Peugeot 508

Big French cars used to be interesting and distinctive.

Just like this one was, the improved second generation post-2023-era version of Peugeot's 508.

By then, this was one of the few mainstream-branded contenders left in the D-segment that had once been such a rich source of sales for the volume makers.

It still 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, especially in this enhanced form which was introduced five years after the original 2018 launch. Back in 2023, continuing to offer a car of this kind seemed to be a sensible move from Peugeot, not in view of likely European sales but because the huge Chinese market - unafflicted by badge snobbery and an insistence for impractical SUVs - continued to simply love cars of this kind.

That was why the Stellantis Group had green-lighted not only the original development of this R83-era second generation 508 but also an identically-engineered but rather differently-styled Citroen model, the C5 X, launched in 2021 (also short-lived in eventual production).

Both cars are now quite rare to see on British highways, but for likely customers, that'll probably be all part of the appeal. Peugeot 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 MK2-era 508, launched in early 2018, the brand had a complete re-think and as a result, both the stylish five-door Fastback Coupe model and its sleeker SW estate showroom stablemate initially sold a little better than the brand expected. The 2023 package of mid-term updates probably didn't go far enough but brought a sharper look and improved cabin screen tech.

By then, diesels were no more for 508 buyers, PHEV powertrains were prioritised and the potent 'Peugeot Sport Engineered' model continued as the range flagship.

In this form, the car sold until late-2025, when it was discontinued and not replaced.

Whatever your 508 preference, Fastback or SW, there was a clear desire here from the designers to do something different - which we really like.

As advertised, the roof line really is quite coupe-like, low and sleek, barely reaching 1.4m in height and flowing into intricately fashioned rear wings that required a complex metal curvature stamping process normally only used on exotic sports cars. It may well be though, that it's the sharky looks of this front end that'll really sell this Peugeot to you, especially with the car in this post-2023-era improved form.

Previously, there had been quite a gap in pavement presence between base-trimmed versions and the upper-spec levels, but by 2023 all 508s looked sharp, the redesigned more distinctive front grille integrated lower into the bumper and flanked on each side by redesigned '3-claw' LED daytime running lights.

These flow up towards ultra-thin LED Matrix headlamps and the redesigned Basalt Grey-coloured central brand badge sits proudly above the numberplate. There were far fewer changes made at the rear with its elegantly raked-back tailgate, though an original owner of an earlier MK2 508 would notice that the brand shield was replaced by spaced-out 'Peugeot' lettering across the central black strip that emphasises the 1.86-metre body width. Inside up front, the screen tech was changed as part of the 2023 update, but not a lot else, which means that as with an earlier MK2 508, the first thing you'll initially notice 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.

That wheel is small and low-set, facilitating a wrist-flick quality of steering feel that Peugeot always reckoned its owners really liked. As you'd hope for a car tilting at premium prices, it all feels satisfyingly high end, particularly in the 'GT' form you'll want with its Aikinite-stitched dash and door panels, perforated Mistral leather steering wheel, blue ambient lighting, silver pedals and aluminium door sills.

All the trim levels feature part-leather upholstery and if you avoid base trim, you get particularly comfortable multi-power-adjustable front seats, approved by the AGR organisation who campaign for healthy backs.

True, the build quality doesn't feel quite as 'hewn from granite' as it would in, say, an Audi, but by 2023 Peugeot was certainly getting there and its approach to design was vastly more interesting. The redesigned instrument display in this updated MK2 508 was as in the original version, so as before a fully configurable and customisable 12.3-inch colour screen, though as part of this update it gained new generation dials with a crisper resolution - and additional display modes.

Just about anything else you might want to know can be found on the 10-inch 'i-Connect Advanced' central screen (also redesigned as part of this update), which offered a wireless connection for 'Apple CarPlay' and 'Android Auto', over-the-air updates and a supposedly advanced “OK Peugeot” natural language voice recognition system. To get to the rear, you pull back the long door and as usual with 'Fastback'-style designs, try to avoid spearing yourself in the stomach with the acutely-angled trailing edge of the frameless rear window.

And find yourself on a rear seat with just about enough leg room for a couple of adults, provided the journey isn't too long.

It's not terrible - there's actually 3cms more legroom and 5cms more elbow room than you'd get in a comparable Audi A5 Sportback from this era for instance.

The bigger problem is head space, which will be even more restricted if you get a car whose original owner specified the optional panoramic glass roof.

Compensations come with the plush cabin ambiance - the intricate stitching on the seats and door cards - and little touches like the illuminated central USB-A ports: all of it delivers an elegant feel. A powered tailgate (which can work with a wave of your foot beneath the bumper) remained only optional on most models as part of this update - annoyingly so because the huge hatch is rather heavy.

Once it raises, a 487-litre space is revealed, which impressively, isn't at all affected if you opt for a PHEV variant.

A ski hatch is provided, but if you need to flatten everything, pulling on the toggles behind the head rests allows you to push everything forward.

You'll find that the seats don't fold quite flat, but a very reasonable 1,537-litres of space is opened up.

Of course, if you're going to be doing that very often, then you ought really to have opted instead for the SW estate body style.

This delivers a 530-litre boot (thanks to the extra length of the load area) and a 'Magic Flat' button which, when prodded, folds everything to reveal a 1,780-litre space.

We'll quote values based on the Fastback body shape; you'll need to add a premium of around £1,500 more for the SW estate version.

Prices for this updated post-2023-era MK2 508 model begin at around £15,500 (around £18,200 retail) for the earliest '23-plate 'Allure'-spec 1.2 Puretech petrol models, with around £2,000 more needed if you want plusher 'GT' trim.

Prices for this updated post-2023-era MK2 508 model in Hybrid PHEV form begin at around £16,850 (around £19,550 retail) for the earliest '23-plate 'Allure'-spec models, with around £2,000 more needed if you want plusher 'GT' trim.

Prices for this updated post-2023-era MK2 508 model in top PSE ('Peugeot Sport Engineered') PHEV form begin at around £21,500 (around £24,250 retail) for the earliest '23-plate models.

All quoted values are sourced through industry experts cap hpi.

Click here for a free valuation.

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.

We've heard of defective parking sensors.

And thoroughly check the functionality of the centre screen, which has a reputation for freezing and glitches, plus navigation failures and software issues. 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 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.

(approx based on a 2023 508 1.6 Hybrid PHEV excl.

VAT - autodoc) Expect to pay around £5-£10 bracket for an oil filter, in the £6-£11 bracket for an air filter and around £4-£8 for a fuel filter.

Front brake pads vary in price from £28-£63.

For front brake discs, think in around the £38-£92 bracket.

A timing belt and water pump kit costs in the £80-£150 bracket.

A starter motor costs in the £112-£26 bracket.

An alternator is in the £790-£930 bracket.

A radiator is in the £66-£175 bracket.

There were no significant mechanical updates made as part of the 2023 update - which was surprising because on the base PureTech 130 petrol model back then, we'd expected to see the mild hybrid 48V tech that had lately been introduced into this engine in the brand's 3008 SUVs.

As before in a 508, that 1.2-litre three cylinder engine putting out 130hp could only be had with EAT8 8-speed auto transmission.

By 2023 though, there was no accompanying alternative 1.5-litre four cylinder BlueHDi diesel.

To replace diesel drive, Peugeot offered buyers a Plug-in Hybrid powertrain based around a 1.6-litre petrol turbo engine, mated to a 110hp electric motor powered by a 12.4kWh battery which when fully charged could offer an EV range of up to 42.3 miles.

That's with the front-driven Hybrid 225 model, which delivers a faintly unbelieve set of claimed efficiency stats - 274.8mpg on the combined cycle and up to 23g/km of CO2.

Charging from empty to full via a 7.4kW wallbox takes an hour and 45 minutes. If you want to go fast in a 508 Hybrid, you'll need the pricey 'Peugeot Sport Engineered' 360hp AWD version, which trims the 0-62mph time to just 5.2s.

But that 'PSE' version's not our focus here.

What's a mainstream 508 like on the road? Well Peugeot's bold claim at the original launch of this car was that "if you drive it, you'll buy it".

Don't expect from this that we're looking at a super sharp-handling BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe rival here, but you might be surprised by just how crisply the 508 responds - and of course it's a consummate high speed cruiser, aided by a well-judged supple multi-link rear suspension set-up.

At the wheel of any 508, you're positioned in front of Peugeot's distinctive 'i-Cockpit' dashboard layout, which as usual, sees you looking over the rim of the steering wheel at the instrument dials, rather than conventionally through it.

And as usual, the leather-stitched tiller in question is a small, grippy thing which gives you the illusion of greater interaction with the car.

And all variants get the usual drive modes system, which adapts steering, throttle and gear change timings to the way you want to drive.

There are of course more practical and more prestigiously-badged 'D'-segment models from the 2023-2025 era you could choose over this one.

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, especially in this updated form. Are there issues? Well you have to avoid the base PureTech model to get the full 508 drive 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 choose 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 from this era.

If you like, it's the 'want one' factor.

And here, you might find that a very strong draw.