Five Things: Peugeot 508 Sportswagon
Peugeot might be one of the most under appreciated car brands in the country. The French maker makes stylish and plush vehicles and this wagon is no different.
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Peugeot’s new mid-size wagon blurs a bunch of lines. The stylish French car has a luxury price tag and flash interior to match, but not the right symbol on the bonnet. It also wears a GT badge but doesn’t have the performance usually associated with it. The Pug has SUV practicality but without blocking the view of the car behind. The 508 is a puzzle worth figuring out and here are five things you need to know about it.
1. IT’S HARD TO PIGEONHOLE
Most cars fit into neat categories but Peugeot’s new 508 is a little tricky to define. It’s a medium-size passenger car with similar dimensions to a Toyota Camry or Mazda6 and a premium price tag that puts it dangerously close to desirable luxury brands. As few people buy family sedans these days, Peugeot plumped for a single grade jam-packed with kit to tempt people away from entry-level luxury sedans such as the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. You can be sure it’s not another SUV.
2. FRUIT FOR YOUR FRANCS
Priced from $55,990 plus on-roads in wagon form (the four-door saves $2000), the 508 is loaded with kit including clever LED headlights, smart keys, a truly opulent cabin and dual widescreen displays with satnav and smartphone mirroring. You get the full kit of Peugeot’s driver aids, including active cruise control and active lane keeping assistance. The options list is uncommonly skinny — panoramic sunroof adds $2500 and the only other option is metallic paint. Peugeot backs the 508 with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty and five years of capped price servicing.
3. IT’S GT BY NAME, NOT NATURE
The sole 508 grade in Australia, the premium GT, is the crown of its European range. Aussie enthusiasts take note, it’s not a GT in the vein of the Ford Mustang. The badge means something different in France, where a 1.6-litre turbo is the performance option and its 165kW and 300Nm are enough to butter one’s baguette. Drivers seeking sharp acceleration won’t be pleased by the 8.2-second split from rest to 100km/h, likewise the modest 18-inch wheels have paltry pose value.
4. BEAUTY IS ON THE INSIDE
The 508 is sharp-looking, with frameless doors, intricate details and suave silhouette working in its favour. The cabin is particularly special, characterised by beautiful materials, Peugeot’s eccentric ergonomics and myriad toys. Think leather sports seats with eight-way adjustment, heating and a lovely massage function to work out the kinks on long trips. The 10-speaker Focal audio adds further premium appeal, as do copper highlights, faux carbon-fibre and quilted chairs. There are Peugeot’s trademark tiny steering wheel, high-set digital dash and central widescreen display with “piano key” shortcuts (these add a touch of FG Falcon to an otherwise polished cockpit). Bold statement: you won’t find a better cabin for this price.
5. IT’S A SWEETIE ON THE ROAD
Those small wheels have chubby sidewalls, translating to a cushy ride helped by variable dampers. Premium Michelin tyres provide good grip when the mood strikes and there’s a lovely balance to the 508 that suggests it could handle more power than Peugeot is willing to supply. Claimed economy of 6.3L/100km went closer to 8L in our hands. The 508 must use premium fuel as this is one of the first cars on sale with a petrol particulate filter — technology that does not cope with low-quality fuel.
Originally published as Five Things: Peugeot 508 Sportswagon
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