The Peugeot 508 is currently the number one design in the stable of this French car company. I have already informed you about its very successful dynamic and edgy appearance in previous reviews that related to this particular model. I have already tested its "liftback" version twice for its considerable success, both with the basic diesel engine and the top-of-the-line gasoline engine. And it must be said that this "liftback" bearing the elements of a four-door coupe definitely succeeded.
However, now we have a much more practical variant of this handsome car. Peugeot presented us with the 508 SW model. Personally, I was convinced that the "liftback" version would not surpass anything in terms of external design, but the opposite has become a reality.
So I currently got the 508 SW model with the second highest GT LINE equipment, the most powerful 130 kW diesel and the traditionally well-functioning eight-speed EAT8 automatic for the test.
Sporty cut for a family station wagon
The task was clear: to create a station wagon body based on the very good shapes and proportions of the liftback body. The assignment looks banal, but according to the really successful result, I think that it was definitely not that simple.
The successful result for me is also supported by the reactions of the people I recorded during the week's testing, and that there were not a few of them. One of the passers-by even started to open the trunk for me after observing the car for a while. And that's for the reason that he himself would be convinced of its true "greatness".
The fine line between design and practicality is clearly visible and quite debatable with this car. The elegant low structure of the body entails a certain limitation in the storage space of the luggage compartment. Here, individual priorities must be set by each of the customers themselves.
But let's look at the external appearance of the new SW. The front part of the car is quite logically identical to its "liftback" sibling. The low and wide proportions of this part are accompanied by a typical light signature, which gives the car ferocity and originality. The low proportions are also prescribed in the part of the roof, which gives the car's side profile a really big twist. This is also accompanied by frameless side door glazing in this body variant. The "fastback" slope of the roof does not logically take place here (which results in more space above the head of the crew in the rear positions), and the roof thus transitions to the "lollipop" of the fifth door with a slight slope.
The rear part, when evaluating it, we have to start from a certain "swelling" of the rear fenders, which give it the appropriate width and very effective and handsome horizontal proportions. In addition, these are very tastefully complemented by horizontally oriented rear lamps, which are based on the "liftback" design. In addition, their optical connection, across the entire rear of the car, looks really impressive. The horizontality of this part is underlined by the very discreet "Peugeot" inscription on the lower side of the window of the fifth door.
The color of the tested car made a big impression on me, which suited him like a "pot…pot". The white "PERLE NACRE" of the car simply fits and contrasts beautifully with the black elements in the form of rear lamps, exterior mirrors or black-tinted windows.
All in all, I'm sorry, before how Peugeot dealt with this body design. He added a certain practicality to the classic 508 without interfering with its good looks.
SW interior, i-cockpit and more practicality
The futuristic look and principle of the i-Cockpit reigns supreme in the new 508 SW as expected. The dashboard itself is dominated by distinct horizontal proportions and divisions. The instrument display in front of the driver and the air conditioning vents are then integrated into its upper part. The fully digital display of the devices has very pleasant graphics and the displayed data can be set in different display modes.
The on-board infotainment display dominates the next level of the dashboard, which, similarly to the upper one, elegantly follows the door panels. In its lower part there is an effective keyboard with individual controls. And as is the case with cars of this brand, many elements of the car are controlled via the touchscreen, which results in a rather positive minimization of the individual controls in the car. Below the keyboard, there are other controls that do not have classic buttons, but are only touch-sensitive.
The dashboard is followed by a massive, inclined central panel, which is equipped with an automatic transmission selector, a driving mode selector, a start button or an electronic handbrake, and in the next part, a storage box and drink holders. Tilting the panel has made it possible to create another storage space, which is under the panel and allows to put away a mobile phone with a wireless charging function.
The body of the station wagon brought certain positives in the form of more comfortable boarding in the rear positions, and also more headroom for the crew in the back. The interior is spacious, the seats themselves are comfortable and generously sized.
I would also like to praise the large, opening panoramic sunroof of the tested piece, which, when viewed from the outside, together with the front window, creates one handsome compact unit.
The luggage compartment of the 508 SW offers 530 liters of volume under the luggage compartment cover. With folded seats in the second row and up to the ceiling 1780 liters. The bed length with the raised backrest of the rear bench reaches a value of 1059 mm, with the backrest folded down 1876 mm. Between the wheel arches, the luggage compartment will offer a width of 1133 mm. In terms of floor plan dimensions, the luggage compartment of the 508 SW is not small at all, unfortunately a certain price for beauty, in the form of a low roof, entails certain limitations in its height.
The most powerful two-liter diesel
The drive unit of the tested car became the most powerful turbocharged diesel engine with an output of 133 kW (177 horses). The tested engine also cooperated with a well-functioning eight-speed automatic transmission.
I have already met the diesel under the hood of the 508. It was the BlueHDi 160 S&S version, which had 10 kW less power at the same torque. This motorization already pleasantly surprised me with its liveliness and interesting consumption, which was below the 6-liter mark. The currently tested stronger diesel did not feel more lively to me (however, it is difficult to evaluate with such a time gap). With the consumption, however, it was different, worse, because with this motorization, after a week's test, I hovered around the value of 7.0 liters. Even the excellent shifting eight-speed automatic, which spins less than two thousand revolutions at 100-30 on the highway, unfortunately did not help me reduce this value.
The 508 SW also offers the option of choosing a driving mode, in addition to the classic mode, there is also a SPORT mode, an ECO mode and a manual shift mode. The sports mode really revives the car noticeably, the reaction to the gas pedal changes and you can also feel the change from the steering itself. The ECO mode is the exact opposite of the sporty mode, the car's response to instructions from the gas pedal is very lukewarm.
In terms of chassis, the car is rather neutral, with a sharper driving style, which is encouraged by the quite potent engine and direct steering in combination with the small steering wheel, it is definitely not intimidating.
Conclusion
You can buy the "station wagon" 508 from CZK 770,000 including VAT, in the basic Active configuration with a BlueHDi 130 S&S turbocharged diesel engine and a six-speed manual transmission. The basic Active equipment is also available with the mentioned diesel and an eight-speed automatic, then with the PureTech petrol sixteen-cylinder and an eight-speed automatic, or with the weaker of the two-liter diesels and again with an eight-speed automatic.
Next in order, the Allure equipment starts at CZK 895,000 including VAT, the GT Line at CZK 985,000 including VAT, and the top GT equipment starts at CZK 1,100,000 including VAT.
The tested version of the GT Line is offered with a PureTech turbocharged 16-liter petrol engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission, as well as a pair of BlueHDi two-liter turbocharged diesels, which differ in terms of performance and which are always connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The Peugeot 508 is definitely my favourite. I value it above all for its original and dynamic exterior style. I don't mind the concept of its interior in the I-Cockpit style, on the contrary, it is always quite a pleasant diversion for me. And aside from the driving characteristics, I don't have much to complain about here either, it's basically quite comfortable and neutral, in sports mode it can come alive and offer a bit of driving fun.
The currently tested Peugeot 508 SW additionally added a certain amount of practicality to all the positives mentioned above and brought quite an interesting revival to the segment of family "station wagons".
