Item: Used Peugeot 508 2018-present
Rating: 3
Author: What Car? Team

The stylish <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a5/hatchback/used-review/n928">Audi A5 Sportback</a> is a refined motorway cruiser, with a comfortable and spacious interior and an easy to use rotary-controlled infotainment system. It’s good to drive, too, and rides well, and there are some tempting used cars now on the forecourts.

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/arteon/hatchback/used-review/n17885">Volkswagen Arteon</a> has a strong engine range, plenty of standard equipment and masses of interior space. It might not have the badge prestige of one or two of its rivals but it’s great to drive and ride in, certainly better than the 508, and used examples make an excellent buy. &nbsp;

If you're interested in buying a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/peugeot/508?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;postCode=tw1%203sp">used Peugeot 508</a>, or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to our used car classifieds site <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">here.</a>&nbsp;

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What is it like?

Ownership cost

Advice for buyers

Our recommendations

Alternatives

Hatchback

Peugeot has its strongest model line-up for some years, with some of its cars now rated by our testers as being among the very best available.

Highlights focus around the firm’s newest SUVs, the 3008 and 5008. The 5008 was named Large SUV of the Year at the 2018 What Car? Awards, thanks to its appealing blend of space, interior quality and low running costs.

That bodes well for future launches, too, because many of the learnings from these cars will be passed on as new versions of existing cars are launched – something that could take many years, because the Peugeot range is so big, ranging from an entry-level supermini with the 108 to an executive saloon with the 508, up into the SUV range and also vans.

Buyers should evaluate some of the lower-rated cars in the range more carefully, though. Some are now quite old, and are subsequently left behind in terms of quality when compared with the opposition, making them below-average buys, in our estimation.

PEUGEOT

The Peugeot 508 is stylish and good value used, but plenty of rivals are more practical and better to drive.

Peugeot 508

On paper, the most economical 508 is the 1.5 HDi 130 diesel with an automatic gearbox. According to the older NEDC official figures, its combined figure is 76.3mpg, with corresponding CO2 emissions of 98g/km. The manual car achieves a claimed 74.3mpg and CO2 emissions of 101g/km. The 2.0 HDi 160 has been tested under the new stricter WLTP procedure and produces 51.1mpg with corresponding CO2 emissions of 118g/km. The 1.6 180 petrol-engined car achieves 41.8mpg under the new test, and CO2 emissions of 123g/km.

According to the official figures, the hybrid will do 235.4mpg, but as is usual with plug-in hybrids conditions would have to be just right for you to achieve anything like this in the real world.&nbsp;

All 508s of this generation will have been registered after the tax changes of April 2017 came into force, meaning a flat rate annual VED tax currently £150 a year.

Insurance groups are average for this class of car. Peugeot has a number of different servicing plans that offer flexibility in payments and length of contract, and servicing costs on the whole are lower than many of its rivals. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Used Peugeot 508 2018-present

The Peugeot 508 is stylish and good value used, but plenty of rivals are more practical and better to drive.


The 508 prices start at around £14,000 for one of the early cars. Expect to spend between £14,000 and £16,000 on a good 2019 car, or a little more for one of the pricier GT Line trims, and around £17,000 to £19,000 on a 2020 model, again with a little more for a higher spec version.&nbsp;

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It’s not overly loaded with power but we’d try and seek out the 1.5 HDi 130 diesel car as this is pleasantly refined and achieves a healthy economy figure. For extra comfort, we’d look for the eight-speed automatic version. Trim levels are all adequately equipped so we’d keep costs down and look for an Active.

Our favourite Peugeot 508: 1.5 HDi 130 Active

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Effortless long-distance capability</li> <li>Strong standard specification</li> <li>Low running costs</li> <li>Comfortable driving position</li> <li>Comprehensive yet easy-to-use infotainment system</li></ul>

Executive cars are often the choice of company car drivers, so factors such as CO2 emissions (which govern your monthly tax bill) are just as important as cruising refinement for those long motorway journeys, a plush cabin and (whisper it) the image of the badge on the bonnet.

The good news is that there are options for all budgets and tastes. If rear space is crucial and you’re willing to put up with a less-than-premium badge, the Skoda Superb is tough to beat, while if you want a premium badge on the bonnet then the BMW 3 Series is consistently one of our favourites in this class.

And don't think you're limited to just petrol or diesel-powered choices in this class,&nbsp;because at the top end the Tesla Model 3 is well worth considering for its long range and engaging driving style.

Executive

The 508 interior is full of nice soft-touch materials, but check that these haven’t been stained by family use. Check the operation of all the seats. Look at the electrical equipment, too. It’s a large car and will have been used in tight city centre car parks, so look out for dents and scuffs to the front wings and rear boot. Also check the alloy wheels for kerb damage. 
 
Reported problems with this model have been remarkably few. It’s worth checking all the non-engine electricals, though, because this is the area where a number of faults have been recorded on similar Peugeots. 
 
Peugeot as a brand fared poorly in our most recent reliability survey, finishing in 24th place out of 31 manufacturers. 
 
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The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/508/saloon/used-review/n858">first Peugeot 508</a> was a reasonable enough car, but its cautious styling did a good job of hiding from the world at large the general competence of the oily bits underneath, so for this second-generation version the French firm deliberately injected a healthy dose of style into the design mix. It certainly worked, for this 508 is a good-looking car in the five-door <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/coupe">coupe </a>style of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a5/hatchback/used-review/n19056">Audi A5 Sportback</a> and the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/arteon/hatchback/used-review/n17885">Volkswagen Arteon.</a>

However, to succeed in the ultra-competitive <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/executive">executive car class</a> you need to be more than just a pretty face, and the 508 - while never destined to be a huge seller in the UK - needs to match its rivals in terms of comfort and refinement, as well as being a pleasure to drive. To that end, it offers a choice of two petrol and three diesel engines, with an eight-speed automatic gearbox standard on all but the entry-level 1.5-litre diesel; this gets a six-speed manual, although the auto ’box is still an option. A plug-in hybrid version of the 508, which combines a petrol engine with an electric motor, was&nbsp;added to the line-up in 2019.

Trim levels start with Active, which offers 17in alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, rear parking sensors and an 8.0in infotainment touchscreen. Step up to Allure trim and you’ll get a 10.0in touchscreen, heated front seats and half-leather upholstery. Next, GT Line offers 18in alloy wheels, LED headlights, tinted windows and sports seats. Top-spec GT adds 19in alloys, active suspension, full leather upholstery and an electric tailgate.

On the road the 508 is a bit of a mixed bag. The 1.5-litre 130 diesel is smooth and refined but feels a little underpowered. There’s also a 161bhp version of the 2.0 BlueHDi diesel engine and a 174bhp unit that has plenty of oomph and, like the 1.5, is reasonably refined. On the petrol side, the 179bhp 1.6 Puretech is smooth, responsive and a more spirited performer than the diesels, with the only disappointment being that it doesn't pull quite so well from low revs. 
 
The 221bhp 1.5 petrol brings a noticeable amount of extra shove and is the quickest option in the line-up, albeit the most costly to run.

In corners, there’s plenty of grip, and the handling is safe and predictable, if largely uninspiring. The steering is actually slightly lower geared than other modern Peugeot models, but it has enough response and tenacity to instill confidence during faster cornering. There’s little in the way of body lean, which also helps with placing the car accurately, although the pay-off for this is a slightly firm ride that, although pleasant enough most of the time, can be a bit fidgety. &nbsp;

The 508 features Peugeot’s i-Cockpit layout, where a small steering wheel sits below your eyeline to the instrument panel, and analogue dials are replaced by a 12.3in customisable digital display. While the set-up works well for taller drivers who push the seat well back, it leaves shorter drivers unable to see all of the instrument pod. The seats are pseudo-sporty in style and the driving position is adjusted electrically in Allure-spec cars and above. However, the seat is set quite high, even on its lowest setting. Fit and finish are generally impressive, with the dashboard and surrounding areas featuring plenty of soft-touch materials and neat inserts, while top-spec GT models making good use of high-quality stitched leather. Only some cheaper-feeling plastic on the doors let the side down a bit. 
 
Rearward visibility is quite restricted due to the car's extravagant exterior lines, so you'll be glad that reversing sensors and a rear-view camera are standard from Allure trim. Up front there’s good space for a tall driver and front passenger, despite the 508's sleek, coupé-like roofline. However, the news isn't as good in the rear. Yes, there’s just enough space for a six-footer to fold their legs in behind a lanky driver, but head room is severely limited. At least the 508 is a hatchback, rather than a saloon-style body, which gives it a large boot opening that helps with loading. In addition, you can fold the rear seats down in a 60/40 configuration by pulling toggles positioned just behind the headrests, although the seats don’t lie completely flat. Unfortunately, the size of the boot is a little down on one or two of its main rivals in this class.

If you're interested in buying a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/peugeot/508?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;postCode=tw1%203sp">used Peugeot 508</a>, or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to our used car classifieds site <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">here.</a>&nbsp;

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Used Peugeot 508 2018-present review

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Find out how much the Peugeot 508 2018 - present costs to run, covering expected MPG, servicing costs and insurance costs.

The 508 prices start at around £14,000 for one of the early cars. Expect to spend between £14,000 and £16,000 on a good 2019 car, or a little more for one of the pricier GT Line trims, and around £17,000 to £19,000 on a 2020 model, again with a little more for a higher spec version. , ,  ,On paper, the most economical 508 is the 1.5 HDi 130 diesel with an automatic gearbox. According to the older NEDC official figures, its combined figure is 76.3mpg, with corresponding CO2 emissions of 98g/km. The manual car achieves a claimed 74.3mpg and CO2 emissions of 101g/km. The 2.0 HDi 160 has been tested under the new stricter WLTP procedure and produces 51.1mpg with corresponding CO2 emissions of 118g/km. The 1.6 180 petrol-engined car achieves 41.8mpg under the new test, and CO2 emissions of 123g/km.According to the official figures, the hybrid will do 235.4mpg, but as is usual with plug-in hybrids conditions would have to be just right for you to achieve anything like this in the real world. ,All 508s of this generation will have been registered after the tax changes of April 2017 came into force, meaning a flat rate annual VED tax currently £150 a year.Insurance groups are average for this class of car. Peugeot has a number of different servicing plans that offer flexibility in payments and length of contract, and servicing costs on the whole are lower than many of its rivals.     ,Page 2 of 5Page 2 of 5

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Used Peugeot 508 2018-present review

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