LAST CHANCE SALOON?
Traditional saloon car sales are on the slide. Even Ford is reportedly about to dump the iconic Mondeo as the buying public goes SUV crazy.
But wait. Peugeot is defiantly bucking the trend with its smart new 508.
true, there are some significant tweaks to keep it fresh — most notably turning the five-door family car into a sporty fastback with coupe styling.
i’ve been driving a few of the new models, costing from £25,000 to £37,400, around Gloucestershire and oxfordshire this week and was impressed by their aerodynamic, compact exterior, look, and perky performance of the latest cleaner Euro 6.2 generation engines.
Biggest single seller will be the 508 Gt line with a turbocharged 180 hp 1.6 litre petrol engine linked to an 8- speed automatic with a manual paddle overdrive.
it’s easy to live with, accelerates from rest to 62 mph in 7.9 seconds up to a top speed of 155 mph, with average consumption of a fraction under 50 mpg and Co2 emissions of 125g/km.
the more powerful Gt 225 hp version felt meatier, with acceleration from rest to 62mph in 7.3 seconds.
However, taken together, sales of diesel versions will still outsell those for petrol overall, as longdistance company car drivers opt for the oil-burners.
there are three 2-litre BlueHdi diesels with increasing power from 130hp, 160hp to 180 hp. a 1.5-litre 130 hp six-speed diesel is the only manual option.
Peugeot UK chief david Peel said the company had been working hard since 2016 to ensure the cars hold their value — worth nearly half after three years, compared to just a quarter for the previous model.
they’ve done this by resisting the dodges and deals that car firms do to artificially inflate sales figures and market share, usually by ‘pre-registering’ lots of cars with dealers, to sell them on as ‘nearly new’ or ‘pre-owned’ at a hefty discount.
it means good deals for savvy buyers, but also dents the car’s resale value.
if it really is last orders for the traditional saloon, then at least Peugeot is being bold and generous by getting in the last round and going out in style.