The Peugeot 508 is a mid-to-large family sedan/estate that hopes to snatch up sales from the more illustrious premium executive sedan segment which is mostly dominated by German brands. These types of cars usually tend to be a jack of all trades which makes them perfect for a wide variety of usage scenarios, but is Peugeot 508 a good car?
The Peugeot 508 is indeed a really good car as it undercuts most cars mentioned above both in outright purchase costs and following maintenance and other running costs. The engines on offer are plentiful and tend to be sophisticated, fairly efficient, and adequately powerful for the car’s size.
The design of the new 508 is certainly on point, especially the 508 GT which definitely punches above its weight limit. The interior is equally good-looking as the 508 looks immensely modern inside with all the necessary convenience, comfort, and luxury features. It does fall short of its German rivals in the build quality segment, but that is to be expected.
The aforementioned 508 GT is also a really entertaining car to drive while other versions are comfortable and easy to drive. The 508 is also more than adequately spacious which means that it can also be used for chauffeuring people around without any problems.
Peugeot 508 – The Powertrain
The Peugeot 508 engine palette consists of gasoline, diesel, and hybrid models. The gasoline engines kick off with the 1.2L PureTech inline 3-cylinder engines which offer 130hp. The more powerful 1.5L 4-cylinder PureTech 180 engines offer 180hp while top-spec PureTech 1.5L variants offer 225hp. You can also get the 508 with a smaller 130hp 1.5L HDi diesel or a more powerful 2.0L 4-cylinder diesel that pushes out either 160hp or 180hp.
Lastly, the 508 is also available as a hybrid. The entry-level hybrid is the Hybrid 225 with 225hp while the more powerful one is the PSE 508 360 with 360hp. FWD comes with all models and you can choose between a manual or an automatic gearbox.
Efficiency is fairly good with the 508 which means that you can expect to get between 45 and 55MPG with gasoline models while diesels can push up to 70MPG on a highway. Hybrid models go over 160MPG which is indeed the choice to make for those wanting a cleaner and more efficient experience.
Peugeot 508 – Design and Driving
Design-wise, the new 508 is really on point which means that it can rival the likes of the German trio. This is due to the new Peugeot design language which looks modern and really sharp. The interior is also really good-looking and well-appointed with all the necessary technology and comfort features.
The driving experience is best with the GT trim as the 508 GT feels more entertaining to drive. Otherwise, the 508 is comfortable, easy to understand, and fairly well-isolated which makes it perfect for long highway drives.
Peugeot 508 – Reliability and Common Issues
The Peugeot 508 also does reasonably well as far as reliability is concerned, but there are some issues that can spoil the fun immensely, mostly with older 1st gen 508 models. These include various electrical issues which can be both annoying and expensive. These include problems with the door locks, wipers, the A/C, the camera, and electrode alignments.
Other problems include suspension issues that can cause the car to drift, problems with the handbrake, problems with water getting into the trunk, and problems with the heater system which can leak.
Peugeot 508 – Value and Practicality
Value-wise, the Peugeot 508 is also a really good deal as it comes with a decently affordable price tag considering what it offers. Used examples of the 1st gen 508 are also really well-priced which makes them good used cars. However, be sure to pay close attention to the car’s service records and aforementioned problems as these can affect the car’s resale value immensely.
Practicality with the 508 is excellent as it can easily sit four adults without any problems. The trunk is reasonably sized while overall visibility is also really good. All in all, the 508 is a really practical car, both for family and business segments.
FAQ Section
How safe is the Peugeot 508?
Official EURO NCAP Peugeot 508 safety credentials give it a 5 out of 5-star rating which comes as no surprise as virtually all modern Peugeots are safe and well-made. With a 96% adult occupant safety rating, the 508 is actually one of the safest cars in its class, but it isn’t near the top when it comes to vulnerable road users thanks to a 71% success.
The 508 also comes with all the necessary active safety systems which include various airbags, lane keep assist, cameras, automatic braking, adaptive cruise control, pre-collision warning, and everything else that comes with 21st-century cars.
Is Peugeot 508 fast?
The 225hp hybrid can do 0-60mph in around 8 seconds, the 180hp diesel 508 can do 0-60mph in 8.6 seconds while the top-spec gasoline model can do 0-60mph in around 7.3 seconds. The Hybrid 360 is by far the quickest of the bunch as it reaches 60mph from a standstill in just under 5.5 seconds.
All in all, the 508 is indeed a fast car with the right engine and trim specification. The segment is known to offer much faster cars from the Audi RS, BMW M, and Mercedes AMG world, but these can often cost twice or even three times the amount of money.
Should I buy a Peugeot 508?
If you are after a comfortable, large, and spacious family sedan/estate, the 508 is a really good car. The fact that it offers a similar experience too much more expensive German premium executive sedans makes it a force to be reckoned with. Even though the Peugeot badge does not carry the same level of luxury, the 508 does punch way above its weight limit.
If you want to experience the most luxurious sedan experience, the 508 is not going to satisfy you. However, if you want everything you’d get in a more expensive German car, but without paying the price, the 508 is a perfect choice.