Used Peugeot 508 2011 - 2018 review

Twenty years ago, Peugeot had a strong lead in the saloon class with the 406. It drove well, looked good and had some of the best diesel engines available.

As time moved on and premium executive cars became more affordable, big saloon cars started to go out of fashion. While this is bad for new car sales, the Peugeot 508 as a used purchase can be a more appealing option.

While the latest Peugeot 508 has moved things on still further, the 2011-2018 generation offers a markedly better driving experience than its predecessor, the 407, but it needs to be because the market has moved on considerably. It isn’t as aloof as the Volkswagen Passat, but it can’t match the Ford Mondeo or BMW 3 Series for involvement. What’s more, the 508 tends to shudder over small surface imperfections and is quite firm around town, while its rivals can soak up all but the worst imperfections.

Space inside is mostly plentiful for four adults, although rear leg room is merely average for the class. The boot is a good size but, unlike the Mondeo and Skoda Octavia, there isn’t a hatchback option, so it isn’t as easy to access the load area. The dashboard design is a bit unimaginative, but it is logically laid out and made from materials that are easily a match for its mainstream rivals, trailing only the Passat for overall quality.

Fuel economy is a plus point, though, with figures meeting or exceeding rivals. This also helps to reduce its road tax costs. All of this is good news if you are watching the pennies.

Read on for the full used review of the 2011-2018 Peugeot 508.

Thanks to some heavy depreciation, you can now pick up an early 2011 Peugeot 508 with high-mileage diesel for £3200. If you spend a bit more, there are plenty of lower-mileage examples in mid-range spec for £5500. The overwhelming majority of used 508s for sale are diesel and not petrol. If this doesn’t fit your driving habits, it might be worth looking at rivals such as the Skoda Octavia, which is available with petrol engines in greater numbers.

The 508 was facelifted in mid-2014 and you will need to spend around £11,500 to get one of those with less than 40,000 miles.

Provided you like diesels, the 508 is a cost-effective car to run. The 1.6-litre version fitted with a six-speed automated manual gearbox gets the best figures, with a combined average of 67.2mpg and £20 per year in road tax. The 2.0 diesel comes in two states of tune: 138bhp and 163bhp. All do well in terms of running costs; the 138bhp is the best at a combined average of 58.9mpg and £115 road tax. The 163bhp is slightly more expensive with figures of of 49.6mpg and £150 tax.

If you find a petrol 508, it’ll be a 1.6 with either 118bhp or a turbocharged version with 156bhp. They have combined averages of 45.6mpg and 44.1mpg respectively and cost £150 in road tax.

The petrol option disappeared with the facelift and the diesel range was optimised to be more car-tax-friendly, especially for 508s badged BlueHDi. The 1.6 diesel breaks into the free tax band and has a combined average of 74.3mpg. The 2.0-litre diesel with 148bhp has a combined average of 67.3mpg and £20 tax. The more powerful 178bhp doesn’t penalise you too much; the auto-only top-of-the-range GT model has a combined average of 61.4mpg and £30 road tax.

If your 508 is over three years old, then it will qualify for fixed-price servicing. Peugeot's scheme is pretty reasonable, with prices that compare favourably with rival manufacturers' offerings. Even if your Peugeot isn’t three years or older, main-dealer servicing is on a par with mainstream rivals.

You will be lucky to find a petrol-powered 508, so if you need a non-diesel saloon, we’d recommend you look for a Skoda Octavia, Ford Mondeo or Volkswagen Passat. You are more likely to find one of those being powered by fuel from the green pump.

Of the diesels available, go for the superior economy of the 1.6 HDi. While it might take longer to get up to speed than the larger 2.0-litre unit, the 508 isn’t exactly a driver’s car anyway and the smaller engine is quieter once up to speed.

Access trim comes with air conditioning, electric windows front and rear and electronic stability programme. Spend a bit more and get an Active version, though, because this adds cruise control, climate control and alloy wheels.

If that’s not enough for you, the Allure spec has partial leather trim, heated seats and parking sensors. GT, meanwhile, adds sat-nav and full leather seats, with electric adjustment for driver and passenger. We reckon both of these versions are a little pricey for what you get, mind you.

Our favourite Peugeot 508 1.6 HDi Active

This is where the case for the 508 falls flat. It might be cheaper than its rivals to buy, but for a little more money you can get yourself into some much more talented rivals.

The biggest of these is the Ford Mondeo, both in terms of how much of a rival it is and its sheer size. The boot is massive and so, too, is the amount of space for rear passengers. It’s one of many reasons taxi firms love Modeos. The 2.0-litre diesel is refined, punchy and efficient. And you will have thousands to choose from at any one time, so finding a good example is easy.

The Volkswagen Passat is the refined choice for those who can’t quite get into a BMW 3 Series or Audi A4 but want something with a bit more class than a Mondeo or Vauxhall Insignia. There is an excellent range of petrol and diesel engines, plus it is brilliant on a long motorway cruise.

The Skoda Octavia has space in spades. Its hatchback boot can fit anything you want into it (short of a blue whale) and it uses many of the same engines as a Passat; that means there’s an Octavia to suit all budgets and driving styles. It may not be all that stylish inside, but it is well made and well equipped.

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