It’s the roaring French Lion again in Spain and more specifically, the South, in a region called Alicante. We are talking about the latest Peugeot 508 that was launched at the 2010 Paris Motorshow. It is neither a 407 nor 607; it is the car that all French lovers of Peugeot’s brand have been waiting for. An innovative design with a complete new interior, style and ergonomics, the new 508 has all of what Peugeot has to offer.
The Drive
Our drive started from the Alicante seaport to the mountains, through many twisted and blind corners, driving the 1.6L THP engine with 156 hp and a manual gearbox. The engine has a little more weight to deal with compared to other applications in the brand, but nonetheless, it carries that weight well with a fair hint of lag detected when pushing the car up the hills. The engine lacks the grunt necessary to waft you up the mountains, but what it lacks low in the rev band it more than makes up for with sufficient mid-range power.
The 1.6L THP engine is what we always liked about its previous applications, because it is quiet at cruising speeds, just like the rest of the car which scores some of the highest Peugeot grades in the NVH department.
The 508 is extremely well equipped in the stopping department. What we like is the accurate handling of the car. The steering rack communicates with the wheels in a manner that will please concerted drivers, and the entire chassis of the car reacts well when driven in a sporty manner.
But what dissatisfied me was the seating, which I didn’t find comfortable. Though the driver’s seat benefits from a raft of position changes, I had a hard time settling in comfortably. Perhaps time could cure that, but the seat bottom seemed too short regardless of the extendable part, lacking comfortable thigh support. The handrail is too large, vague and solid. The chair even in its lowest position is a bit too high for my taste and counters the car’s exterior raised beltline, though it does grant good outward visibility.
Design
The 508 is a fresh, futuristic vehicle, faultlessly adjusted to every desire of customers who have moved with Peugeot chronologically with time: challenging, energetic and liable. The 508 is offered in two matching body styles: a Saloon and a Sport Wagon. The 508 is the first Peugeot that departs drastically form the old design form that was stale for a couple of years. Its new design cues will surely proliferate across the line-up in due time, and as an inaugural effort we like how the 508 blends the French brand’s design attributes with an avant-garde aggressive style. The 508 offers elements such as 18 inch rims, bi xenon headlamps and led taillights, moving Peugeot squarely within range of the established competition.
Cabin
The cabin is what I really appreciated about the car, with a considerable improvement over the 407. Luxury and value dominate its interior. With extras like four zone air conditioning, intelligent parking control, JBL audio system, and most importantly the paddle shifts on the steering wheels, they have made this car a sporty and classy vehicle at the same time.
Verdict
In general, the 508 has come to a level where it can truly compete and be compared with the large rivals like Opel Insignia and Volkswagen Passat. The 508 takes two former models out of the equation, the 407 and 608, and it is far better than both but slots in the middle in terms of dimension. Peugeot recognized the fact that it would be a pointless and imprudent investment to develop a large vehicle that chases the Germans leading the pack, and decided to take them on in the smaller categories, categories that Peugeot knows and has always done well in.
The Drive
Our drive started from the Alicante seaport to the mountains, through many twisted and blind corners, driving the 1.6L THP engine with 156 hp and a manual gearbox. The engine has a little more weight to deal with compared to other applications in the brand, but nonetheless, it carries that weight well with a fair hint of lag detected when pushing the car up the hills. The engine lacks the grunt necessary to waft you up the mountains, but what it lacks low in the rev band it more than makes up for with sufficient mid-range power.
The 508 is extremely well equipped in the stopping department. What we like is the accurate handling of the car. The steering rack communicates with the wheels in a manner that will please concerted drivers, and the entire chassis of the car reacts well when driven in a sporty manner.
But what dissatisfied me was the seating, which I didn’t find comfortable. Though the driver’s seat benefits from a raft of position changes, I had a hard time settling in comfortably. Perhaps time could cure that, but the seat bottom seemed too short regardless of the extendable part, lacking comfortable thigh support. The handrail is too large, vague and solid. The chair even in its lowest position is a bit too high for my taste and counters the car’s exterior raised beltline, though it does grant good outward visibility.
Design
The 508 is a fresh, futuristic vehicle, faultlessly adjusted to every desire of customers who have moved with Peugeot chronologically with time: challenging, energetic and liable. The 508 is offered in two matching body styles: a Saloon and a Sport Wagon. The 508 is the first Peugeot that departs drastically form the old design form that was stale for a couple of years. Its new design cues will surely proliferate across the line-up in due time, and as an inaugural effort we like how the 508 blends the French brand’s design attributes with an avant-garde aggressive style. The 508 offers elements such as 18 inch rims, bi xenon headlamps and led taillights, moving Peugeot squarely within range of the established competition.
Cabin
The cabin is what I really appreciated about the car, with a considerable improvement over the 407. Luxury and value dominate its interior. With extras like four zone air conditioning, intelligent parking control, JBL audio system, and most importantly the paddle shifts on the steering wheels, they have made this car a sporty and classy vehicle at the same time.
Verdict
In general, the 508 has come to a level where it can truly compete and be compared with the large rivals like Opel Insignia and Volkswagen Passat. The 508 takes two former models out of the equation, the 407 and 608, and it is far better than both but slots in the middle in terms of dimension. Peugeot recognized the fact that it would be a pointless and imprudent investment to develop a large vehicle that chases the Germans leading the pack, and decided to take them on in the smaller categories, categories that Peugeot knows and has always done well in.
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