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02/01/2012
REVIEW by EWAN KENNEDY
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Peugeot 508 is an interesting new model in that it replaces two cars, the Peugeot 407 and 607, sitting roughly halfway between the two and superseding them both. Peugeot hopes to capture buyers from both camps. The 508 is sold in sedan and station wagon format, the latter a large spacious model that will suit many buyers’ needs. Indeed the wagon fits perfectly into the idea known as the ‘grand touring’ segment.
However, the subject of this week’s review is the latest addition to the Peugeot range, an ultra economy model called the 508 e-HDi. Using the new-generation, fuel-saving technology fuel it has consumption measured at a mere 4.4 litres per 100 kilometres. That puts it in line with much smaller cars with either petrol-electric powertrains or small diesel engines.
Our road testing was unfortunately done during a very busy period in the car industry so we only managed to put just 427 kilometres on the clock of the economy Peugeot 508. At the end of the time the trip computer estimated there was another 980 km left in the car. That’s right, the big French touring machine can cover 1400 kilometres on a single tank.
That ultra low consumption was achieved by running mainly in easy motorway and country conditions, but is achievable without any special driving techniques. Around town the big Peugeot will still be sitting in the five to seven litres per hundred kilometres range when tackling traffic.
That’s the good news, the bad news is that one of the factors in the fuel economy is the use of an old-style self-shifting manual gearbox which has all the irritating characteristics that have led to other makers giving them up. The six-speed Peugeot unit is rough in its changes, particularly in the lower gears, which is in stark contrast to a car that’s supremely smooth and comfortable in every other way.
The reasons for the use of this gearbox are simple – low consumption. Even the best double-clutch and torque convertor automatic transmissions aren’t able to produce the economy of a full manual gearbox.
The self-changing manual is teamed with a stop-start system that cuts the small (1.6-litre) turbo-diesel engine when the Peugeot is stationary. It fires up again with only a slight tremble and we rate it as about mid-range in the stop-start four-cylinder engine field.
Enough of the bad news, a far more pleasing factor in the low consumption is the use of a slippery body, one that’s aerodynamic not only in the visible areas, but also under the car.
The French car maker - Peugeot is the world’s oldest automotive name plate - has long been famed for its Gallic style. The body of the 508 looks as though it has been sculpted out of a single piece of metal. While still using the trademark large grille that has featured in Peugeots for the last decade, the grille has been toned down to take some of the aggression out of it.
The coefficient of drag (Cd) figure of just 0.25 is most impressive.
We love the subtle lines of chrome trim around the side windows that give this modestly priced car a feeling of prestige. You really do get a lot of car for your money with the range beginning at just $36,990 for the Active 1.6-litre turbo-petrol model.
The use of lightweight materials trims consumption even further and clever engineering means the 508 has less mass than the significantly smaller Peugeot 407 it replaces.
Peugeot 508 passengers are cosseted in a manner found in few other vehicles, even those with a much higher price tag. The front windscreen is set up to filter sound from the outside, hydro-elastic suspension mounts muffle road noise and the engineers have come up with a system they call an ‘active front axle damper’ to further distance the 508’s occupants from the outer world.
The 508 has many active safety features, among them cornering brake control, and electronic stability and traction control. Passive safety is also top notch and the Peugeot has a European five-star crash rating.
The bumper and bonnet are pedestrian friendly with a black strip at the lower edge of the front bumper designed to lift a person struck and prevent them from being dragged under the vehicle.
Rear parking alarms are standard, while front parking assist, standard on Allure and GT models incorporates a space measurement function which provides information about the possibility of parking the vehicle in a free spot and the degree of difficulty in performing the manoeuvre.
You get a lot of style and driving satisfaction in the latest Peugeot 508 range. As well as astonishing economy if you’re prepared to put up with the vagaries of the self-shifting manual gearbox. If you want something more conventional there’s a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel model driving through a regular automatic that’s a sheer delight to travel in.
The economy story doesn’t stop there. Peugeot is also working on the development of a diesel-electric hybrid that will have even lower fuel use and CO2 emissions down around the 100 grams per kilometre mark. Can’t wait to try that one.
AT A GLANCE
MODEL RANGE
Active 1.6-litre turbo-petrol four-door sedan: $36,990 (automatic)
Active e-HDi 1.6-litre turbo-diesel four-door sedan: $37,490 (automatic)
Allure 1.6-litre turbo-petrol four-door sedan: $39,490 (automatic)
Allure HDi 2.0-litre turbo-diesel four-door sedan: $42,990 (automatic)
GT HDi 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-door sedan: $52,990 (automatic)
Allure 1.6-litre turbo-petrol five-door wagon: $42,490 (automatic)
Allure HDi 2.0-litre turbo-diesel HDi five-door wagon: $45,990 (automatic)
FEATURES
ABS Brakes: Standard in all models
Automatic Transmission: Standard in all models
Cruise Control: Standard in all models
Dual Front Airbags: Standard in all models
Front Side Airbags: Standard in all models
Electronic Stability Program: Standard in all models
Rear Parking Sensors: Standard in all models
Reversing Camera: Not offered
USB/Auxiliary Audio Inputs: Standard in all models
Bluetooth: Standard in all models
Steering Wheel Mounted Controls: Standard in all models
SPECIFICATIONS (Peugeot Active e-HDi 1.6-litre turbo-diesel four-door sedan)
ENGINE:
Capacity: 1.560 litres
Configuration: Four cylinders in line
Head Design: Turbocharged, two valves per cylinder
Compression Ratio: NA
Bore/Stroke: 75.0 mm x 88.3 mm
Maximum Power: 82 kW @ 3600 rpm
Maximum Torque: 270 Nm @ 1750 rpm
DRIVELINE:
Driven Wheels: Front
Manual Transmission: Not offered
Automatic Transmission: Six-speed
Final Drive Ratio: NA
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
Length: 4792 mm
Wheelbase: 2817 mm
Width: 2068 mm
Height: 1456 mm
Turning Circle: 11.9 metres
Kerb Mass: 1485 kg
Fuel Tank Capacity: 72 litres
Towing Ability: 1475 kg with braked trailer
Boot Capacity: 497 litres (1533 litres with rear seatbacks folded)
SUSPENSION AND BRAKES:
Front Suspension: Independent, MacPherson struts, anti-roll bar
Rear Suspension: Multi-arm, helical springs, multi-valve dampers
Front Brakes: Ventilated disc
Rear Brakes: Disc
PERFORMANCE:
0-100 km/h Acceleration: 11.9 seconds
FUEL CONSUMPTION:
Type: Diesel
Combined Cycle (ADR 81/01): 4.4 L/100km
GREEN VEHICLE GUIDE RATINGS:
Greenhouse Rating: 8.5/10
Air Pollution Rating: 6/10
STANDARD WARRANTY:
Three years/100,000 km
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