Peugeot 508 (2011–2018) Review

The Peugeot 508 was never that desirable when it was new, but that caused it fall in value like a house suffering serious subsidence. For the first (or even second) owner, this is bad news, as they can lose thousands of pounds as a result. However, those drivers who come along further down the line are likely to pick up something of a bargain. Prices for used 508 saloons start from as little as  on BuyaCar for a 2016 model with reasonable mileage.

But is it cheap for a reason? Well, the 508 is competent, safe, and presents reasonable running costs. Admittedly, it’s no work of art. The initial styling was dominated by the super-size grille and lower air intake, and the bonnet and boot are particularly bulbous. Happily, a facelift in facelift in the autumn of 2014 improved matters somewhat.

Inside, the dashboard and driver’s environment is conservative. Aside from a few splashes of chrome-effect trim, there's certainly nothing to set it apart from other similarly priced saloons. However, it’s clutter-free, and all the controls are chunky, making them easy to use, and some models came with a head-up display.

There are some silly oversights, though. If you like a car that offers lots of storage space, then the tiny glovebox and small lidded compartment between the seats will prove innadequate, and when you place a bottle in the spring-loaded cup holder, the navigation screen ends up being obscured.

It is spacious and comfortable for you and your passengers though and large windows help with guiding such a big saloon through busy streets, while the light steering, light clutch and easy-going manual gearbox also do their bit to give it a relaxed vibe.

The rear seats offer lots of legroom and headroom and are made all the more comfortable because the floorspace beneath passengers’ feet is almost flat, which makes it more pleasant for anyone sitting in the middle seat. Isofix mounts for childseats are included on the two outer chairs.

If only there were a little more boot space. The saloon version of the 508 offers 473-litres of luggage space, which is quite a way down on the 540-litre boot of the Ford Mondeo and the 586-litre boot of the Volkswagen Passat. Talking of the Mondeo, on the road the 508 can’t match it for the feeling of being a precision driving machine.

Those who place fuel economy above all other considerations should seek out the 1.6-litre diesel engine with the stop-start system and automatic gearbox, as it returns up to 64mpg. The most frugal petrol unit, also a 1.6-litre, manages 45mpg, while road tax across the range is pleasingly low.

Finally, it’s good to know that the 508 is a safe car. In independent crash tests, performed by EuroNCAP, the 2011 508 achieved a maximum, five-star rating, with a 90% adult protection score and 87% child protection rating. Bear in mind, however, that the crash tests have been made far more challenging since 2011, so a car achieving five stars in 2018 or 2019 is likely to offer far more sophisticated crash protection - plus additional crash-avoidance tech - than the 508.

 

Key facts

Warranty	3 years
Boot size	473 litres
Width	2068mm
Length	4792mm
Height	1456mm
Tax	£20-£200

Best Peugeot 508 for...

Best for Economy – Peugeot 508 1.6 HDi 112hp SSS EGC

It’s the smallest and most frugal of all the diesel engines, and when paired with Peugeot’s stop-start system and automated manual gearbox, known as EGC, the 1.6-litre unit can return 64mpg.

Best for Families – Peugeot 508 2.0 HDi 140

This 2.0-litre diesel engine is the backbone of much of Peugeot’s range of cars, and it’s easy to see why. It offers a fine all-round blend of performance and fuel economy (nearly 59mpg).

Best for Performance – Peugeot 508 1.6 THP 156

This isn’t the fastest car in the 508 family – that honour belongs to the 2.0 HDi 200 diesel – but we rate the power delivery of this petrol engine, which has masses of thrust from very low engine speeds with its pulling power peaking at just 1,400rpm.

History

Understanding Peugeot 508 names

Engine 2.0 HDi

The figure ‘2.0’ is the size of the engine in litres (there’s a 1.6 diesel engine and a 1.6 petrol, too) and ‘HDi’ refers to it being a diesel engine. The figure ‘140’ is the engine’s power rating in horsepower.

Trim Allure

Peugeot’s 508 range started with Access trim, and moved up through SR, Active and Allure. There was also GT, which was only available with the 2.0 HDi 200 engine.

Gearbox Automatic

Depending on the engine, there is a choice of a six-speed manual gearbox and a six-speed automatic.

Peugeot 508 Engines

Peugeot 508 Trims

Peugeot 508 Reliability and warranty

Used Peugeot 508

Other Editions