Peugeot 508 SW

Peugeot 508 SW Overview

Introduced in 2010, the first-generation Peugeot 508 is the French automaker’s flagship and one of the best-selling family cars in France. The estate variant, the SW, alongside its sedan counterparts were given a facelift in 2015, sporting Peugeot’s new design language featuring a new front grille with the Peugeot Lion now positioned in the middle of the grille.

Paired to a new 1.6 L twin-scroll turbocharged petrol engine dubbed the Turbo High-Pressure (THP), it offers more power compared to its predecessor. The updated Peugeot 508 SW is set to take on rivals in the likes of Mazda 6 Grand Touring, Hyundai i40 Tourer and more conventional D-segment heavyweights such as the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, and Volkswagen Passat.

Peugeot 508 SW Exterior

The facelift exercise certainly brought in a whole lot of welcoming improvements compared to previous model’s lackadaisical exterior design. It now shares the same elegant corporate front end as the smart looking T9 Peugeot 308 hatchback.

Peugeot has given their flagship sedan a more ‘masculine’ image with the ‘chiseled’ jawline. Now sporting a more prominent chromed front grille featuring Peugeot’s Lion emblem, a redesigned headlamps with a subtle yet distinct kink as well as the boomerang-shaped daytime running lights.

The overall silhouette remained largely the same, characterized by its clean and elegant body lines. The elongated window frames are outlined in chrome and the slim D-pillars are reminiscence of a sleek Mercedes-Benz Shooting Brake.

The generously sized 18-inch alloy wheels are inherited from the pre-facelift model. And unique to the SW estate variant is a panoramic glass roof and a pair of roof rails. The rear end has also remained relatively unchanged aside from the subtly revised LED taillight arrangement. 

Based on the same PSA PF3 platform that also underpins the sedan equivalent, the SW is 20 mm taller and strangely, 1 mm shorter. They however share the same width and wheelbase as expected. Compared to its closest rivals, it is 29 mm longer with a 67 mm longer wheelbase compared to the Mazda 6 Grand Touring but is narrower and lower by 12 mm and 4 mm respectively.

Peugeot 508 SW Interior

Inside, the Peugeot 508 SW missed out on Peugeot’s avant-garde i-cockpit layout. Instead, the flagship retains the same contemporary interior design from its predecessor. The cabin feels suitably upmarket with the extensive use of quality dark grey soft touch plastics and leather trims that feels satisfyingly plush to the touch.

The controls are well laid out with a 7-inch touchscreen taking centre stage. Centre consoles are finished with gloss-black inlays and accented by satin chrome finishes. The console-mounted iDrive-style controller is no more, freeing up space for new storage compartment. The stowable cupholders is tucked neatly below the air vents and out of sight when not in use.

Driver gets a slightly over-sized, button-laden flat-bottom leather steering wheel and a beautiful expensive-timepiece-like instrument cluster design featuring a pair of aluminium trimmed glass cylinders, flanking a digital multi-info display.

Leather upholstered seats with red contrast stitching adds a premium touch to the interior. They are ergonomically shaped and offers the driver a comfortable yet supportive driving experience. There is ample interior space thanks to the estate body style. The cargo holds up to 660 litres and expansible to an impressive 1,865 litres with the rear seats folded.

Peugeot 508 SW Features

Standard features include keyless entry with push start, adaptive LED headlamps (with auto high beam and cornering illumination), electronic parking brake, auto headlamps and wipers, eight-way electric front seats with electric lumbar support and quad-zone automatic climate control with rear vents.

Also included are cruise control with speed limiter function, front and rear park assist with reverse camera, retractable colour head-up display and a 10-speaker JBL 500 W audio system with subwoofer. Exclusive on the SW estate is the powered tailgate and a panoramic glass roof with electric shutter system.

The Peugeot 508 SW is awarded the maximum five star in the Euro NCAP crash safety rating. Six airbags come equipped as standard, along with two rear ISOFIX mounts, ABS, ESP, Traction Control and Dynamic Stability Control.

Peugeot claims that the unique ‘curved’ front seat head rest with multi-position adjustment are designed to minimize the whiplash effect in the event of rear collisions. A Blind Spot Information System (BLISS) is also available for the first time in the Peugeot 508 SW.

Peugeot 508 SW Powertrain Performance

Powering the front wheels is Peugeot’s 1.6 litre Turbo High Pressure (THP) 4-cylinder engine, developing 165 PS at 5,500 RPM and 240 Nm of torque from 1,450 RPM. 0-100 km/h is completed in 9.2 seconds with a top speed of 220 km/h.

While it is an improvement over its predecessor, the performance figure is adequate at best especially when fitted in the heavier estate variant of the Peugeot 508. Weighing in at 1,578 kg, the Peugeot 508 is not exactly a heavyweight, but it does take a while to pick up its pace especially on the highway. 

While it feels reasonably lively in urban driving, the measly 1.6 litre 4 pot seems to be more suited on the smaller Peugeot 308 hatchback. The engine is mated to a 6-speed Aisin conventional automatic torque converter and comes with steering mounted paddle shifters for manual override.

Peugeot 508 SW Fuel Consumption

Peugeot 508 SW Ride Comfort

Peugeot 508 SW Conclusion

If space and practicality is your utmost priority, the Peugeot 508 SW draws up a rather compelling alternative to your typical sedans, and in fact the SUV varieties on offer. With its handsome exterior, spacious and plush interior, and a sublime ride comfort with a sense of European refinement, it is no doubt a stylish car with real substance to offer. If only it comes with a different flavour of powerplant options.