PRIME MOVER
The new 508 is a bit of a looker, but does the go live up to the show? Paul Acres finds out
cabin. There’s a premium feel to the materials and surfaces used throughout the passenger space and there are some genuinely nice touches, such as the piano key-style shortcut buttons.
The interior is given a further lift with contrast stitching, flock-lined door pockets and aluminium pedals.
My review car arrived in GT Line spec which boasts a generous list of standard equipment including ambient lighting, fauxleather heated seats, automatic lights and rain-sensing wipers, LED lights, a wireless phone charger that sits in a small cubby behind the centre console, a reversing camera and 18in wheels.
Adopting the fastback styling with its rakish profile means that taller passengers in the back will notice the lack of headroom. Legroom, however, is good. Rearward visibility takes a hit thanks to that svelte profile but you’re helped out by the inclusion of rear parking sensors as standard across the range. The thick A-pillars and small side windows compromise the view out the front and sides too.
At 417 litres the boot is 14 litres larger than the outgoing model’s and the hatchback tailgate creates a large aperture which makes loading and unloading bulky items easier. Fold the rear seats flat and luggage capacity grows to 1,577 litres, which is just 61 litres short of the last SW’s total.
The 1.6-litre petrol unit beneath the bonnet of my review car was smooth and responsive and refined. It doesn’t pull particularly well from low revs so you need to work it quite hard to extract the best performance. Adaptive suspension is standard for top-of-the-range models and available as an option on most others. It allows you to select from four driving modes: Eco, Sport, Comfort and Normal. Comfort and Normal modes allow the car to float a little uncomfortably over crests as speed and, while Sport adds some welcome weight to the steering and stiffens the ride up, the differences are negligible. Whichever mode you’re in you’ll find that the 508 is a little fidgety over broken surfaces. Even with the suspension in its softest settings the 508 does a decent job of resisting body roll through corners and the steering is precise and consistent although a little more feedback would be welcome. There’s a decent level of grip at the front end, too.
The automatic gearbox can be a little lethargic around town but out on the open road it proves impressively smooth and responsive. The start/stop system is a little more intrusive that you might like.
There is no denying that the
508 is a devilishly good-looking car and if you’re not concerned about the badge on the nose, is certainly a worthy rival for some of the more premium - and pricey - machinery that many buyers crave.
It’s slinky silhouette does mean you have to accept slightly cramped rear accommodation and restricted visibility while the ride can be a little fidgety, however, fit and finish is generally impressive and there are some genuinely nice details, such as the piano-key shortcuts. The long list of standard safety equipment, which includes lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and a driver attention monitor, helps make an even more compelling case for adding the 508 to your shopping list.