Every time I review a wagon I’m reminded of how much better they look than SUVs. A personal observation, sure, but this Peugeot 508 Sportswagon is a mighty fine looking machine, and practical for families too. There’s only one spec in the range, which makes things easy, and it costs $55,990 before on-road costs.
There are other good looking wagons on the road, like the Skoda Octavia for example, so the Pug has some competition. Here’s how the Peugeot 508 performed over seven days with my family.
Peugeot 508 2020: GT
| Engine Type | Turbo 4, 1.6L |
|---|---|
| Fuel Type | Premium Unleaded Petrol |
| Fuel Efficiency | 6.3L/100km (combined) |
| Seating | 5 |
| Price From | $27,940 - $33,660 |
| Safety Rating |
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How does it look?
The 508 Sportswagon looks nice and sleek, with an elongated and sophisticated profile. There’s something about the length that makes it look modern and it’s much more refined than its SUV cousins, which can be a bit bulky and square. This is a much nicer shape.
Inside things are super slick, with nappa leather seats that have an interesting pattern, which looks premium. The seats are also hugely comfortable.
Last week I was testing a really uncomfortable car and had to drive it for a full two hours, and by the end of it, my back and legs were hurting, but then I got to swap into this car and I could feel the back pain literally melting away, which is a powerful indication of how good these pews are. The front seats are also power adjustable and heated.
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The centre console looks fabulous, with a high-gloss finish and piano keys under the 12.3inch multimedia screen. They’re a functional solution to finding what you need on the screen without having to search hard for it.
The star of the show has to be the steering wheel, which is small, really easy to manipulate and almost octagonal in shape, with a flat bottom and top. You can rest your hands on the corner panels on each side and it’s finished in a soft, perforated leather. It has to be one of the best steering wheels going around. In front of the wheel is a digital dash, which shows your speed in large numbers, which is exactly what you need.
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How spacious is it?
The cabin is wide and gives a nice feeling of airiness. There’s enough leg space, though the sunroof ($2500) does cut into the head space a little, but my taller family members were still able to fit just fine.
The back seat is quite large, and my two children, aged six and eight, were happily ensconced in their seats without the general squabble you get if they are sitting too close together. I’m 161cm and I could fit back there behind my own seating position easily, with enough room between my legs and the seat that it would also be able to fit taller adults or teenagers.
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And the boot is huge. It’s low, definitely, but very long and you’ll be able to fit a double pram or kids' bikes lying down. School bags or groceries and sporting equipment will fit with ease. At 530 litres it’s bigger than most mid-size SUV cargo areas, and has plenty of room for a family lugging everything but the kitchen sink. Okay, maybe a small kitchen sink.
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How does it drive?
The Peugeot 508 is very smooth and quiet, and seems to glide effortlessly along. There’s a 1.6-litre turbo engine up front, so it gets up hills quickly and it’s nimble - I felt like I could duck in and out of traffic easily.
The steering wheel makes a big difference from the second you get into the car. It’s small and so easy to turn that it really makes you feel a bit like a racing-car driver, which is nice, even if you are just driving around suburbia at 60km/h.
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The 508 coasts nicely along highways and I felt safe and comfortable in the car. There is no AWD option, however, which is a shame. It's front-wheel-drive only.
The reverse-parking camera is fine; it’s not super high definition but it is good enough, with parking guidelines and the addition of a 360-degree camera, so you can see where you are in relation to your surrounds.
How easy is it to use every day?
There is keyless entry and the boot opens with a button on the key, which is always helpful when you are overloaded with children’s bags.
There are two cupholders in the front, a large central storage bin and a very handy storage spot next to the gear shifter for keys and a phone. There’s also a shelf under the centre console that serves as a wireless charger, if you have a compatible phone, and has a USB point so you can hide the cord from sight. The extra storage spot next to the gear stick means you don’t have to keep your phone down there if you don’t want to, so it works fine.
Rear passengers get two cupholders in the centre armrest and their own airvents, but no climate control.
How safe is it?
The 508 Sportswagon comes with advanced safety features like auto emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning and active blind-spot monitoring. There are six airbags, which is not as many as you'd find in the Skoda Octavia, which has nine (the extras on the Skoda are side airbags for rear passengers and a knee airbag for the driver).
The Peugeot comes with two ISOFIX points and three top-tether points for kids’ car seats, and it scores a full five-star ANCAP rating.
What’s the tech like?
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The 508 offers a large 12.3-inch multimedia screen, fitted with Apple Carplay and Android Auto, which means you plug your phone in and the screen turns into a giant version of your phone, with the main apps you’ll need while driving, including maps to navigate and streaming apps to listen to music and podcasts.
It comes with 10 speakers, which work really well - I had a few loud music sessions while driving alone in the Peugeot this week. Beats stress levels instantly.
How much does it cost to own?
The Peugeot 508 Sportswagon costs $55,990 before on-road costs. Extras featured on this model were the metallic paint, at $690, and the opening sunroof, $2500, which took the total cost to $59,180.
Fuel consumption is a claimed 6.3L/100km on the combined cycle and it’s covered by Peugeot’s five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, which includes five years of roadside assist. Servicing is recommended once every 12months or 20,000km and it will cost you an average of $701.40 per year over the five years.
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Verdict
The Peugeot 508 Sportswagon is a great car with enough space for families, including a huge boot that beats most mid-size SUVs. The design is fresh and sophisticated and there's a real premium feel to both the exterior and interior.
It drives beautifully and has great safety and technology. I gave it a family rating of 8.2 out of 10 and my children gave it the same; they really loved the comfort levels of this car.
Pricing Guides
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Range and Specs
| Vehicle | Specs | Price* |
|---|---|---|
| GT | 1.6L, Premium Unleaded Petrol, 8 SPEED ELECTRONIC AUTOMATIC | $27,940 - $33,660 |
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