Peugeot 508 SW long-term test
Looking for a practical family estate car with excellent potential fuel economy and striking good looks? We’re running a Peugeot 508 SW with the plug-in hybrid powertrain to see if it’s a viable alternative to the traditional premium choices from Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. What’s more, does a plug-in hybrid powertrain work with James’ lifestyle? Read on to find out.
Reports by James Dennison
Update 1: Welcome
Find out what spec we’ve got on our Peugeot 508 SW long-termer
Welcome to the Peugeot 508 SW. I like an estate car, so this should suit me very nicely, but I’m also keen to see whether I will enjoy the 1.6-litre plug-in hybrid powertrain more than I did in my existing Peugeot 408. You see, I don’t have a home charger and I’m convinced that in order to get the most out of a PHEV, you really need one – even more so than with an EV.
But all of that is to come. First let’s take a look at exactly what I’ve got with this Okenite White Peugeot 508 SW. The base 508 SW (with the 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine) starts at just over £35k, while the plug-in hybrid bumps this up considerably to £45k. However, with options, my 508 SW (in top-spec GT trim) comes in at – wait for it – a smidge over £50,000… Yep, £50k for a Peugeot estate.
Even with the price of cars increasing, that’s a lot of cash and it puts it squarely in the bracket of the BMW 3 Series Touring and the Audi A4 Avant, not to mention the VW Passat Estate and Skoda Superb Estate. SUVs might be taking over the world, but that doesn’t mean there’s no longer healthy competition in the estate car market.
So what can my particular 508 SW offer? Well, I’ve got a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine 181hp and 300Nm of torque. This sends power to the front wheels via an e-EAT 8-speed automatic transmission. Complementing this is a 12.4kWh battery attached to an electric motor that combines with the petrol engine to deliver total outputs of 225hp and 360Nm of torque, with a claimed all-electric range of between 34 and 42 miles.
My car is finished in top-spec (discounting the performance PSE variant) GT trim and as such includes equipment such as 18-inch Epherra alloy wheels, adaptative cruise control with stop and go function, a 360-degree camera and heated front seats. Nice. What’s more, I’ve also got the following options fitted:
- Okenite White metallic paint (£650)
- Smart electric tailgate (£425)
- Focal premium speaker system with wireless smartphone charging (£900)
- 7.4kW monophase on-board charger (£400)
Of these four options, there’s only one that I’m convinced by thus far. The metallic paint is nice but hard to keep clean, the smart tailgate isn’t essential and the premium speaker system doesn’t feel that punchy. However, the 7.4kW on-board charger cuts battery replenishment times from 3hr 25 mins to 1hr 45 mins.
First impressions of the 508 SW are generally positive. I think it looks fantastic (the prettiest estate car on sale today?), the motorway cruising manners are agreeable and it’s very practical. Downsides include the 1.8-tonne weight (it feels very heavy in the corners, plus I’m convinced it doesn’t steer as nicely as my old 408) and the electric range maxing out at 26 miles, rather than a number beginning with 3. Hopefully this improves.
Update 2: First impressions
3k miles and two months in, what does James reckon to the 508 SW?
Long story short – there’s lots to like so far, but James needs to work harder on extracting the maximum all-electric range. As does Peugeot…
I’m now a couple of months into my time with the Peugeot 508 SW and have come to the conclusion that it is the best-looking mainstream estate car on sale today. The facelift has done its job and made what was an already striking design even easier on the eye. Incredibly, some of my very discerning and originally unconvinced friends have admitted they’ve fallen for its charms. But what else have I discovered?
I’ve been running the 508 SW and it’s 1.6-litre plug-in hybrid engine during the summer months so far which should help with range, but the max indicated number I’ve seen so far is 24 miles. It could be better, but then, so could I.
I reckon if I drove super carefully, a figure above 30 miles would be in reach and not a million miles off the bottom end of the 34-mile WLTP claimed figure. I’ve also noticed an improvement in how the car looks after it’s EV range on long journeys – it doesn’t seem to use as much when travelling at high speed as when I first received the car.
However, I’ve been looking at figures for the new VW Passat and Skoda Superb plug-in hybrids and each car claims all-electric ranges of 60+ and 80+ miles respectively. Rapid 50kW DC charging is also available, making me think that Peugeot’s PHEV tech needs an upgrade.
One thing that’s really grabbed me about the 508 SW is how easy it is to just hope in and go somewhere in it. Granted, that sounds ridiculous as otherwise what is the point of a car, but hear me out… It’s got a huge boot that’s accommodated everything I’ve thrown at it thus far, the turning circle is excellent (brilliant for town driving), it’s quiet on the move, the ride is good and it’s quick enough to press on when you need to.
Compared with the 408 I had before I’ve noticed a couple of differences. It’s more comfortable (although I definitely miss the electric seats) and the ride and refinement are better, yet I’m positive the 408 had more positive feeling steering. Not what you’d expect from the taller, heavier car.
A lot of people ask about the car, but I feel they do so with a degree of caution. They love the look of it – unanimously, in fact – but there’s a reticence because of a) perceived reliability issues and b) the price tag. People expect it to be expensive, but when I turn around and explain that it’s £50k with options, they’re shell-shocked.
In anyone’s book, it’s a lot of cash for a family estate with a 1.6-litre engine, but also the aforementioned Passat and Superb estates are similar money so it’s not exactly out of line with the competition. I’ll need to book at least one of those cars in to see which is better value.
Update 3: Engine and handling
James is relieved to be back in the 508 SW after a few days away…
Long story short – 508 SW does most things well, but there’s better cars out there for those after the best driving experience
I’ve just spent 3 days doing a road trip in a £1,200 sports car built twenty years ago for an upcoming feature. It was loud, largely uncomfortable and definitely not relaxing. But it’s also been a great way of showcasing just how luxurious the 508 SW is to drive around in.
When driven at a leisurely pace with charge in the battery, it’s impressively comfortable and serene and even though the dampers are passive, not adaptive, the ride is a strong point – especially on long motorway journeys. I mention the dampers because, at this price point, it’s common to find cars with different suspension settings adjustable via menus. However, if done right – see my old Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce long-termer – there’s no real need for them.
That said, I would like to see a little more ‘bite’ from the Peugeot when driven at a more enthusiastic pace. Granted, it’s family wagon and not a sports car (plus the additional weight from the hybrid system doesn’t help), but given how sleek and sporty the car looks from the outside, I was expecting a greater feeling of agility. Curiously, my previous long-term test car – a Peugeot 408 Hybrid – actually felt sharper to steer despite weighing more and having a higher centre of gravity. Hmmm.
The brake pedal is also an issue for me. Presumably because of the energy regeneration from the hybrid system when braking, the pedal feel is compromised and doesn’t inspire a huge amount of confidence. Fear not, if you stand on the brakes the car stops perfectly well, but measuring in the appropriate brake force in other scenarios can be difficult. Overall it’s a car that likes to be driven smoothly and – even though there’s actually plenty of grip and cornering ability – you’re best not pushing it beyond 7/10ths.
As for the powertrain, I hit a personal milestone recently and managed to get an indicated range of 29 miles (a figure I believe to be realistic) from the battery. This is very close to the bottom end of the estimated WLTP range (34 miles) and is far more useful than the 18 miles I was getting, at times, from my 408 Hybrid with the same powertrain. Interestingly, I’ve noticed the figure gradually creep up in the last couple of months without any change in driving style.
With the battery charged and an appropriate driving style used (smooth, not in a hurry), the powertrain is adequate. It’s relaxing and well-suited to the rest of the car. There’s enough oomph in all-electric mode to drive in towns and on motorways, but I’ve noticed that when coming off the power and then reapplying the accelerator (say, on approach to a roundabout), it feels like there’s ‘slack’ in the powertrain and you can get a clunky, delayed response. It’s not like a full EV where the power is crisp and instant.
Overall, however, I’m still enjoying the charms of the 508 SW and do find myself frequently looking back over my should at it after I’ve parked up. From many angles, it’s a fabulous piece of design and one that Peugeot should be proud of. Have I mentioned that before?
If you have any Peugeot 508 SW ownership impressions you’d like to share, please get in contact on X, Instagram or at james.dennison@parkers.co.uk. Alternatively, why not leave an owner’s review on our site?
| Peugeot 508 SW Hybrid 225 e-EAT8 long-term report | |
| Mileage | 4942 |
| Real-world average fuel economy | 49.7 mpg |
| Official combined fuel economy (WLTP) | 274.8mpg |
| Parkers mpp (Miles per Pound) calculation | 6.2 mpp |
| Car joined Parkers’ fleet | June 2024 |
