OURCARS LivingwithaPeugeot508SWPSE Premium? Is it an Audi? Is it a Mercedes?
Is it a BMW. No, it’s a Peugeot. Sean has been quizzing family and friends, trying to get them to guess who makes the estate
Peugeot 508 SW PSE
Practicality There’s plenty of room for luggage in the Peugeot’s 530-litre boot
SECOND REPORT Sporty estate makes the grade as Peugeot heads upmarket SeanCarson
sean_carson@autovia.co.uk
PEUGEOT’S pushtogopremium isworking.The moretimeIspend livingwiththis508SWPeugeotSport Engineered,themoreI’m convincedof that–andit’s notjustme,either. I’vegivenfriendsandfamilymembers ridesinthecar,bothshorttripsandlong journeys,andthey’veallinitiallyremarked onthe508’s styling.Firstimpressions count,andonthatfrontthePSE,withits sportyaccoutrements,doeswell.Deep bumpers,bigwheels,smartbadginganda sleekrear,withasportyspoileranddiffuser elementintherearbumper,completewith aeroflicks,meansthislookseveryinchthe rivalforpremiumfastGermanwagons.Its SeleniumGrey paintworkalsohelps:it’s a verymodern,fashionablecolour. ThenthoseI’m drivinggetinandremark ontheeye-catchingbutnotintrusivebright greenstitching,thetechandthequalityof thematerials.Theseatsarecomfortable,and manyfrontpassengersarewowedwhenI saythePSEhasmassagingseatsasstandard. Whenwemoveoff inabsolutesilence they’reimpressedwiththerefinement thankstotheplug-inpowertrain,chatting
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awayabouthowquietitis;andwhenIcan makeanovertakeorusetheperformance, the355bhponoffershutsthemupagain. OnmorethanoneoccasionwhenI’ve coveredthebadgeonthesteeringwheel, myfriendsandfamily,whoarelesswell automotivelyeducated,haveguessedthisis eitheranAudi,aBMWoraMercedes.Of course,they’reallwrong. WhenItellthem –if theyhaven’t alreadyworkeditout–that it’s aPeugeotthey’repleasantlysurprised. OlderindividualsrememberPeugeots of oldcateringformotoringforthemasses. Theseweremostlygoodtodrive,witha greatperformanceiconortwothrowninto themix,usuallywearingaGTibadge.The PSEmonikernowreplacesthis. Thencomesthekiller question:how muchdoesitcost?Andhere’s where Peugeot’s premiumpushmightcome justalittlebitunstuck–accordingto myempiricalevidence,atleast. Whentheinevitablegame of ‘Guessthe price’startsandIremindthemof thepower, theperformance,theplug-inhybridtech, thelevelof standardkitandthefactthat, seemingly,manymoderncarsareon the priceysidethesedays,mostpeople’s answers reluctantlystartwitha‘four’. “Wrong”,Isay, doingmybestBruceForsythimpression:
“Higher”.Edgingthroughthe40thousands, quiteafewareshockedwhenItellthemthe 508PSE’s pricetagstartswithafive.But whenwerestat£56,465forthisadmittedly slightlypricierbutwhollymorepractical SWestatemodel,everyoneis flabbergasted. WhilethemajorityofUKbuyerspurchase usingfinance,evenwitha£5,405deposit onafour-yearcontractlimitedtojust6,000 milesayear,Peugeot’s representativePCP examplestillcomesinat£771amonth. Personally,IactuallythinkPeugeotcan justaboutcutit,butit’s onlytimewiththe PSEthat’s helpedmegettothatconclusion. Icouldseewhyyou’d initiallynotthinkthe same.ButRomewasn’t builtinaday,and
Practicality
Boot (seats up/down) 530/1,780 litres
Performance
0-62mph/top speed 5.2 seconds/155mph
thisFrenchmanufacturer’s premium legacywon’t be,either. TakealookatAudi;30yearsagoitmight nothavebeenconsideredaparticularly premiumbrand.Overthepast20years it’s acceleratedrapidlyintothatspace, dominatingsales.Peugeotismovingin therightdirectionanditisproductssuch asthe508PSEthatwillhelpchangepeople’s perceptionsof thebrand(Skodaisanother goodexampleonthatfront). I’vecertainlyfoundthisoutoverthepast fourmonths.EverytimeIget intothePSE itdoesprettymucheverythingIwantitto dowiththeminimumof fuss,withthe exceptionof theoccasionallyslowand frustratinginfotainment.Inmybook,that mostlymakesitagreatcarto livewith. Whenyouassessitlikethat,doesit matterwhatbadgeadornsthebonnet, andshouldn’t itcomedownmoretowhat acaroffersandhowitfeels?Judgedbythese criteriaovermytimewithitsofar,the508 PSEisasuccessinmybook.Justmaybe not yetformyfriendsandfamily,itseems.
“Rome wasn’t built in a day, and this French firm’s premium legacy won’t be, either” www.autoexpress.co.uk
