Peugeot 508 verdict

Revisiting our road test of the conventional combustion-engined saloon in 2018 sets a tone for the Peugeot 508 that still rings true.

This is a car that looks alluring and rides comfortably, and holds its head pretty high among both mainstream and premium alternatives. It has a cabin that impresses initially, if not for outright space then certainly for stylish ambience; and Peugeot’s i-Cockpit control layout and i-Connect infotainment systems gets a little better every time. Perhaps one day they will impress like BMW’s iDrive; but likely not.

This is a comfortable saloon that looks smart and feels classy. If you’re in the ‘I just need a car’ camp, it’ll have plenty of appeal.

Matt Prior

Editor-at-large

Being the enthusiasts that we are, Autocar’s preferences in this class have longtime been for cars like the BMW 3-Series and Alfa Romeo Giulia. This is where the 508 Plug-in Hybrid scores, because some of the nicer cars in the class to drive still don’t offer you the chance to hook them up to a wall overnight, and drive them electrically; and some aren’t quite the dynamic leaders that they may be in other-engined guises if they do. 

At a stroke, then, the opportunity to burn very little, if any, fuel in your daily commute can take the 508 from an interesting alternative to a more compelling contender. If it's powertrain were the match of its chassis for understated sporting appeal, it would do even better.