SHORT BUT SWEET (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

Introductionword count: 82

In 2023, Peugeot's classy medium range 508 model sharpened up its act. This improved version of the second generation design aimed to offer a classier approach to 'D'-segment motoring and did, delivering an appealing combination of style and savoire faire. Life's too short for boring car design - mais non? But UK buyers didn't agree and Peugeot discontinued the 508 at the end of 2025. Here, we look at the last short-lived 2023-2025-era versions of this fashionable medium-sized family hatch and estate.

Modelsword count: 11

5dr SUV (1.2 petrol / 1.6 PHEV petrol) [Allure, GT, PSE]

Historyword count: 402

Big French cars used to be interesting and distinctive. Just like this one was, the improved second generation post-2023-era version of Peugeot's 508. By then, this was one of the few mainstream-branded contenders left in the D-segment that had once been such a rich source of sales for the volume makers. It still delivered something quite different, offering a choice of five-door 'Fastback' and SW estate body styles. On the used market, you might even prefer it to something with a premium badge, especially in this enhanced form which was introduced five years after the original 2018 launch. Back in 2023, continuing to offer a car of this kind seemed to be a sensible move from Peugeot, not in view of likely European sales but because the huge Chinese market - unafflicted by badge snobbery and an insistence for impractical SUVs - continued to simply love cars of this kind. That was why the Stellantis Group had green-lighted not only the original development of this R83-era second generation 508 but also an identically-engineered but rather differently-styled Citroen model, the C5 X, launched in 2021 (also short-lived in eventual production). Both cars are now quite rare to see on British highways, but for likely customers, that'll probably be all part of the appeal. Peugeot used to have a distinguished and rather stylish history in selling larger 'D'-segment designs of this kind, with the 403 model of the Fifties, the 404 of the Sixties, the 504 of the Seventies and the 505 of the Eighties. With the switch to front wheel drive that accompanied the launch of the 405 in 1987 though, the company rather lost its way and successive models - the 406 of 1995, the 407 of 2003 and the first generation 508 of 2010 - were somewhat forgettable. So for this MK2-era 508, launched in early 2018, the brand had a complete re-think and as a result, both the stylish five-door Fastback Coupe model and its sleeker SW estate showroom stablemate initially sold a little better than the brand expected. The 2023 package of mid-term updates probably didn't go far enough but brought a sharper look and improved cabin screen tech. By then, diesels were no more for 508 buyers, PHEV powertrains were prioritised and the potent 'Peugeot Sport Engineered' model continued as the range flagship. In this form, the car sold until late-2025, when it was discontinued and not replaced.

What You Getword count: 805

Whatever your 508 preference, Fastback or SW, there was a clear desire here from the designers to do something different - which we really like. As advertised, the roof line really is quite coupe-like, low and sleek, barely reaching 1.4m in height and flowing into intricately fashioned rear wings that required a complex metal curvature stamping process normally only used on exotic sports cars. It may well be though, that it's the sharky looks of this front end that'll really sell this Peugeot to you, especially with the car in this post-2023-era improved form. Previously, there had been quite a gap in pavement presence between base-trimmed versions and the upper-spec levels, but by 2023 all 508s looked sharp, the redesigned more distinctive front grille integrated lower into the bumper and flanked on each side by redesigned '3-claw' LED daytime running lights. These flow up towards ultra-thin LED Matrix headlamps and the redesigned Basalt Grey-coloured central brand badge sits proudly above the numberplate. There were far fewer changes made at the rear with its elegantly raked-back tailgate, though an original owner of an earlier MK2 508 would notice that the brand shield was replaced by spaced-out 'Peugeot' lettering across the central black strip that emphasises the 1.86-metre body width. Inside up front, the screen tech was changed as part of the 2023 update, but not a lot else, which means that as with an earlier MK2 508, the first thing you'll initially notice is the so-called 'i-Cockpit' ergonomic layout, Peugeot's term for interior design that positions you so that you're looking at the instruments over the top of the steering wheel rather than viewing them through it. That wheel is small and low-set, facilitating a wrist-flick quality of steering feel that Peugeot always reckoned its owners really liked. As you'd hope for a car tilting at premium prices, it all feels satisfyingly high end, particularly in the 'GT' form you'll want with its Aikinite-stitched dash and door panels, perforated Mistral leather steering wheel, blue ambient lighting, silver pedals and aluminium door sills. All the trim levels feature part-leather upholstery and if you avoid base trim, you get particularly comfortable multi-power-adjustable front seats, approved by the AGR organisation who campaign for healthy backs. True, the build quality doesn't feel quite as 'hewn from granite' as it would in, say, an Audi, but by 2023 Peugeot was certainly getting there and its approach to design was vastly more interesting. The redesigned instrument display in this updated MK2 508 was as in the original version, so as before a fully configurable and customisable 12.3-inch colour screen, though as part of this update it gained new generation dials with a crisper resolution - and additional display modes. Just about anything else you might want to know can be found on the 10-inch 'i-Connect Advanced' central screen (also redesigned as part of this update), which offered a wireless connection for 'Apple CarPlay' and 'Android Auto', over-the-air updates and a supposedly advanced “OK Peugeot” natural language voice recognition system. To get to the rear, you pull back the long door and as usual with 'Fastback'-style designs, try to avoid spearing yourself in the stomach with the acutely-angled trailing edge of the frameless rear window. And find yourself on a rear seat with just about enough leg room for a couple of adults, provided the journey isn't too long. It's not terrible - there's actually 3cms more legroom and 5cms more elbow room than you'd get in a comparable Audi A5 Sportback from this era for instance. The bigger problem is head space, which will be even more restricted if you get a car whose original owner specified the optional panoramic glass roof. Compensations come with the plush cabin ambiance - the intricate stitching on the seats and door cards - and little touches like the illuminated central USB-A ports: all of it delivers an elegant feel. A powered tailgate (which can work with a wave of your foot beneath the bumper) remained only optional on most models as part of this update - annoyingly so because the huge hatch is rather heavy. Once it raises, a 487-litre space is revealed, which impressively, isn't at all affected if you opt for a PHEV variant. A ski hatch is provided, but if you need to flatten everything, pulling on the toggles behind the head rests allows you to push everything forward. You'll find that the seats don't fold quite flat, but a very reasonable 1,537-litres of space is opened up. Of course, if you're going to be doing that very often, then you ought really to have opted instead for the SW estate body style. This delivers a 530-litre boot (thanks to the extra length of the load area) and a 'Magic Flat' button which, when prodded, folds everything to reveal a 1,780-litre space.

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