Peugeot 508 review

With a starting price that puts it in Ford Mondeo and Skoda Superb territory, and top-end models positioned closer to the Kia Stinger and Volkswagen Arteon, the 508 isn’t necessarily a bargain.

However, it does undercut two cars that Peugeot probably had in its sights at the development stage: the Audi A5 Sportback and BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé, both of which have the same kind of styling but the advantage of a premium badge on the nose.

Sadly, high-looking PCP costs don't help the 508's case, but the plug-in hybrid version makes plenty of sense as a company car; low emissions help it to cost around half as much in benefit-in-kind tax as an equivalent petrol or diesel rival, despite its rather high list price.

The 1.5-litre diesel engine is pretty economical with either a manual or automatic gearbox, while the 1.6-litre Puretech 180 petrol is also very fuel-efficient for a car of its type. The plug-in hybrid, meanwhile, should also be very economical – but only if you regularly drive it with plenty of battery power to reduce its dependence on fossil fuel.

A long list of standard safety equipment adds appeal, with lane-keeping assistance, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and a driver attention monitor all fitted across the range. Indeed, Euro NCAP awarded it five stars out of five, with very high ratings for adult and child occupancy protection. In terms of overall equipment levels, the second of the four rungs on the spec ladder – Allure – strikes the best balance between luxuries and affordability.

In the 2019 What Car? Reliability Survey, Peugeot finished a middling 18th out of 31 in the manufacturers’ table. Its three-year, unlimited-mileage warranty is also only average for the class. The battery in the plug-in hybrid is covered by an eight-year or 100,000-mile warranty, which also guarantees it to keep at least 70% of its capacity during that time.

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