Suzanne Keane checks out the very stylish Peugeot 508 SW
What is it? Peugeot are planning to move more upmarket with their new 508 and it has been launched with new equipment, a new exterior and interior design and their latest economical engines – the 508 will also come with a 5 year extended warranty in Ireland.
Who is it aimed at? The 508 is a large family/executive car in both saloon and estate formats.
Styling? The new 508 SW we drove looks really good – especially from the side. There’s a new headlamp design up front with LED daytime lamps as standard and the rear lights have been redesigned to give the effect of lion claws in keeping with the Peugeot branding.
Under the Bonnet? Our test car was a 1.6HDi Diesel Allure SW with 115bhp, a 6 speed manual gearbox and Stop-Start which is priced at €31,495 with only 112g Co2/km which costs just €200/year on road tax.
What about inside? Inside the cabin feels extremely spacious and the leather seats in our test car were very comfortable. A 7” touchscreen comes as standard and combined with steering wheel controls allow you to manage audio, sat nav and your phone without taking your hands off the wheel. The SW boot has loads of space and there is plenty of room for 3 “large” adults in the back seat. Visibility from inside the cabin was really good – unlike some rival cars the A-Pillars aren’t an obstruction and the panoramic roof really adds to the feeling of space.
On the Road? On the motorway the 508 eats up miles effortlessly and on narrow back roads you will hardly feel a bump. On tight narrow bends it feels extremely planted but on wider & longer bends the “comfort” suspension means it’s not as capable as rivals and does feel a little floaty. It is a big car but the parking sensors, reversing camera and blind spot monitoring make it effortless to manoeuvre around town and in tight spaces. The 1.6 engine never felt underpowered and was more than adequate in the SW.
And Safety? The 508 comes with ESP (combining ABS, traction control, brake force distribution and emergency brake assist) and 6 airbags.
Options? Overall the 508 comes very well equipped in comparison to rivals and is available as a saloon or estate. There will be 3 trim levels along with a special order GT model. The basic “Access” comes with Bluetooth & USB connectivity, Air Conditioning, Cruise Control and 16” Alloys. Going up to the “Active” spec will get you a rear parking aid, Sat Nav, multi-function steering wheel and the SW comes with a panoramic glass roof. “Allure” will upgrade you to blind spot monitoring, a reversing camera and keyless “open & go” and you’ll also get a full leather interior.
Economy? On paper the 508 we tested does 4.3l/100km but in reality, despite a good effort, I found it difficult to use up diesel – on a trip to Dingle and over the Conor Pass the needle hardly moved!
Verdict? The 508 is a large and comfortable cruiser. It may not be as exciting as rivals but it is exceptionally good value and comes very well equipped.
Why you’ll buy one? High Specification and a 5 year warranty
Why you won’t? A little dull
Rivals
Ford Mondeo – priced from €28,995
Mazda 6 – priced from €31,395
Volkswagen Passat – priced from €29,975
Peugeot 508 SW Allure 1.6 HDi 115bhp
Engine: 1560cc 115 bhp @3600rpm 202Nm @1750 rpm
Max speed: 196 km/h
0-100 kph: 12.9 seconds
Emissions (Motor Tax) : 112 g/km (€200)
Model price range: €26,750 (Test car €31,495)
No of Doors: 5 doors
Euro NCAP :
Fuel type: Diesel
Fuel Economy (combined cycle): 4.3 litres per 100 ( 65.7mpg)
Boot Capacity Seats up(down): 512 litres (1118)
Car Seats: 2 isofix in the rear.
Length: 4829 mm
Width: 1853mm
Height: 1476 mm
Wheelbase: 2817mm
For more information check out peugeot.ie, the Peugeot Ireland Facebook page or follow them on twitter here
Suzanne Keane
1st July, 2015
