Peugeot 508 (2011–2018) Review

It might be blander than week old tea, but there's no denying that used Peugeot 508s are a bit of a bargain

Strengths & weaknesses

  • Well equipped as standard
  • Comfortable cruiser
  • Good value as a used car
  • Bland looks of pre-facelift models
  • Interior could be better quality
  • Not the most practical cabin
Peugeot 508 prices from £12,885.
Finance from £245.12 / month.

Peugeot 508 prices from £12,885  Finance from £245.12 per month

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 £12,885 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

April 2011 UK deliveries of new Peugeot 508 range begin with prices starting from £18,150.

May 2013 Upgrades to levels of standard equipment, meaning sat-nav becomes standard on all but the Access trim level.

September 2014 Facelifted 508 range goes on sale, featuring diesel engine compliant with EURO 6 emissions standards.

December 2018 All-new generation model replaces 508.

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

Diesel: 1.6 HDi 112hp, 2.0 HDi 140hp, 2.0 HDi 163hp, 2.0 HDi 200hp
Petrol: 1.6 VTi 120hp, 1.6 THP 156hp

Everyone likes their money to go as far as possible but in the case of the most frugal engine in the 508 saloon line-up, we’d suggest steering clear of the 1.6 HDi 112. There were two versions of it, one with a five-speed manual gearbox (60mpg) and the other with an automated, six-speed manual transmission and a stop-start system (64mpg). They are both a bit sluggish and struggle to propel such a large car, while the automated manual gearbox is unpleasant, with jerky, delayed changes that interrupt the driving process.

That’s why the 2.0-litre HDi 140 engine gets our vote. It came with a simple manual gearbox, has plenty of performance to cope comfortably with a fully laden car, and returns almost 59mpg. At the same time, its CO2 emissions mean road tax is low (£125).

Peugeot also offered 163hp and 200hp versions of the 2.0-litre and 2.2-litre HDi engines, but we’d stick with the more frugal 140hp model.

From September 2014, an updated range saw the introduction of some revised engines. These changes make for an improved car, and it’s worth seeking out the 2.0-litre BlueHDi 150 engine. It had low CO2 emissions (109g/km, so road tax is just £20 a year) and was compliant with the latest EURO6 emissions standards.

Drivers who would prefer petrol should avoid the underpowered 1.6 VTi 120 and search the classifieds for the 1.6 THP 156. This is a turbocharged engine and gives good response with the potential for 44mpg.

A final alternative comes in the guise of a hybrid. The diesel-electric ‘Hybrid4’ is quite rare, because it was expensive when new. However, its low CO2 emissions (95g/km) mean it is exempt from road tax, and it has the potential for 80mpg. So if a cheap example shows up on the used car market, it could be worth a test drive.

 

Engine

Fuel

Economy

Power

Acceleration (0-62mph)

Top speed

1.6 VTi 120

Petrol

45.6mpg

120hp

11.1 secs

126mph

1.6 THP 156

Petrol

44.1mpg

165hp

8.3 secs

139mph

1.6 HDi 112

Diesel

60.1mpg

112hp

10.9 secs

118mph

1.6 HDi 112 SSS EGC

Diesel

64.2mpg

112hp

11.5 secs

122mph

2.0 HDi 140

Diesel

58.9mpg

140hp

9.5 secs

130mph

2.0 HDi 163 automatic

Diesel

49.6mpg

163hp

8.9 secs

139mph

2.2 HDi 200 automatic

Diesel

49.6mpg

200hp

7.9 secs

139mph

2.0 BlueHDi 150

Diesel

67.3mpg

150hp

9.1 secs

130mph

2.0 BlueHDi 180 automatic

Diesel

64.2mpg

180hp

8.6 secs

140mph

2.0 HDi Hybrid4

Diesel/electric hybrid

80.7mpg

163hp

9.3 secs

130mph

Peugeot 508 Trims

Access, SR, Active, Allure, GT

The entry-level Access trim is probably best avoided, as you didn’t get a great deal for your money when new. It included air conditioning, Isofix child seat mounts, electric windows and a height adjustable driver’s seat.

More popular was Active trim. It added alloy wheels, cruise control and an electric driver’s seat. SR was similarly equipped.

Our pick would be the Allure spec. This added electric mirrors, an electric passenger seat, heated seats, parking sensors and part-leather trim.

GT was only available with the 2.0 HDi 200 engine.

 

Peugeot 508 Reliability and warranty

Peugeot has an unenviable reputation for making flaky cars. In the Auto Express 2016 Driver Power customer satisfaction survey, the 508 was ranked as the 83rd most reliable car out of a total of 150 models. Peugeot has been steadily improving the brand’s overall performance in the same survey, however.

Look around forums and it’s clear that there are plenty of dissatisfied 508 owners, whose vehicles have suffered faults. However, in this part of the car market, that isn’t unusual, sadly. When new, its warranty was for three years or 60,000 miles, which is not as good as a Kia or Hyundai.

Used Peugeot 508

As stated in the introduction, there are bargains to be had where the Peugeot 508 saloon is concerned. Prices for 2011 and 2012 cars start at around £3000, although these will be cars that have led a hard life and covered more than 100,000 miles.

For around £6000, the earliest examples of the much-improved facelifted 508 fall within budget. If you can stretch to that budget, it’s worthwhile.

There are currently 11 Peugeot 508s available on BuyaCar, with prices ranging from £12,885 to £31,299 for nearly-new models. Monthly finance payments start from £245.12 per month.

Other Editions

508 SW (2011 – 2018)

Very low used car values make this large Peugeot estate a second-hand bargain but a rapid way to lose money for those who bought one new

508 (2018)

The striking Peugeot 508 aims to woo Mondeo man with a bold design, high-tech interior and a surprisingly good drive