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Peugeot's classy medium range 508 model sharpened up its act in second generation form. This R83-era design aimed to offer a fresh approach to 'D'-segment motoring and did, offering an appealing combination of style and savoire faire. Life's too short for boring car design - mais non?
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History
Big French cars used to be interesting. Distinctive. With the second generation Peugeot 508, launched in 2018, they became so again. It competed in the medium range Mondeo sector but delivered something quite different, offering a choice of five-door 'Fastback' and SW estate body styles. On the used market, you might even prefer it to something with a premium badge.
This Gallic maker used to have a distinguished and rather stylish history in selling larger 'D'-segment designs of this kind, with the 403 model of the Fifties, the 404 of the Sixties, the 504 of the Seventies and the 505 of the Eighties. With the switch to front wheel drive that accompanied the launch of the 405 in 1987 though, the company rather lost its way and successive models - the 406 of 1995, the 407 of 2003 and the first generation 508 of 2010 - were somewhat forgettable. So for this new-era MK2 508, the brand had a complete re-think. Out went the boring three-box saloon body style, replaced by a stylish five-door Fastback Coupe design, which sold alongside a sleeker SW estate model.
The interior quality and technology was up to premium snuff too - certainly a cut above Mondeos and Insignias, as Peugeot sought to position itself as what it called 'a high-end generalist automotive brand'. Plus 508 customers got class-leading running cost efficiency, a gorgeously appointed cabin and a driving experience that the French maker reckoned would make people really want this car. The Hybrid petrol/electric Plug-in variant was introduced in 2020. And the 355hp AWD Peugeot Sport Engineered PHEV flagship model arrived in 2021. The range was heavily facelifted in late 2022, but it's the pre-facelift models we look at here.
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What you get
This second generation 508 opened up a fresh chapter in Peugeot design and it was one that prioritised style over space. To create its rather distinctive look, this car was 8cm shorter and sat 6cm lower than its predecessor, plus it was also narrower at the rear than at the front. Otherwise, the big news was that the saloon body style of previous Peugeot medium range models had been abandoned in favour of a hatch body shape - though the brand wanted us to call it a 'Fastback'. If the 508 formula appeals, you don't have to have this body shape: there's an alternative SW estate version that looks equally avant garde. Either way, there was a clear desire here from the designers to do something different - which we really like.
Inside, you get a very different design to the kind of thing you'd normally expect to find in this segment, with a quality of fit and finish that justifies Peugeot's premium pretensions. The main thing you'll initially notice though, is the so-called 'i-Cockpit' ergonomic layout, Peugeot's term for interior design that positions you so that you're looking at the instruments over the top of the steering wheel rather than viewing them through it. A word about those instrument gauges: they represent another of this cabin's defining talking points, conventional dials completely replaced by a fully configurable and customisable 12.3-inch colour screen. Just about everything else you'll need to know can be found on what looks like a tablet PC attached to the fascia, a multifunction colour touchscreen that grows from 8 to 10-inches in size beyond entry-level trim.
In the back, despite the swept-back roof line, head space won't be at too much of a premium unless you're of basket ball-playing stature. The relative narrowness of the cabin won't help if you have to take three folk in the back but the low transmission tunnel makes dealing with that eventuality easier than it would be in some rivals. A powered tailgate (which works with a wave of your foot beneath the bumper) was optional on most models - annoyingly so because the huge hatch is rather heavy. Once it raises, a 487-litre space is revealed, which is actually 14-litres more than was provided by the longer previous generation model. Pull the toggles behind the head rests to push everything forward and you'll find that the seats don't fold quite flat, but a very reasonable 1,537-litres of space is opened up. It's 530-litres in the SW, extendable to 1,780-litres.
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What to look for
Most MK2 508 buyers we came across seemed satisfied. But inevitably there were a few issues. With the 1.2 and 1.6 litre petrol engines, the weak point from these units in other Peugeot models is the timing chain drive, but we haven't come across any instances of timing change breakage with this MK2 508. There could be problems with the high pressure fuel pump in 1.6-litre models that have completed high mileages. After 60,000 miles, the valve cover has to be updated. If it isn't, inside the membrane breaks, which causes a whistle which in turn causes the engine to take oil. We've also heard of the need for thermostat replacement with the diesel models. And there have been a few cases of piston burn-out.
The wheel bearings on higher mileage models can make noise - look out for this on your test drive. There are also problems with the steering rack: it can knock and in the GT versions it can leak. Though the body is not prone to corrosion, red spots can sometimes be found in the wheel arches. Check the junction of the wings to the bumper for peeling paintwork. With the Fastback, water can get inside the boot when the rear hatch is raised, so inspect the inside of the trunk carefully for dampness and mould. Older cars can exhibit problems with the keyless entry system - usually caused through water getting into the door handles. Otherwise, it's just the usual things; check the interior for child scrapes - and the wheels and rear bumpers for parking scratches. And insist on a fully stamped-up service history.
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Replacement parts
(approx based on a 2021 508 Hybrid excl. VAT) Front brake pads vary in price between £30-£64 for a set; rear pads are around £19-£25. For front brake discs, think around £47-£73; for rears, think £61-£116. An air filter is about £8: an oil filter is about £4. A tail lamp is in the £209-£226 bracket. A radiator is in the £141-£189 bracket. A water pump is in the £34-£64 bracket.
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On the road
Prior to 2018, Peugeot had never made a really fine-handling larger model, but it'll be clear within a few hundred yards that this one is rather different to its predecessors. The low-set 'i-Cockpit' driving position and the wrist-flick response of the little wheel give a kart-like feel, making you want to explore a handling balance that in our view, in this class you'd have to be in a BMW to better. Being usually front-driven, there's only so far the French engineers could go with this 508 in that regard, but they clearly spent a long time tuning the multi-link rear suspension for the ideal balance between supple damping and sharp cornering response - and you'll find that it paid off, especially if you're in a variant fitted with adaptive damping.
You'll get that feature as standard if you opt for a petrol variant which features the brand's 1.6-litre PureTech engine, offered with either 180 or 225hp, the lesser unit capable of particularly impressive efficiency - 51.4mpg on the combined cycle and 125g/km of CO2. Of course, the diesels do even better, the range kicking off with a 130hp 1.5-litre BlueHDi powerplant, the only one in the range that can be had with manual transmission. Most buyers though, will want the smooth 'EAT8' auto 'box that's fitted to every other 508 model, including the 2.0-litre BlueHDi diesel, which puts out either 160 or 180hp. The Hybrid petrol/electric Plug-in variant introduced in 2020 offered 225hp and around 39 miles of EV range. The 355hp AWD Peugeot Sport Engineered PHEV flagship model arrived in 2021.
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Overall
There are of course bigger and more prestigiously-badged 'D'-segment models from the 2018-2023 period you could choose over this 508. A couple might also be a little more fun to drive. But as a piece of pavement theatre, this Peugeot stands apart from most of its rivals. Are there issues? Well you have to avoid the more affordable trim levels to get the full 508 design experience and that means you really will be paying premium brand money for one of these - which means you've really got to want one. But you might. The avant garde cabin, the lovely focused driving position and the distinctively French quality feel are all things that will endear the right kind of buyer to this car. Someone bored with Teutonic excellence and carpark cred who comes to this segment in search of something deliciously different.
And in summary? Well not everyone will like a 508 and even fewer will be minded to buy one but if it had more generic appeal, it wouldn't be the distinctive contender it is. This car made its segment a more interesting place, just as big Peugeots once did. There's a sense of inherent desirability here you just can't get from most of the other contenders in this class. If you like, it's the 'want one' factor. And here, you might find that a very strong draw.
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