From standard choice to the alternative
Not too long ago, a D-segment car was a common choice. In recent years, people have gone shopping in the C-segment en masse and the rise of SUVs is also unstoppable. A number of brands still hold on to the traditional luxury car, but do so in their own way. For example, Peugeot launched a new, high-profile 508 in 2018. Less family car, more lifestyle object. In this article you can read how owners experience that choice.
Let it sink in for a moment. In 2012, Peugeot sold no fewer than 8,565 copies of the 508 in the Netherlands. With 9,476 units in 2005, its predecessor 407 made it even more colorful. For comparison: of the new 508, only 1,269 left the showrooms in peak year 2019. On AutoWeek.nl, fourteen users provide insight into their experiences with the model.
Space supply and seating comfort
A much-heard criticism of the new 508 is the reduced interior space compared to the previous model. The Peugeot also offers less space compared to the competition. “Yes, it is lower than the predecessor and you notice that when you get in,” the driver of a 2019 508 SW agrees, “but when you sit, you sit like a king, surrounded by beautiful materials, buttons, etc. with a futuristic like cockpit built around you. Like putting on a shoe.”
Speaking of shoes, according to another SW driver, they quickly get into trouble. “Rear passengers complain a lot about the foot space. This is very tight and you quickly get your feet stuck under the front seat.” He is very positive about the chair itself. “The sitting position is more than good. The seats offer adequate support, although if you are very wide the seats will quickly feel cramped. I am very slim myself, 1.82 meters tall and can sit comfortably.”
The 508 Berline, a four-door with a large tailgate, is quite slim. The consequences? “In the back, the entry is a bit difficult due to the sloping roofline, but the seat is fine. More spacious than the 308, which dropped some stitches there,” writes the owner of such a Berline. “The trunk is fine in terms of size with a capacity of 487 liters. The only drawback is the thickness of the bumper and interior. You have to bridge about 30 centimeters, so heavy shopping crates are out of the question.”
A fairly tall Berline driver experiences the seat as follows: “Personally, I find it very pleasant and with my 1.90 meters I have a good sitting position in the car. The car is very low in terms of entry, but that is not a problem for me. Moreover, I can also sit comfortably in the back.” He concludes rationally: “The space on offer is more than sufficient for me, but other brands in this segment offer more.”
Anyone who regularly folds down the rear seat of a 508 SW can encounter a practical problem, describes an owner who is less satisfied across the board. “When folding the rear seats forward (simply from the trunk) I discovered a significant flaw in the design: you can’t fold the rear seat backs without sliding both front seats (which aren’t even really far back) forward . After the second time I ran into this, I permanently removed the (too) high headrests from the back seat.”
i-Cockpit and infotainment
Like all other modern Peugeots, the 508 is also equipped with what Peugeot calls ‘i-Cockpit’. The dashboard, with a highly placed digital instrument panel and a compact steering wheel, hardly needs an introduction. It does, however, have strong pros and cons.
Striking: in the 508 reviews, the latter group does not make itself heard. In fact, users are very positive. “The smaller steering wheel and the counters above it. I think it’s a godsend and got used to it very quickly,” writes such an enthusiastic owner, “just looking for the seating position, but when it’s set: perfect!” Another can do with fewer words. “Steering wheel: love it.”
As far as ergonomics are concerned, the i-Cockpit in this model is a mustache. This applies to a lesser extent to the infotainment system. “Wouldn’t leave this car in front of it, but because it’s just not there every now and then, it detracts from the total experience,” said a critical owner, “and since the climate control is part of it, you can’t avoid a hitch here. and there.” This driver concludes about the same: “The multimedia system is not always logical and fast in terms of operation, but once you get the hang of it, it is easy to work with.”
There is also criticism of the reversing camera: “I find the quality of the images far below par for a car of this price range,” writes the owner of a 508 BlueLease Allure. Also less convenient: “If you are calling in a parking lot, the engine MUST keep running,” writes the owner who removed the rear headrests from his 508 SW. “If you turn off the engine with the start/stop button because you want to think about the environment, the Bluetooth connection will be broken…”
How does the 508 drive?
If there is one point on which drivers of a 508 are unanimously enthusiastic, it is the tranquility on board.
“What strikes me most is that the car is very quiet at cruising speed (nowadays 100 km/h during the day), much quieter than other cars I have driven.” That also has its drawbacks, this owner claims with a wink: “Very quiet inside, this is disastrous in combination with the powerful powertrain… you drive too fast too easily. A compliment of course, but in my 308 I felt much more experienced.”
This owner has a version with adjustable dampers, about which he has the following to say: “The damping can be set to sporty, normal and comfort. Here I think that Peugeot has put too much emphasis on sporty. The comfort position should have been the normal position in my opinion. It never becomes really smooth, floating, although this should be allowed with this French limousine with 17 inch wheels like I have.”
That also has its advantages, notes a GT driver. “The suspension and damping are sporty, this drives super well on Dutch roads. The chassis has been balanced a lot over and given the weight at the rear. I enjoy scrubbing for speed and long spins.” Why he consciously writes ‘Dutch roads’? “As I write this we are with family in Tuscany. Italian roads are a better indicator; the car is significantly more comfortable in the Netherlands than here, due to the condition of the road surface.”
Disturbances and irritations
So far, 508 owners are pretty positive about their car. This also remains the case in terms of reliability. This owner of the first hour writes: “You notice that the build quality is good. After 3 years (and 50,000 km, ed.) Not a creak or beep.” His car is not completely flawless. “I have already had to have the door sills replaced because the First Edition text disappeared. I think this one was screen printed and dissolved.”
Other problems are also modest in nature. One user reports the occasional failure of the central display. Someone else experienced faulty USB-C charging ports in the rear and a Saloon driver suffered a faulty window mechanism. In a young used 508 SW PureTech 180, the adaptive shock absorbers were replaced after 50,000 km and the crankcase ventilation was repaired.
Although the new Peugeot 508 is not a sales success, owners who did choose it appear to be quite satisfied. The more compact dimensions compared to before prove to be sufficient in practice most of the time and the lower carriage has its advantages in terms of driving characteristics. The quiet interior and the i-Cockpit convince, which applies to a lesser extent to the infotainment system. Good news for those who were held back by this: the updated 508 will receive new software for the system, which should provide a better experience.
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– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl