• Dashboard shared with the Fastback
• Unique and eye-catching design
• Good quality, but won’t suit all

How is the quality and layout?

To drive, and to ride in, the Peugeot 508 SW is much like the Fastback, apart from being a lot lighter and airier in the rear cabin. The driver can see more through the rear screen, too, plus there’s a rear wiper. The all-digital i-Cockpit has been upgraded for 2024, and comprises of a tiny, low-mounted steering wheel backed by a neat TFT instrument display panel configurable in a number of way ways.

Depending on your stature, you’ll either feel nicely cocooned in the 508, or a little claustrophobic. If the i-Cockpit works for you, the high centre console, high-set dials and low, small steering wheel feel rather special, and make for a very good experience.

However, it suits those who prefer a low-set driving position, because it you like to sit high, then getting a clear view of the instrument panel is going to be a bit of a challenge. That said, it feels different to all of its rivals and, on the whole, has the quality to back it up.

Infotainment and tech

The infotainment screen has a row of direct-access keys below, but we struggled to see the icons on the top of the ‘piano keys’ in daylight – weirdly, they are far more visible a night when backlit. If you’re using the car every day, you’ll quickly learn what each one does, anyway.

The small steering wheel takes some getting used to, the 508 feeling a touch hyperactive and ‘darty’ until you have recalibrated your movements. Some may find it tough to find a good driving position without the rim of the ‘wheel obstructing the instrument panel, it sitting low and making some feel like they are perched too high up in the cabin. This isn’t a problem for everybody, though: take a test drive to see if it suits your body shape.

There’s a fine tally of safety systems, mostly standard. Night Vision (not standard) picks up the presence of pedestrians and sounds a warning if there’s a danger of contact (it’s a touch over-cautious). If you turn off the overly enthusiastic lane-keeping assistance, perhaps because you could do without the steering wheel’s tugging on a narrow, twisting road, then you have to put up with a distracting yellow warning light.

Comfort

• Comfortable front seats
• Excellent room up-front
• Rear room better than Fastback but still lacking

Peugeot has always played a strong game in driver comfort. Once you’re behind the wheel of the 508 and – if the seating position suits you – the comfort levels are excellent. On any model, the seats are soft while remaining supportive at the same time.

There’s a good amount of adjustment in the seat and steering wheel, just make sure the i-Cockpit setup works for you.

It’s comfy in the back too, as long as you’re not too tall. The seats themselves are very comfortable, but foot room isn’t plentiful even if legroom is adequate.