels, leaving 1.2 and 1.5-litre petrol and diesel variants and a brace of plug-in hybrids. The diesel still makes sense for longer-distance driving, and given that’s the 508’s forte it’s the one we’d pick. Allure Premium trim meanwhile is worth the step up from Active Premium thanks to its LED headlights and larger touchscreen.
Peugeot 508 SW 1.2 PureTech 130: Shared with several models in the Peugeot range, the 1.2 PureTech develops 131PS, and uses an eight-speed automatic transmission to get from 0-62mph in 10 seconds. Combined economy is up to 49.1mpg.
Peugeot 508 SW 1.6 PureTech 180: Only available in earlier 508 SWs, the 181PS 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine (with a standard eight-speed auto) got from 0-62mph in 8.6 seconds, with 44mpg combined economy.
Peugeot 508 SW 1.6 PureTech 225: Also dropped from the range in later cars, with 224PS the SW could cover 0-62mph in 7.2 seconds and achieve 42.2mpg combined.
Peugeot 508 SW 1.5 BlueHDi 130: Another familiar engine, the 1.5-litre turbocharged diesel makes the same 131PS as the PureTech, and also uses an eight-speed auto (though some earlier models were manual). 0-62mph is a little slower at 10.1 seconds, but economy is higher, at up to 62mpg.
Peugeot 508 SW 2.0 BlueHDi 160: The bigger 2-litre diesel is no longer offered in the 508, but the 163PS engine could get from 0 to 62mph in 8.5 seconds, and had 51.1mpg combined economy.
Peugeot 508 SW 2.0 BlueHDi 180: In more powerful 177PS form the 0-62mph time dropped slightly to 8.4 seconds while economy was just slightly lower at 50.6mpg.
Peugeot 508 SW Hybrid 225: A 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine and electric motor serve up a combined 225PS, for 0-62mph in 8.3 seconds, up to 39 miles of plug-in range, and up to 235.4mpg combined.
Peugeot 508 SW Hybrid4 360: The Peugeot Sport Engineered uses a much more powerful variant of the 1.6 hybrid setup, with all-wheel drive and a 355PS combined output. 0-62mph is covered in 5.2 seconds, EV range is 26 miles, and combined economy is up to 138.9mpg.
Peugeot lists a minimum level of equipment across the entire range comprising halogen headlights, a 12.3-inch i-Cockpit driver display, 8-inch touchscreen, eight-speaker audio, cruise control and a speed limiter, heated folding door mirrors, aluminium roof rails, and dual-zone climate control. The range is otherwise split into several trim levels, the models below a snapshot of the 2022 range, and therefore representative of models on the used market.
The Peugeot 508 SW Active Premium gets 16-inch alloy wheels, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, auto headlights and wipers, keyless go, front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera, and fabric seat trim with copper-coloured stitching.
The Peugeot 508 SW Allure Premium upgrades to 17-inch wheels, cloth and leather-effect trim, navigation, LED headlights, a larger 10-inch touchscreen, privacy glass, and extra safety and driver assistance features including lane-keep assist and adaptive cruise control with stop and go.
The Peugeot 508 SW GT adds a perforated leather steering wheel, a black roof lining, aluminium pedals, blue ambient lighting, and a different fabric and artificial leather combination for the seat trim.
The Peugeot 508 SW GT Premium gets 19-inch alloy wheels (18-inch on the Hybrid models), Focal premium audio, a 360-degree parking camera, Alcantara and leather-effect seat trim, and aluminium rails in the boot.
The Peugeot 508 SW Peugeot Sport Engineered gets a unique equipment list including 20-inch alloy wheels, active suspension, night vision, Nappa leather and Alcantara trim, and ‘Kryptonite’ green stitching.
The Peugeot 508 SW’s dimensions are:
Length: 4778mm
Width: 1859mm (without mirrors), 2079mm (with mirrors)
Height: 1420mm
The Peugeot 508 SW’s boot size is:
530 litres
1780 litres with the rear seats folded
The potential running cost advantage of the plug-in hybrid models is somewhat diminished by the fact that most of them cost more than £40,000 brand new. This results in the government applying a surcharge to your VED bill, and a yearly fee of £560, until the seventh year of registration. Hybrid models that don’t exceed this threshold drop down to £170 per year, while the petrol and diesel models will set you back £180 annually.
Peugeot 508 SW insurance starts in group 22, for the 1.6-litre diesel in Active trim. A later 1.5-litre diesel in Active Premium spec starts in the same group. At the top of the regular range is the Hybrid 225 in GT Premium trim, at group 33, while the Peugeot Sport Engineered is in group 41.