2021 Peugeot 508 review: The other Lion King

Singapore

IT'S the massage chair that got me. Settle into the Peugeot 508's stylishly dark cabin, reach down to press the right button, and eight air pockets behind you fill rhythmically, kneading away the day's cares. You might need to take the long route home in order to get through all five massage programmes.

More cars should have massage chairs, but then few cars are like the 508. It's a distinctly French take on premium motoring, and though it has nicely understated styling, in a world awash with BMWs and Mercedes-Benzes it quietly stands out.

One reason the 508 feels like such a breath of fresh air is that it seems like a rejection of the relentless bloat that afflicts the car world today. Every new version of a car seems to come out fatter and heavier than its predecessor, attached to increasingly giant grilles, with more fake air scoops than ever, more crease lines that go nowhere, more this, more that. Not the Peugeot, which is both smaller and lighter than the last 508.

Its very shape signals defiance. The 508 is a five-door, five-seat fastback, which is a format that flies in the face of the market's ongoing zeal for Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs). But its rakish looks and low roofline put it in some fine company. Audi's A5 Sportback comes to mind, as do the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe and the Volkswagen Arteon (an excellent but sadly discontinued car).

The Peugeot's low, wide stance works well with the fang-like shape of its daytime running lights, and its lion emblem sits atop a grille that's fetchingly slender. Over at the rear, a glossy black strip stretches from tail light to tail light, a simple touch that gives the car a distinctive look. The 508 even has frameless doors, which adds weight to the idea that it takes aim at German four-door coupes.

As for the interior, forget what you know about a car's cabin and you'll be fine. The Peugeot obliges you to rethink things, but not in a head-scratching way. For a start, you peer over the steering wheel at the digital instruments, instead of through it. The infotainment system's 8-inch touchscreen sits within easy reach, perched atop seven quick-access switches styled to mimic piano keys, and the air-con vents are sited fairly high, where they can direct cold air at face level instead of bosom level. It all actually makes sense.

There's an overall sense of quality inside, barring the odd hard plastic surface, and it's practical. Peugeot says the cabin has 32 litres (or, to use a more French measurement, 24 bottles of wines' worth) of stowage space, while the boot takes 487 litres (1,573 litres if you fold the back seats).

Given the way the roof sweeps down to meet the Peugeot's pert rump, rear headroom is expectedly tight, so if your children have grown above a certain size, they will likely groan above a certain volume back there.

Yet, the 508 is patently a driver's car first, family taxi second. The steering wheel feels delightfully petite, so diving into a bend is a matter of flicking the wrists instead of swinging the arms. The passive suspension setup might be firm, but it's never uncomfortable, and the payoff is that body control is excellent. It all adds up to a car that feels wieldy and engaging.

The impressive chassis is paired with an impressive engine. A 1.6-litre turbo might not sound like much, but here it punches above its weight, pulling the 508 along with plenty of sparkle as it revs willingly to the redline.

You'll hear the engine when you work it hard, of course, but most of the time the 508 is remarkably quiet. Despite the frameless windows, the cabin is well insulated from wind noise, as well as the rumble of tyres on the highway. And while the engine likes to pull hard, its small size seems to serve up remarkable fuel economy. Given the 62-litre tank, covering 800km between fuel stops ought to be easy.

Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto work with the infotainment system (though both require you to plug your phone in), and various driver aids such as lane-keep assist and adaptive cruise control help to make the daily commute that much more relaxing.

Ultimately, the 508 is easily more comfy than, say, the small Mercedes and BMW models, namely the CLA and 2 Series Gran Coupe. The main question is whether you wouldn't prefer a larger car for the money. But the 508 is obviously for people who prioritise style and comfort, plus a modicum of driving pleasure, over space.

Buying one does require you to buck the trend for SUVs and forsake more conventional cars from more popular brands, but that might well be part of the 508's appeal, especially if you think there is a certain pleasure to owning something that few others have.

And it isn't as if a Peugeot is a wild and risky choice; the brand topped the JD Power dependability survey among UK drivers in 2019, with fewer mechanical problems reported per 100 cars than any other carmaker. As considerations go, surely that's as comforting as a good massage chair.

PEUGEOT 508 1.6 GT FASTBACK

Engine 1,598cc, in-line 4, turbocharged Power 181hp at 5,500rpm Torque 250Nm at 1,650rpm Gearbox 8-speed automatic 0-100km/h 8.8 seconds Top Speed 225km/h Fuel Efficiency 5.2L/100km Agent AutoFrance Price S$156,888 with COE Available Now