Test drive Peugeot 508: Landing

The mid-range Peugeot said goodbye to design experiments - the new 508 has again acquired the appearance of a serious sedan. And that's a good thing - the model still needs to be replaced and its predecessor, the 407, and the larger 607, regain lost ground in this highly contentious market segment.

Question for 400 levs: If models 407 and 607 are replaced by one common successor, what will it be called? That's right, the 508. This idea was also implemented at Peugeot when they considered the future in view of the poor performance of the big 607 and the upcoming replacement of the 407. What was missing from the 607 high-end sedan was the expressiveness of the 407's middle-class sibling - a large grille and overhang in front, shiny chrome in the cabin and finally a slight nervousness in the behavior on the road.

Now things should be different - the 508 is designed to join the tight defensive chain of the Ford Mondeo, VW Passat and Opel Insignia. And to revive the tradition of the Peugeot brand, once considered Gallic. Mercedes, in contrast to the marvelous whims of the Citroen brothers. There's no room for entertainment in the 508, like fixed steering wheel hubs or arrows circling over the rocks outside, as we see in the C5.

Serious candidacy

Featuring a shorter front end, a longer wheelbase and a drained rear end, the 4,79 meters long, 508 meters, welcomes its passengers in a no-nonsense cabin. No designer has fought for self-expression here; Instead, travelers face a soft lacquered landscape with a low flowing dash line, reminiscent of the Passat rather than the Insignia.

In keeping with this impression, information comes from clear circular devices decorated with coolant and oil temperature indicators and a monochrome display. All important controls and functions are grouped logically, with the exception of the ESP shutdown buttons and the parking assist horn hidden behind an inconspicuous cover. Other drawbacks in the interior include a slightly rough stroke of the controller on the center console, little space for small things and not a very good rear view.

Even more impressive are the new front seats with retractable thigh support that allow the driver and front passenger to sit in an ergonomic, albeit rather high, position, giving the 508 a better chance of competing for corporate customers with larger fleets. They are specifically targeted by Peugeot's marketing department, as well as "optimistic people aged 50 to 69". Prices also look decent for their class - for example, a 508 with Active equipment and a 140 hp two-liter diesel engine with dual-zone automatic air conditioning, cruise control and a stereo system with a USB port costs 42 leva.

With this equipment, frequent travelers and other optimists can return to their daily activities after a little getting used to - in an atmosphere with plenty of air and space, including seats in the second row. The longer wheelbase gives rear passengers five centimeters more legroom than the 407, making the 508 a step up from the 607 (yes, it's true we've rounded up the whole family of markings again).

However, Peugeot does not offer a rich arsenal of driver assistance systems. Missing from the list of offerings are distance-adjusted cruise control, as well as lane change and compliance assistants, and driver fatigue warning. Which, of course, doesn't mean the driver has to stick their hand out when maneuvering - turn signals are standard, while bright bi-xenon headlights, high beam assist and a color movable eye level display are available at an additional cost.

The most important thing

Immediately after landing, the 508 proves that one can feel quite comfortable on board without squealing and blinking helpers. Under the gentle breath of an unobtrusive air conditioning system, acoustically protected from diesel detonation by a special engine capsule, isolated from aerodynamic noise by a windshield, the passengers of the sedan overcome kilometers calmly and without stress.

The philosophy of this car is clearly focused on the main thing: it does not turn like a sports car, the steering wheel does not signal directly to every detail on the pavement, but it also lacks the swinging pseudo-comfort of the suspension. Whereas in the previous model Peugeot tried to connect a sports car using a complex front suspension with double triangular crossbars, in the 508 this technique remained reserved only for the sports version of the GT. The rest of the range is in contact with the road through a cheaper and lighter (12 kg) front axle such as MacPherson.

Combined with the multi-link rear suspension, the result is pretty good, even without the use of adaptive dampers. Only short bumps, such as hatch covers and grilles, have time to pass through the 17-inch wheels and rattle to the passengers in the cabin. However, the electro-hydraulic power steering prevents play around the center of the steering wheel and follows the driver's orders cleanly and calmly. If the pilot overdoes lateral acceleration, the ESP responds with relatively clear intervention.

In harmony with this fairly measured stability, after an initial sluggishness below 1500 rpm, the two-liter diesel transfers its 320 Nm smoothly and evenly towards the front wheels. 140 hp drive he feels adherent to good manners rather than strong performances. This is the reason the 508 is sometimes perceived to be slightly heavier than the actual measured 1583 kilograms when accelerating. In the test, it was satisfied with an average of 6,9 liters per 100 km, and a more modest use of the right pedal allows for values ​​of about five liters. Unfortunately, the customer does not have the opportunity to order a start-stop system even for an additional fee; it remains reserved only for the 1,6-liter e-HDi Blue Lion economy version with 112 hp.

However, all versions have a fairly large trunk. If until recently there were exactly 407 liters in the 407 luggage compartment, now the 508 has… 508 liters. No, we're kidding, the new model actually holds a little over 515 liters in the back. By folding the rear seat backrests forward, you can load 996 liters (up to the window line) or a maximum of 1381 liters.

This hospitality is a characteristic feature of the entire car, with which Peugeot successfully separates itself from previous models and skillfully integrates into the mainstream of the middle class.

text: Jorn Thomas

a photo: Hans-Dieter Zeufert

Peugeot Connect helps in accidents and catastrophes

All 508s with navigation system (standard for the GT version, otherwise at an additional cost of 3356 BGN) have a so-called Connection Box, including an emergency battery. Through this system, you can call for help in the event of an accident (using the SOS button) or a traffic accident (using the Peugeot button).

The exchange connects to a built-in free SIM-card that works in ten European countries. Also in cases such as an airbag deployment, the vehicle makes contact and uses GPS detection to locate the accident location. In addition, thanks to the seat sensors, he already knows and can report how many people are in the car and provide additional technical information.

Evaluation

Peugeot 508 HDi 140 Active

With the launch of the 508, Peugeot's mid-range model is making a successful comeback The car creates a comfortable and stress-free driving experience, but does not provide the driver with much of the modern driver assistance systems.

technical details

Peugeot 508 HDi 140 Active
Working volume	-
Power	140 k.s. at 4000 rpm
Maximum torque	-
Acceleration 0-100 km / h	9,6 with
Braking distances at a speed of 100 km / h	38 m
full speed	210 km / h
Average consumption fuel in the test	6,9 l
Base Price	42 296 levov