Multimedia system
The binnacle instruments are customisable – which is just as well, because there are bits we like about different menus. For example, the ‘minimum’ option is so minimum it doesn’t show you a fuel gauge. If you select ‘dials’ it’s busy, ‘driving’ gives you weird rotary dials, and so on. So tuning ‘personal’ can bring the simplicity you need and is the only way to permanently show the trip computer.
Steering wheel buttons aside, then, the rest of the infotainment system is accessed through the touchscreen. Beneath that, its hard buttons are audio, air-con, nav, car menu (settings), connected apps, and energy use. Each has its value but why have the ‘air-con off’ and ‘air recirculate’ buttons as separate buttons (rarely used), but not the temperature setting (frequently used)?
The menus themselves are fine once you get used to it and graphics good, but we suspect anyone with a smartphone will end up mirroring it on screen.
USB on the right of floating panel charges your phone. Only the USB to the left will let mirroring work.
pull on the lever once in ‘drive’ you can toggle very easily between two braking modes – one a leisurely coast, the other a more severe lift-off akin to applying light brake pressure. That there’s always creep from a standstill means this can’t be a one-pedal-driving car, however.
Volume buttons are on one side of the steering wheel, with the audio scroll wheel on the other. Odd.
Squared-off steering wheel with just two stalks means there’s not much of a clue which way up it is.
The 508 SW is not without agility but comfort is its primary setting